Earlier today, T-Mobile tweeted their Dell Streak 7 launch plans. And I got to wondering how Dell’s 7″ Android tablet compares to the Samsung Galaxy tab. Pre-release, all we really have to go on is pricing and specs… versus usability and experience. So this isn’t anything close to an authentic evaluation by any means.
The Tab ran $350 on T-Mobile, but it looks like prices just dropped further to $250, assuming you’re good for a 2 year data plan… While the Streak is coming in at an even more heavily subsidized $200 (!) under the same terms. 5GB of data currently runs a somewhat reasonable $40/month on T-Mobile — more than AT&T’s 5GB iPad plan, but less than Verizon and Sprint.
On paper, the Dell Streak appears more powerful with a dual core processor and access to T-Mobile’s “4G” network speeds. But, honestly, I’d give the edge to whichever lands the tablet-centric Android 3.0 Honeycomb build first. Plus, I’m not quite sold on the 7″ tablet size and think 10″ might be my sweet spot. Like the 1280×800 Motorola Xoom or iPad 2.
Some specs to mull over:
| Dell Streak 7 | Samsung Galaxy Tab | |
| Cost | $200 | $250 |
| Resolution | 800×480 | 1024×600 |
| Rear Camera | 5 megapixel | 3 megapixel |
| Weight | 15.9 ounces | 13.4 ounces |
| Length | 7.87″ | 7.48″ |
| Width | 4.72″ | 4.74″ |
| Thickness | 0.49″ | 0.47″ |
Neither one has great screen resolution. In particular the vertical at either 480 or 600 pixels. But I might be thinking about resolution wrong. On a Windows netbook with a 1.6GHz Atom the x 600 resolution was painful for web browsing. Too little of a web page visible vertically. Lots of scrolling required. But maybe that was at least partly because the scrolling performance was so anemic. If these things are very responsive to finger input maybe its not as bad. Still worried about it though. And might drive me away from the Dell.
Samsung has a VERY bad record wrt keeping their Phones up to date with new Android releases. Of course Dell is even worse, shipping phones with really really ancient versions of Android when everyone else is several generations ahead (Dell Streak being the prime example). Maybe that was just startup problems for Dell though. Have to see. Plus of course they seem to be having trouble producing their (cool) phone hardware in high enough volume. I’d worry about stuff like that until Dell proves its unfounded. An HTC tablet with good specs woudl be a much much better bet. But there’s isn’t one, so hey.
Samsung has apparently done a VERY good job of actually writing some apps, or modifying existing ones to take advantage of the screen real estate, but that was only required because Honeycomb wasn’t out (or more properly, Honeycomb, plus some time for app updates). This lead could vanish quite quickly. Don’t think I’d consider it. Probably just makes it less likely they’ll update their tablet quickly when Google releases new versions.
Personally I’ve got a 9.7″ iPad and its too heavy. Agree with you that 7″ is probably too small, but there’s lots of room in between. From iFixit’s teardown of the iPad less of the weight is battery than you might think, so I’m not sure if Apple is going to be able to go lighter without going smaller, but I guess we’ll know soon.
Rear camera is useful (VR say–what constellation is this?) but this thing isn’t going to be a good camera so resolution is irrelevant. Don’t pick on the basis of that.
I’d agree with your closing statement–you want Honeycomb on this thing. Pick whichever one gets their first.
But I’d just buy a Wifi version and tether to your phone rather than paying $40 x 24 = $960 more than the $200 cost… At least if they offered one.
I’ve got a loaner iPad here and agree it’s somewhat too heavy. Although most of the weight is probably the screen? Hm.
Palmsolo (ZDNet) doesn’t care for the Streak. Says the low resolution kills it for him.
The favorable subsidized hardware fees on T-Mobile are appealing though. The next round of devices should be interesting. But doubt the iPad would ever see subsidies like that. Not sure on the phone tethering thing though – I like having multiple carriers around to improve my odds of coverage.
Yeah, its just an occasional device for me, so prefer the turn it on when you need it model of the iPad (currently) on AT&T. Or a WiFi model. Most people I think have enough trouble paying ONE mobile data plan charge per month let alone two. So I think the hotspot/tethered model at either no charge or $20 per month extra is more appropriate, if you’re going to get a 3G model.
Saving say $300 on a $500 tablet when you’re going to spend $960 over two years on data costs doesn’t seem that important…
But hey, you’re not most people.
Thanks for the Streak link. Sounds like the equivalent of a Nintendo DSi XL–only appealing to old people with bad eyesight who need a bigger (but not higher resolution) display. Wow, hadn’t realized how much bigger it is than the SGT.
I wonder what will happen when they plop Honeycomb on this thing… given the resolution is the same as many smartphones? Will you even get two columns in the email app for example? I’m not sure how Android is going to deal with all these screen size variations.
I have the Archos 70 and have no complaints. I used it a lot in the hospital last week and the videos I loaded on the microSD card looked great.
I only wanted a wifi tablet and didn’t expect the nook color hacking to move as quickly as it did.
with a lot of phones now able to do mobile hotspot, why do folks need a tablet with a data plan? when would you have your tablet and not your phone?
It’s a reasonable question… but I have an AT&T iPhone. And about 8 hours a day, I’ve got zero coverage. So if I had a Verizon or Sprint tablet, I’d be in good shape. But that’s my own silliness for keeping a carrier that doesn’t serve me. Hoping to migrate soon…