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Dell prepping Mini 5 ‘Streak’ Android tablet

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David Flynn12 March 2010, 1:18 AM

Bigger than a smartphone but smaller than an iPad or Kindle, Dell hopes its Filofax-sized Mini 5 tablet will hit the sweet spot for slates.

After an all-too-brief tease at this year’s CES in Las Vegas, Dell’s Mini 5 tablet appears to be edging closer to release.

We already know from our Vegas encounter that the Mini 5 sports a five inch 800 x 480 pixel multi-touch screen, runs Android 2.0, packs the mandatory Wi-Fi and 3G, and is decked out with a 5 megapixel camera plus an additional front-facing VGA webcam.

Above: The Mini 5 as it appeared at the 2010 CES, when it was still earmarked as a concept device

Now Engadget appears to have stumbled upon an internal Dell document showing a typically swish range of colours and finishes plus a partnership with Amazon to deliver a Kindle ebook reader onto the slate, which apparently goes by the codename of ‘Streak’.

The slide also indicates the mini-tablet will be fitted with an iPod-like 30-pin ‘docking connector’ – perhaps for not only syncing and charging but also for fitting an external portable keyboard.

Let’s cross fingers and toes that the Mini 5, when launched, soon lobs down under...

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TechHead (User):

I want one! Was waiting for the HTC Desire when this little lady came along. It is actually pocketable as demonstrated on the engadget show.

12 March 2010, 9:32 AM (4 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

djsflynn (APC staff):

I've long felt that there is a very viable third form factor between the pocket (smartphone/PDA) and the A4/Letter notepad (Kindle, iPad, netbooks), and this is the footprint of a mid-sized Filofax... that shape has proven to work and be human-friendly in the 'real world' (where it happily existed alongside pocket pads and larger writing pad folios), and to me that's a good measure of how a digital device could also flourish in the space between the smartphone and the slate.

Now we just need to get more guys carrying stylish 'man-bags' to tote these things in! :P

12 March 2010, 10:41 AM (4 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

TechHead (User):

For me it must be pocketable, otherwise it doesn't suit! I reckon the bigger stuff (ipad, kindle, slate, etc) is more industry specific replacing stand up devices like clipboards (ipad, slate for a doctor, supervisor, etc) or sit down devices like filofaxes (microsoft courier for graphic designers) or books (kindle for students, reviewers, etc). I'm looking for a device that is easier to web surf on than my HTC Dream (on which I'm writing this) but is still mobile enough to be a phone as well. HTC HD2 @ 4.3 inches is almost it but is loaded with ancient WinMo 6 and Telstra's money spinners like foxtel! I hope to buy an Android (untouched) powered Dell Mini 5 outright and bung in an Optus BYO sim. Ahhhh.

12 March 2010, 1:11 PM (4 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

TechHead (User):

Oh, and real "all day" battery too please Mr Michael Dell, then you have my hard-earned!

12 March 2010, 1:15 PM (4 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

TechHead (User):

Oh, and thank you Mr Flynn for a thought provoking article :). Just one thing; how do I shake the 'new user' tag?

12 March 2010, 1:18 PM (4 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

djsflynn (APC staff):

Not sure, TechHead - I am a mere mortal contributor - site editor Dan Warne would have the skinny, but I imagine it's based on reaching X amount of posts...

12 March 2010, 1:45 PM (4 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

TechHead (User):

Thanks djsflynn. Just noticed I've been promoted to "User". An illustrious title to be sure! I remember in High School the tag "user" would be given to guys by girls who thought they were being nice just because they wanted SOMETHING! LOL.

13 March 2010, 12:37 AM (4 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Luigi (New user):

If it's got an SD card reader (can't see one in the pics) and a descent amount of memory I could finally have a replacement for my LifeDrive as a camera companion.

Hopefully there will be a WiFi only (+bluetooth) version just like the iPad. I don't need another phone plan if I can tether.

13 March 2010, 6:50 PM (4 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend