Early preview of Dell Mini 5

On March 3, 2010, in Dell Mini 5, by rohit
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New details arrives of Dell’s Mini 5 tablet after an early preview of the device. The entry of the company seems of becoming successful in the tablet world. Even though the handset is having a 5-inch screen, 90 per cent larger than the smartphones, but it is easy to hold and the device is easily put in a pocket.

Persons who have tried to appreciate the Mini Five says the device is too big to be used for long time as only a phone.

In the pre-release state, the software of the Dell Mini 5 shows its preponderance as a tablet computer device over the phone features.

At the CES, the previewed model spotted and also what has been found in recent photos that there is a new taskbar-like layout in the device to move the application launcher, acts as a home screen switcher and also as notifications into separate sections. We found that the custom gallery application and the web browser of the device supports multi-touch, but it does not include the Google Maps in this feature. For instant messaging services Meebo is there and for all the Office document editing Quickoffice is pre-installed. The voice control of the device is controlled by Nuance.

The operating system is powered by Android 1.6 at present, but while shipping starts in spring Android 2.x will come preloaded. For social networking services such as Facebook and Twitter, basic widgets are pre-loaded.

There has been complaints regarding the keyboard of Mini 5. It is appreciated to be useful for thumbs but the landscape mode of the device is considered to be difficult to handle because the number pad requires the handset to be resting flat on a desk for comfortable use. Moreover, as the rival iPad can be used from any orientation, the Mini 5 provides landscape layout in only one orientation.

If we look to the hardware part then it is seen that the Snapdragon processor is fast. Since, the device has only 2GB of permanent space, so the storage may be a bit of problem.

The launching details have yet not been officially intimated, but it seems that if it is launched in similar time span to the rival iPad, it may offer lower price because of limited storage and smaller screen.

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Mini 5 vs. iPad of Apple

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

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Mini 5 – A device optimized for media consumption

On February 26, 2010, in Dell Mini 5, by rohit
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In our previous post about the Mini 5 of Dell, there was one question raised in our mind, on behalf of the consumers, that whether people are really proceeding to decide to buy this handset instead of smartphone. We found answer, somewhat, to this in wired.com latest article on Gadget Lab. The article carries what general manager, Neeraj Choubey, of the tablets division told.
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Neeraj Choubey: “It’s a device optimized for media consumption… It will offer the full web-browsing experience so you have something that you are holding in your hand that replaces everything the smartphone does and takes on quite a bit of the features of a laptop.”

Well, this may not be entirely true if all the services are not available on the handset because the Mini Five will be having easy and quick access to your e-mail, the MP3 store of Amazon for music, YouTube, etc. Not to forget the features of spreadsheet, documents and presentation maker. These features and some other such as voice recognition support will be common characteristics in all the tablets from Dell.

Even though pregnant with so many features with neck-to-neck competition with other smartphones in the market, analyst Van Baker contradicts Neeraj Choubey. He says, “If all you are bringing to the market is another media-playing or handheld-gaming device, then it’s not going to work… It’s all about the services you have behind the device.”

One thing is sure in Mini 5 that Dell is betting to offer a compelling value for proposition to all the business users. It bets that this tablet will not be just a coffee-table device. In fact it will be a powerful productivity tool.

One more best feature to take note of this tablet mobile what Choubey says is at very basic level one can share content across devices easily and also have it in the cloud.

Let us wait and watch and also wish that commitments do take perfect shape when the Mini 5 comes in consumers hand.

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