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Dell Mini 5 tablet: Dell's answer to the Apple iPad?

By | January 28, 2010, 8:22am PST

Summary: Is Dell preparing a Mini tablet to challenge the recently-announced Apple iPad and forthcoming HP Slate?

Is Dell preparing a Mini tablet to challenge the recently-announced Apple iPad and forthcoming HP Slate?

According to Shenzhen-based PC Online, it just might be.


Called the “Dell Streak” or “Mini 5″ tablet, the device — officially model M01M — has a 5-in. 800 by 480-pixel touchscreen, Google Android 1.6, a 1GHz Snapdragon CPU, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3G mobile broadband, a 5-megapixel camera with dual-LED flash, another front-facing camera, and a 1530mAh battery.

Really, this device is more in line with a MID than an iPad competitor — but it shows that Dell is already trying to move into this space, riding Google’s open source wave.

The price for this BlackBerry Storm-like tablet device? ¥7,500, or approx. $1,098 USD.

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Topics

Dell Computer Corp., Dell Mini, Apple Inc., Tablets, Smart Phones, Notebooks, 3G, Cellular Phones, Handhelds, Hardware, Notebooks & Tablets, Consumer Electronics, Personal Technology, Andrew Nusca

Andrew J. Nusca is editor of ZDNet and SmartPlanet.

Disclosure

Andrew Nusca

Andrew J. Nusca does not hold any investments in the technology companies he covers.

Biography

Andrew Nusca

Editor

Andrew J. Nusca is an editor for ZDNet and SmartPlanet. As a journalist based in New York City, he has written for Popular Mechanics and Men's Vogue and his byline has appeared in New York magazine, The Huffington Post, New York Daily News, Editor & Publisher, New York Press and many others. He also writes The Editorialiste, a media criticism blog.

He is a New York University graduate and former news editor and columnist of the Washington Square News. He is a graduate of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. He has been named "Howard Kurtz, Jr." by film critic John Lichman despite having no relation to him. He lives in his native Philadelphia with his wife, cat and Boston Terrier.

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RE: Dell Mini 5 tablet: Dell's answer to the Apple iPad?
DeusExMachina 27th May 2010
@max_wedge

First, try English, It is e.g., NOT i.e.. Second, what makes you say that the iPad does not support DRM free content? It uses iTunes, so of COURSE it does.
View in thread
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Blows the iPad away, almost.
Narg 28th Jan 2010
If Dell can get this under $500, the iPad will be a laughable "also ran"
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you mean ...
bannedfromzdnetagain 28th Jan 2010
at $1100 for a 5" device?
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Except in almost everything.
Bruizer 28th Jan 2010
From OS to size the Dell seems pretty non-competitive. It is nice to see
companies trying to figure out a tablet concept, however. Neither fit in
my pocket so will need some type of case for carrying. Might as well
bring a laptop.

But > $1000??? Even Apple did not think that was possible.
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What's it like in fantasy land?
techconc 28th Jan 2010
Is there any rational thought behind thinking a 5" Android device from
Dell would make a 10" iPhone OS based device from Apple a laughable
"also ran"? Seriously, what color is the sky in your world?

While I'm not sold on this type of device from any manufacturer, it
doesn't take a genius to see that the iPad is superior in every way. That
is, the iPad may turn out to be an also ran, but the Dell mini 5 will have
no bearing on the iPad's success one way or the other.

The only think mildly amusing here is watching Microsoft's long time
"partners" slowly turn on them one by one. Fortunately for Microsoft,
this Dell device will have about as much success as the Dell DJ.
Remember that one? No? Me neither.
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RE: Dell Mini 5 tablet: Dell's answer to the Apple iPad?
gfeier Updated - 28th Jan 2010
At that price, Dead On Arrival.
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RE: Dell Mini 5 tablet: Dell's answer to the Apple iPad?
Loverock Davidson 28th Jan 2010
The price is too steep on that. But expect to see more and more things like this.
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I sure hope not
T1Oracle 28th Jan 2010
One iPhail is enough, we don't need iPhail clones too :\
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RE: Dell Mini 5 tablet: Dell's answer to the Apple iPad?
DeusExMachina 27th May 2010
@T1Oracle

Fail as defined how? One million units in under a month? No slowdown in demand? Same impact for the 3G version.

You are ever the reliable troll.
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At least it has a camera for video chat...
BillDem 28th Jan 2010
Apple dropped the ball in that respect...
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Where is all this bandwidth for mobile Video Chat come from pray tell? - NT
raycote 28th Jan 2010
NT
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Did you read the specs?
max_wedge 29th Jan 2010
It has 3G and WIFI. 3G supports video chat easily.
0 Votes
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Feature hounds
oncall 28th Jan 2010
Will love things like this "OMG it does so much the iPad doesn't! I would buy one but I won't because I am waiting for next months model which I also won't buy."


wink
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I like features
max_wedge 29th Jan 2010
If it wasn't for the competition generated by "feature hounds" buying windows and symbian phones in favour of the first iphones, iPhone would still be missing bluetooth support, picture messaging and a decent camera.
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How long before ZDNet bloggers start naming everything "iPad killer"?
AllKnowingAllSeeing 28th Jan 2010
My guess is two weeks from today
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No Need
nothingness 28th Jan 2010
Because most everyone will be rename it iPOS;-)
0 Votes
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No Need
nothingness 28th Jan 2010
Because most everyone will rename it iPOS;-) Oops, typed too fast
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if you like shiny things...
max_wedge 29th Jan 2010
Then yes the iPad is cool. But if you like things strong in features, with support for generic technologies ie: usb storage support and DRM free content, then pretty much any tablet device will be an iPad killer.
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RE: Dell Mini 5 tablet: Dell's answer to the Apple iPad?
DeusExMachina 27th May 2010
@max_wedge

First, try English, It is e.g., NOT i.e.. Second, what makes you say that the iPad does not support DRM free content? It uses iTunes, so of COURSE it does.
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If this is Dell's answer to the iPad, they didn't hear the question
LovejoyOne 28th Jan 2010
It costs twice as much, it's half the size, has no decent
software...

Wow, I think I'll go buy one!
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No apps for websites
outpastpluto 11th Feb 2010
A real browser will make most of the "decent software" for the iphone entirely moot.
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Can Apple come up with an Android killer?
ArtInvent 28th Jan 2010
The $1100 price - certainly not what I've heard or likely for a Dell device.

Frankly I think there will be a large number of Android tablets as well as other things like a color Kindle. Some will be more pocketable like the Dell 5 inch, some will be larger, some will have a stylus. There will be a lot of choice and prices will be fairly reasonable. Android is already poised to overtake the iPhone within a year or two at most.

The iPad will have plenty of competition even as it hits the market. It's just not gonna be like it was with the iPhone where competitors had basically no credible answer for about 2 full years. I think it's just as likely we will be asking, can Apple really come up with an Android killer?
0 Votes
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Too funny
frgough 28th Jan 2010
"The iPad will have plenty of competition even as it hits the market. It's
just not gonna be like it was with the iPhone where competitors had
basically no credible answer for about 2 full years..."

Now, let's undo the search and replace so we can read what you
posted when the iPhone first came out:

"The iPhone will have plenty of competition even as it hits the market.
It's just not gonna be like it was with the iPod where competitors had
basically no credible answer for about 2 full years."

Hilarious.
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"Android is already poised to overtake the iPhone within a year or two"
Bruizer 28th Jan 2010
At the rate Android is going, it will be years. Like 4 or 5.
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RE: Dell Mini 5 tablet: Dell's answer to the Apple iPad?
Badgered 28th Jan 2010
The price for this BlackBerry Storm-like tablet device? ?7,500, or approx. $1,098 USD.

That has got to be wrong. If not, they're insane.
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The question isn't what this means for Apple..
Axsimulate 28th Jan 2010
but what does this means for Microsoft? If Dell could pull it off, that is another channel closed off to Microsoft.
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$1,098 USD = NO SALES (nt)
goingbust 28th Jan 2010
NT
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RE: Dell Mini 5 tablet: Dell's answer to the Apple iPad?
Migration Expert Zone 28th Jan 2010
Now we're talking! A tablet that might actually serve a business user. When can I get one? happy
0 Votes
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Fantasyland?
matthew_maurice 28th Jan 2010
NT
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@Migration Expert Zone
Axsimulate Updated - 29th Jan 2010
Do you really think Dell would release something without Windows on it and risk pissing off the "MCP" (Microsoft)?
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but then apple has itunes, with movies, music, apps, games, books
stevey_d 28th Jan 2010
Many PCs mainly use ripped illegal content.
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Apple users playing the "piracy" card.
outpastpluto Updated - 11th Feb 2010
Or ripped LEGAL content.

Some things just plain aren't available in the iTunes store, PERIOD.

Some of us are just not willing to deprive ourselves just so that we can be "good company men". We will buy from whatever sources have the content available. We might even shop around for a better price.

Screaming "piracy" is just a way for you to distract yourself from the reality of your entrapment.
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But the iPad feeds the giant
jscott418 28th Jan 2010
The iPad is just a tool to feed the Apple ecosystem. It provides a way to get you sucked into the store of Apps and other content sold through iTunes. Do not be fooled into thinking anything more. Just look at Apples recent products. iPod, iPhone, and now ipad. They all are mediums for purchasing content from Apple. Yes Apple keeps tweaking its computer line. But its the App store and iTunes is what their investing in. Selling content to their exclusive hardware is where its at. Apple knows their computers will never be more then a niche. But media content is where Apple is concentrating. Don't believe me just listen to Steve's presentation.
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Looks more like it is aimed at the PSP... Not the iPad...
i8thecat 28th Jan 2010
The iPad is a fusion of ebook reader and tablet... Aimed to compete with the Slate and the Kindle...

This looks like PSP bait to me... But a little over a grand???

Well no one ever accused Dell of being intelligent about business.
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RE: Dell Mini 5 tablet: Dell's answer to the Apple iPad?
Mike Licht 29th Jan 2010
The iPad is an astounding feat of imagination.

See:

http://notionscapital.wordpress.com/2010/01/28/ipad-exclusive-photo/
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HTC did this with Advantage x7501 in 2007
em7933@... 29th Jan 2010
Nothing new here, it is similar to my HTC Advantage x7501 that I have used for several years. It seemed like a good idea at the time; however, the form factor was just a bigger smartphone and found it was better to travel with a netbook and smartphone.
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Yawn
yobtaf 29th Jan 2010
Did somebody say something about a DELL table?
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RE: Dell Mini 5 tablet: Dell's answer to the Apple iPad?
Kryfon 29th Jan 2010
Could not agree more. Apple makes elegant hardware
and sweet software. Everything works well together
because everything comes from one source. But all of
that is just a smokescreen that obscures the real
business they are in, selling content that (with a
little tech savvy) you can easily get cheap (or free)
elsewhere. I am not saying there is anything wrong
with that business model, I am just saying Apple has a
different priority than most tech companies.

The IFad will be just that, a short term fad. Other
devices are in the pipeline from the mainstream folks
who compete in the real business world... Many will
be Android based. Some will be Win based. All of them
will have confused, helpless users who can't open an
attachment or figure out how to send a picture to
cousin Fred. LOL

It is a good time to be a geek, folks.
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RE: Dell Mini 5 tablet: Dell's answer to the Apple iPad?
outpastpluto 11th Feb 2010
Perhaps people are contemplating the glee they get from their current 5 inch PMP devices that have oodles of storage and are more straightforward than any Apple device.

Of course if this device doesn't have at least 250G then it's a total non-starter. There are already 5 inch touchscreen PMPs that have that much storage and more.

A 10 inch device isn't terribly portable. A 5 inch device is much more portable while being a nice tradeoff between overall bulk and screen size.
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RE: Dell Mini 5 tablet: Dell's answer to the Apple iPad?
woodythesingingcowboy 26th May 2010
Geez, why would I want this expense thing....

After reading the brief specs it sounds exactly like my HTC HD2 only with a slightly bigger screen and maybe more storage although it isn't mentioned. Also the front mounted camera, but otherwise it sounds the same and I can put the HD2 in my pocket as well as it only cost me $99.

I also have the HTC Advantage x7501, but it doesn't have quite as fast a processor.

So again, why would I spend $1,000 for something only marginally larger and probably not better.

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