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43 seconds with the Android-powered Dell Mini 5

By | January 29, 2010, 3:02pm PST

Summary: Ok, enough about the Apple iPad. It seems that the gadget paparazzi managed to grab less than a minute with Michael Dell, and during that time we get a glimpse of the Mini 5 in action. Well, depending on what you consider action, that is. Mr. Dell swiped through a few screens, showed the 5 [...]

Ok, enough about the Apple iPad. It seems that the gadget paparazzi managed to grab less than a minute with Michael Dell, and during that time we get a glimpse of the Mini 5 in action. Well, depending on what you consider action, that is. Mr. Dell swiped through a few screens, showed the 5 megapixel camera on the back and said, “it has a 5 megapixel camera, 3G … anything you want”.

So, there you have it. We have no idea what chip is inside (1GHz Snapdragon?), or whatever else it’s running (rumored WiFi, Bluetooth), but it does seem pretty speedy and looks slick. No word on price but he did say it would be out in “a couple of months”. Depending on price point, this could be one killer device, especially if it’s running the latest Android OS. Check out the quick demo below, thanks to TechCrunch.

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With more than a decade of mobile, Internet and wireless experience, Joel specializes in taking existing brands and technologies into the mobile and wireless space.

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Joel Evans

Joel is a serial entrepreneur with his most recent business, CronkSoftware (cronksoftware.com), focusing on consulting and building games and applications for mobile devices. Joel has consulted for Microsoft’s Windows Mobile division and advises other companies on how to incorporate mobile into their existing brands and products. Joel purchases many of his devices and others are sent for review on a 30-day loaner basis and then returned to the supplier. If any devices are provided as “keeper” Joel will clearly disclose this in his reviews.

Biography

Joel Evans

With more than a decade of mobile, Internet and wireless experience, Joel specializes in taking existing brands, technologies and services into the mobile and wireless space. Joel is currently serving as the Managing Director of Cronk Software, Inc., a company he founded to offer full-service, end-to-end mobile strategy, design and development services.

Joel is the former founder and "Chief Geek" of Geek.com, a website praised by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, and others as one of world's best sources of information for technology professionals and enthusiasts.

Joel also serves as a technology expert for a number of well-known publications and regularly advises corporations, analysts, journalists and bloggers on what the future of technology will bring. He brings decades of relationships with leading game publishers, online communities and publishers, along with both hardware and software product management and delivery expertise. Joel can be found online as "JoelGeek" and you can follow him on Twitter @JoelGeek.

Talkback Most Recent of 22 Talkback(s)

  • Does look Slick
    Can't wait 'till they release it. Could be interesting
    ZDNet Gravatar
    jpr75_z
    29th Jan 2010
  • Not MS not APPLE
    I love it.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    BrentRBrian
    30th Jan 2010
  • Is this the phone
    That is supposed to be on AT&T? I would love to get rid of my iPhone
    but I have AT&T and cannot afford the termination fee to switch
    providers. Waiting for AT&T to provide an Android powered phone, and
    then it's bye bye iPhone...
    ZDNet Gravatar
    wayne62682
    30th Jan 2010
  • Looks like another iPhone wanabe
    nt
    ZDNet Gravatar
    wackoae
    30th Jan 2010
  • Hard to be a wanabe when you actually do more...
    ...you know like multitask for instance.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    storm14k
    31st Jan 2010
  • ...and when you were on the market before the iPhone...
    How long have MIDs, PDA's, and tablets existed?

    Oh yea, far longer than the iPhone. It's not even a phone.

    There goes your Apple invented everything theory.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    T1Oracle
    31st Jan 2010
  • Apple invented & made the first PDA
    First PDA was made by Apple it was called the Newton
    ZDNet Gravatar
    cbalyn
    1st Feb 2010
  • Apple may have invented the term
    But Psion had the Organizer 1 in 1984, by 1991 the series three came out, it had all of the basic functions of todays PDA's (but without handwriting recognition, which was a joke on the Newton) with a full keyboard in a small clam shell format.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Notsf
    1st Feb 2010
  • Knowing what you are talking about
    In what way was handwriting recognition a "joke" on the Newton? Where
    do you get your information from? Certainly not from personal
    experience. All you seem able to do is perpetuate myths with no
    empirical support.
    While not perfect, handwriting recognition on the Newton was state of
    the art then, and still hold up well against modern competitors. Seriously,
    you have no idea what you are talking about.

    Also, as an actual owner of the psion, the idea that it had all the basic
    functions of the Newton is absurd.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    DeusExMachina
    1st Feb 2010
  • Wow. Mad skillz (nt)
    .
    ZDNet Gravatar
    People
    31st Jan 2010
  • RE: 43 seconds with the Android-powered Dell Mini 5
    Looks nice. It's smaller than the iPad, so it'll be more portable and Dell has been perfecting it's Mini line for a while now. This should be interesting if it's at a price point that can compete with a 3g iPad.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    drwebi@...
    1st Feb 2010
  • Anything you want. Suuuure.
    These devices that launch with promises of optional extras such as TV tuner... the extras mostly don't show up, do you notice?
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Robert Carnegie 2009
    1st Feb 2010
  • Very Reminiscent of the Nokia N800
    This looks remarkably similar to Nokia's N800 from several years back, except with an added cell radio, Android instead of Maemo, and (perhaps) better camera. That's not a put down - I *loved* my N800! happy

    If Apple's iPad is primarily targeted as an eReader, though, this looks a little small. (I've read books on my N800, but the Kindle is just more comfortable at that particular task.)

    Just my $0.02. Overall, looks promising!
    ZDNet Gravatar
    ricegf
    1st Feb 2010
  • All-in-one
    I am getting tired of those all-in-one devices. Yeah, it's cool to have a single device do everything, but they have big disadvantages. I used to think my iPhone was the coolest thing ever until it broke and I lost my phone, organizer, music player...everything. I'll keep my Kindle for my books, my cheap (and small) cellphone to take calls and my new iPod Touch for my music and organizer duties.

    My mother told me never to put all your eggs in one basket.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    brokenspokes
    1st Feb 2010
  • All-in-one
    I agree with you. Experts have long pointed out that when an all-in-one breaks down or is stolen, you suffer multiple inconveniences.

    But, more importantly how are you, as a person, being affected? Will life end without being constantly entertained, tweeted, emailed or texted?

    I watch TV and movies on a 60" HDTV, not a 2" phone or 10" Ipad screen, the latter two hardly being immersive. I don't need to watch TV sitcoms on the bus or while waiting for my sandwich to be prepared.

    Music: I use my nice stereo system at home. I don't feel the need to have wires hanging from my ears anytime I exit the house or walk anywhere.

    If I want to tell someone something or ask a question, I phone them or drop by their house or workstation... communicating via texting shorthand is crude and leads to misunderstandings. When you talk to someone, points can be instantly clarified, if need be because you can see the need to do so in their eyes.

    Seeing/hearing the world around you is an amazing experience. People smile and say "Hello." Small-talk naturally flows and it signifies that your recognize this other person as a human being. Earbuds in pubic signify you are in your own little world (emphasis on little).

    When not traveling, my desktop gives me cheap access to the net and email. When traveling, my netbook provides inexpensive surfing and access to my email account once I reach my destination.

    If I prefer to read, paperback books, mags and newspapers easily fill the hours and then I recycle them. And... no batteries are required to read them.

    Life is amazing. Unplug and experience it. Have a conversation with someone.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    jsaale@...
    1st Feb 2010
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