Dell confirms Android-powered tablet device

CES 2010: New slate-like 5-incher shown off

7 January 2010 17:09 GMT / By Stuart Miles

Dell has teased with a new tablet/slate PC at its keynote speech at CES in Las Vegas.

Giving virtually no details, as per usual with Dell's teasers, the new device will get a 5-inch screen size and be Android powered.

"It is 5-inches, however we are working on different screen sizes and form factors", said a Dell spokesman.

Refusing to be drawn on a name for the device, the word "slate" (just like in Ballmer's Microsoft keynote speech) was bandied around.

The new model, which will go up against the currently available Archos Internet Tablet and recently announced JooJoo (formerly the CrunchPad), will allow users to surf the Web from a handheld device bigger than a touchscreen smartphone, but smaller than a standard netbook, whilst working in a similar way to a mobile phone.

Dell, has confirmed that the device will come with a built-in SIM card option making the HD2 from HTC look tiny in comparison.

UPDATE: Following the press tease, Pocket-lint was given a secret 90 second show in a service corridor to get a closer look.

UPDATE 2: more pics and details as the device gets a name, the dell mini 5

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Comments

I have full trust on Dell,they make very good product to their user and Dell series is wonderful.i use Dell Laptop and Device and i face no any problem with it.

http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=2236872 Posted by Rossy Gomes, United State of Amarica
I love it! It's perfect for watching TV/movie clips on the subway. Posted by Alex, US
This is it, not to big, not to small, just the right size. And not an Apple. Posted by Dave, US
PDA... sorry but isnt that what we are looking at here. Sensationalism. Posted by Unimpressed, UK
It's cute! i wonder if it will come in pink? Posted by Girlie man's toy, Canada
what service goin too carrie it ???? Posted by lupe, sacramento, ca
when is it comming out in sacramento ? Posted by lupe, sacramento ca
it looks beautiful - runs Android and it's a Dell machine. I'm so buying this when it comes out. Perfect size Posted by Ivan, Sydney, Australia
Its going to be locked to a carrier.

IT SUCKS! Posted by your mom, USA
sorry - how can anyone trust a company who khave track record of kbuying part cheap and having no long term plan for any product they release ... sorry i trust tosh or HP dell no way just as bad as apple - o anyone heard the new that all apple may start to fail in 2012 Posted by chap from up hear , uk
@ rossy
lol. just, lol. Posted by pauldriver, Ireland
I would love to own this device. I do wonder if I'm the only one who actually wants a device this size. Posted by Eric, US
hello, what its price in the markets.. hmm well, in the middle east market exactly ? if anyone knows plz reply, its nice & i also have a question: does it support sim card, can it be used as a mobile phone? thanks all & by the way its a perfect size & sharm look.. extra :P Posted by Jamal Shokor, Lebanon
So, is that a speaker at the top and a microphone at the bottom? Could this also be... A PHONE?! Posted by Joe, USA
this is the perfect size! so, Eric you are NOT the only one who wants this, instead of the hugely oversize ipad. I was SO disappointed when apple fumbled the ball by introducing a netbook, awkward sized slate computer, that has got to be one of the stupidest things I've seen apple do.
Yes, it may sell, but not to ME. and they are missing a huge market, APPLE completely missed the mark.

I do NOT want to have a device that is so big, therefore impossible to carry around all the time!!.

I really think the next generation of computer devices will be the 5 to 6 inch screen sized POCKET device.

I'm afraid Apple was trying to cash in on the falsely perceived idea that people want netbooks.
However:
quote:
""To a degree, consumers bought netbooks as cheaper alternatives to notebooks,"
said John Jacobs, director of notebook research at DisplaySearch. "I wouldn't say they made up the majority of sales, though. I would say there are people saying I got a desktop, I want a laptop but I don't want to spend a lot.""
end quote.

So, my take on this is that they were purchased because they are CHEAP.
NOT because they are what everyone now wants.

I think most people will want an intermediate computer: an ipad that is half way between an iphone and a netbook, and the new ipad looks to be just like a netbook.
TOO bulky,
too BIG to carry around all the time, and
TOO expensive to attract enough people, especially now!

I do know that if there isn't a intermediate size ipad (5 to 6" screen), I don't want one. Posted by bill banche, United States
Much agreed with the whole 10" screen thingy Apple tried targeting a new clientele with.

This device is near perfect. Reason why I say this is because I haven't taken much of a liking to Google's Android mobile OS. If this device shipped on a windows mobile OS with touch screen support it would really kick @$$. The design looks appealing and most importantly hits a sweet spot between the iPhone and the oversized iPad.

Hopefully upon launch Dell will offer good accessories with this puppy of theirs that will allow me to clip this to my belt (a bit big but still I feel would suffice).

However, with the price tag of the iPad (without SIM card slot), this device will probably tag in around $300 to start on a 2yr agreement with AT&T at launch and around $700-800 directly through Dell (if they decide NOT to be dbags like APPLE and only sell their devices in mass quantities to CSPs). I hope this device ships out supporting the HSPA+ network or at least have future support for 4G data networks. Posted by Frank K., Canada