The Mac Observer

Amazon, Google, Dell to Take on iPad With Dell Streak Tablet

iPad
4:54 PM, Mar. 10th ET, 2010
TMO Talk (24)
Articles by Author Brad Cook on Twitter Contact Author
Comments (16)

Apple was able to achieve dominance in the MP3 player arena by closely marrying hardware and software, a formula that it has extended to its success with the iPhone and the App Store. As the company gets ready to ship the iPad, the next phase in that evolution, Amazon, Dell, and Google are teaming up on the Dell Streak tablet, which will run the Android OS and have access to 300,000-plus e-books in the Kindle store, more than 11 million songs in Amazon’s MP3 store, and in excess of 50,000 movies and TV shows for rent or purchase.

“Taken together, this mirrors what iTunes offers for Apple devices, giving hardware manufacturers such as Dell a way to kick-start plans to take on the iPad,” noted Wired. The information came from a pair of slides leaked from a Dell presentation and posted at Engadget. The Dell Streak will have 3G wireless access to the Kindle store for free; its form factor is similar to the iPad’s.

And the device is just the tip of the iceberg: ARM executive Roy Chen on Wednesday said during a press meeting in Taipei that more than 50 tablet PC devices will launch around the world this year, according to PC World. He declined to name specific companies, other than Compal Electronics, who had two Android-powered tablet devices on display at the press conference.

The Dell Streak, courtesy of Engadget

Post A Comment or Log-in. Need an account? Register here.

16 Observer Comments

   Actions geoduck said on March 10th, 2010 at 5:14 PM (Edited: 01/26/2012 2:46 PM):

Because they’re using Android
Because they are integrated with the Amazon Kindle Store
Because they’re integrated with the Amazon MP3 store
This looks like it might give the iPad legitimate competition.

However, because it’s made by Dell I’m not really that worried. If any company can take a decent looking product and screw it up it’s Dell.

   Actions aardman said on March 10th, 2010 at 5:22 PM (Edited: 08/20/2010 5:42 AM):

Success is determined by one thing only: the ability to wean prospective customers from iTunes.  For insight on how easy that is, go ask Yahoo and Microsoft about Google search.

Is it available in brown? <G>

   Actions Lee Dronick said on March 10th, 2010 at 5:43 PM (Edited: 10/18/2011 6:20 PM):

Is it available in brown?

Am I the only one who liked the brown Zune? Seriously I thought that it wasn’t bad and would complement a business suit more than some candy colored thing. My only criticism of the brown Zune was the horrid green trim, they should have used a bronze or brushed brass looking trim.

Speaking of colored streaks I wonder if Dell will expand the “lollypop” commercial.

That thing has 800 x 480 pixels according to the callout in the illustration. That is definitely fishing in the shallows—for reasons of cost, size, and bandwidth I have to assume.

Q What’s brown and sounds like a bell?
A Dunggggggggg!

-Monty Python

Sorry, feeling very silly today…

My eyes are going. I though it said the Dell Steak!

   Actions Lee Dronick said on March 10th, 2010 at 7:19 PM (Edited: 10/18/2011 6:20 PM):

My eyes are going

There is an app for that smile

Yes, I could see how it could be misread as Steak.

Big problems It is Dell and there is no App Store.

I’m used to Dell producing crap, but making “brown Streaks”... that’s just too much! big grin

   Actions Nemo said on March 10th, 2010 at 11:11 PM (Edited: 04/06/2011 11:14 AM):

Well, let’s see.  Dell will make the hardware; Google will provide the Android OS; and Amazon will supply the content.  Three major companies, each with their own agendas, not all of which are complementary and some of which are competing.  Google will get the fat, if not the fattest, piece, which is ad revenue; Amazon will sell content, but the iTunes Store puts a price ceiling on that;  Amazon will also get traffic coming to its site, but I don’t know that will generate much cross selling of other products; and Dell gets the hard life and meager profits of competing against all the other Android tablets in selling hardware.  That sound like a dog’s dinner of a device.

Aftermac wins one Internet for that post!

Can’t wait for Dell to hire Ray Stevens as Streak spokesman:

“Oh, yes, they call him the Streak
Look at that, look at that
He likes to show off his physique
Look at that, look at that
If there’s an audience to be found
He’ll be streakin’ around
Invitin’ public critique”

   Actions geoduck said on March 11th, 2010 at 11:07 AM (Edited: 01/26/2012 2:46 PM):

Streak
Swearing a blue streak
Leaving a brown streak
Running away like a yellow streak
Streaking
Is there any connotation for the word streak that’s positive?

Worst Name Ever

The advertising ideas for Dell’s competitors are just too numerous. Any copywriter worth his wage would be able to make this the laughingstock of the computer industry.

   Actions gslusher said on March 13th, 2010 at 2:15 PM (Edited: 03/13/2010 2:16 PM):

The display is not only 800 x 480 but only 5”, vs the iPad’s 10” screen—and it doesn’t have USB! (That’s a common whine about the iPad.)

   Actions WetcoastBob said on March 13th, 2010 at 5:11 PM (Edited: 05/24/2011 12:33 AM):

@Geoduck

Streak of light!
Streak of inspiration!

None are applicable to Dell.  Dell = Dull

Post A Comment or Log-in. Need an account? Register here.
 

Recent Headlines - Updated February 14th

Tue, 1:56 PM
Apple Stock Watch - Peter Misek: Apple Will Initiate Dividend in 2012
1:20 PM
Deal Brothers - 13” MacBook Pro 2.4GHz Dual-core Intel i5:  $1,019
12:45 PM
In-Depth Review - Bookle: A Friendly EPUB Reader for the Mac
11:30 AM
Apple Stock Watch - Reminder: Apple Streaming Tim Cook Speech Today
10:39 AM
News - BYOD Trend Could Open Door to More iPhones, iPads in Workplace
9:54 AM
News - DOJ Also Approves Patent Acquisitions By Consortiums Involving Apple
9:36 AM
News - DOJ Signs Off on Google’s Motorola Acquisition
8:55 AM
Rumor - Apple Said to Be Testing Smaller iPad, 4G-Capable One
Mon, 10:30 PM
News - Apple to Live Stream Tim Cook’s Goldman Sachs Speech
8:14 PM
News - Chinese Authorities Seize Apple iPads in Trademark Dispute
6:26 PM
News - Apple Tops Harris Reputation Poll with Record Score
5:33 PM
Mac Geek Gab Podcast - MGG 381: Mac Internet Recovery, HTML on iPad, iDevice Syncing, More!
 

The Mac Observer Reader Specials

  • TypeStyler 11 is now in the Mac App Store!! -- Special Introductory Price of $59.95!! -- To Buy From The Mac App Store Click Here Now!! Or buy direct from Strider Software.
  • Mac RAM Upgrades: MacBook Pro 16GB kits $475, 8GB Kits for $119.99! iMac 16GB RAM Kits (4x 4GB) for $229.99! Mac Pro Memory 32GB Kit for $399.99, 64GB Kit for $889.99! Mac Hard Drives 2TB Seagate SATA II for $249.99! Click Here!
  • Poker Mac If you're using a Mac, then you've gotta check out Online Poker Mac. This mac poker and online casino mac site actually does the unthinkable, it actually rewards!

Apple Stock Quote (AAPL)

Loading...

Hot Topics

What's the buzz? These articles have TMO readers talking.

TMO Express

Join the TMO Express Daily Newsletter to get the latest Mac headlines in your e-mail every weekday. Find out more!

Top Deals From DealBrothers.com

Recent Features

Get the latest installments of TMO Columns, Podcasts, & Blogs.

Support The Mac Observer

We noticed you may be running AdBlock on your computer. It takes real money to run this site and to deliver the news, tips, and opinions you love to read.

If you wish to block the ads that pay for the creation of our content, we ask that you instead support TMO Directly, either with a $5 monthly recurring contribution, or a one-time donation of any amount of your choice. Thanks!

Subscribe with Paypal Donate with Paypal