Is it that the Mini 5 of Dell will be only a data replacement for your smartphone?

General Manager of Dell’s tablets division Neeraj Choubey confirmed recently to Laptop Mag that the company is in negotiation with carrier AT&T to make the Mini 5 device reach to the end consumers.
dell-mini-5
Choubey said to the magazine that one can hold this Android-based handset on their head or even attach Bluetooth headsets to make or receive calls. He adds further that the device will have a front-facing camera in it so that it eases the video calls.

Till now AT&T has not officially announced a partnership with Dell so it is tough to evaluate whether the carrier will require a voice plan also with the data service. Usually it is seen that AT&T has gone for both with all its smartphones.

Right now it seems that AT&T will go with a data-only tablet plan because many people may find this 5-inch Mini 5 tablet computer too bulky for a phone. Moreover, let us also refer the case of Apple’s iPod which is going to be offered only data service.

Speaking truth, the Dell’s Mini 5 is actually having an awkward size. It will never accommodate the pants pocket and this is creating some sort of skepticism.

Analyst Van Baker gives the right comment while talking to the media. He said the Mini Five will be sitting uncomfortably between large-screen tablets like iPad and smartphones.

This does not mean that Mini 5 will not be having its own market. It has some really positive features and one of the main features is one can make VoIP calls from this device. Choubey adds that the device may appeal to “this quintessential soccer mom” by consolidating the functions of a navigation device, a Flip camera and a cell phone into one product.

More to this, Dell will be benefiting from the Android Market and also with its smooth operation. Whatever it is, if Dell could shrink the device little more, many more users would be very interested.

Tagged with:
 

Mini 5 vs. iPad of Apple

On February 28, 2010, in Dell Mini 5, by rohit
1

Let us have some comparison between the Dell Mini 5 and the Apple iPad, both are much talked about these days. First let me convey what I found in Mini Five.
apple-ipad1
The Dell Mini 5

Mini Five loads Google apps and it is easily scaled in 3.5” screen to a 5” screen. Dell Mini 5 is easily put into belt pouch, though of big size. The life of battery in this Tablet Computer seems same to what we have seen in a screen phone, but it is better than an iPhone for browsing, gaming, watching videos, and also the typing part.

The screen of Mini 5, at 5″ the screen, looks about 90% larger and this in fact makes a lot of things better. For the purpose of multi-tasking the device has two cameras. One of it is of 5 mega pixel accompanied with twin LED lights and also digital zoom. The other camera is made for video conferencing.

The Apple iPad

Few things which comes to my mind first while writing about Apple iPad is that it lacks of multi-tasking and have heard of flash complaints many a times. Moreover, the iPad does not have any camera. The main problem that can be evaluated here is that the iPad even does not replace anything, and in fact not even a Kindle.

The battery life of kindle lasts for almost two weeks, but this is not the case of iPad. The battery of it discharges the same day, better to say, it can carry-on only in single digit hours.

The Wi-Fi version of it better works at home or and the WAN version needs another data service. So, you will still be carrying your smartphone for making calls and your laptop for the work purpose. If you are carrying you laptop then there is no need of carrying iPad for browsing.

Wrapping Up

According to me Apple should have come up with a 5” iPhone and not a 10” iPod, initially at least. Mini 5 seems to be attracting folks more who wanted something bigger than 3.5” Smartphone.

The type of screen version that iPad has is going to struggle as a reader. In it the browser is crippled vs. a Netbook or Notebook (no flash). It is too big for your portable media player.

Put your thoughts too here whether you would prefer 5″ or go for 10″ iPod.

Tagged with: