Bank Holiday Zorkphone Revelation (dude, I got a Dell)

Yeah yeah, the zorkphone turns out to be a Dell Streak and you are now hugely underwhelmed because box shifting companies run by Texans just aren't as sexy or as desirable as fruity companies within a walled garden with child locks.

Short version: if you can think past the form factor FUD and you get on well with Google's Android, this device from Dell does not disappoint.


TL;DR
The Dell Streak is the first Dell device I have ever used that hasn't been directly subsidised by intel (that I know of) and hasn't been strong-armed by Microsoft. It's ARMv7 instruction set running Android OS and it aint half bad. Neither intel nor Microsoft anywhere to be seen (except for some vaguely MS Outlook apps that I have no use for because I'm googled up). It proves that once Dell become independent of both intel and Microsoft (and now have a fully formed free-to-license operating system to use), they have a chance of providing homegrown devices and creating new categories. Whether Dell has the balls to break away from Wintel is another question altogether, although I guess the current court cases might help that along. Dell need to stop thinking about making money and get back to making meaning. Anyway, enough Kawasaki marketing bollocks, the universe really doesn't care.


Carry On Camping
So this last few days I've been field testing my Dell Streak, quite literally - camping in the New Forest at the Sandy Balls Holiday Centre. In the Cornfield, so no electrical hook-up. Using the stock 1530mAh battery with only car journeys giving opportunity to recharge. The battery holds up really well for a device with a 5" LCD. While using it as a SatNav (with the official Dell windscreen mounting kit) it would also charge at a reasonable rate (but still nowhere near as quickly as when mains connected). However, next time I need either to take spare batteries or a portable battery pack or do a lot more driving. That's just life with this type of 'phone. Battery life is easily on a par with other smartphones I have owned, used - iPhone 3G, Nexus One, Acer Liquid, Samsung Galaxy S.


Mobile Internet Device
Yes. I said phone, not tablet. There may be many reasons Dell chose to market this as a tablet (the chance to sell £25 cables because not being a "phone" means it is not mandated to have a microUSB charging connector, etc) but it's too small to be considered a tablet and - yes - a little larger than what most people consider to be a mobile phone. What is it? A new category - one that seems to have no name and that is the biggest failing of Dell's marketing. It tries to be "me too" when in fact it's the first in an unknown category. Dell should be working harder to name that category and be the first in it. Being first makes them a leader in the category. I will say though, that Dell did well to not call this thing the Dell Mini 5 - calling it the Streak makes it more identifiable, and aids word-of-mouth. Let's hope they don't go mad with the Streak brand by expanding, diluting and ultimately dooming it with brand extension.


The Killer
1. The 5" Screen
2. If it had an Apple logo on the back you'd believe it.
3. Android OS
4. Brilliant as a SatNav
5. Speaker volume, louder than any of the other phones I mentioned above.

The Bad
1. My screen has developed a single dead pixel and it annoys the hell out of me. I have the manufacturer's warranty but it was bought from Dell UK direct and I'm really not sure I can be bothered to put myself through the customer "service" grinder for the sake of a speck that I could reasonably persuade myself is no worse than all the dust and fingerprints.

The Ugly
1. Accessories are somewhat overpriced. I see the windscreen mounting kit has recently been reduced, fat lot of good that does me.

The Universe Doesn't Care
1. No microUSB port (replacement cables are an eye-watering £25).
2. No visual notifications when the phone is sleeping (can't see them in my pocket anyway).
3. No dedicated search button (can't say I've missed it even for a moment).
4. Side mounted headset jack an odd choice for a pocket-able device (get a bluetooth headset anyway).
5. Dell really want me to use this device in Landscape. I say fuck 'em, I still prefer Portrait.
6. Camera is average by contemporary standards, shit by DSLR standards (like all phonecams).
7. Ships with Android OS 1.6 (2.1 is available for those wanting to get their hands dirty).
8. People I spoke to called it "like a small iPad".