Michael Dell hints at smartphone plans in recent interview

Rumors of Dell playing a role in the smartphone industry have been around for what seems like ages, but each time the fire dies down, another can of lighter fluid emerges to get us all wondering again. In a recent interview with Om Malik, the bigwig had more than a few interesting things to say on the computing industry as a whole. Still, what intrigued us wasn't the talk about being a founder or changing up Dell's game in order to rebound -- no, it was Michael's remarks on the handset sector. When asked if there was a "desire" on its part to work with Android or Symbian, Mr. Dell stated that the company "is kind of working on that," although it wasn't ready to "publicly disclose" plans. Granted, he also asked us "not to expect anything anytime soon" when referring to a phone, but would you really expect any CEO with a trick up his / her sleeve to say anything different?

[KEROLiUKAS @ Jul 28th 2008 2:14PM]

Please don't, your computers already suck, fix that first.

[Kaiser-Machead @ Jul 28th 2008 2:21PM]

I find that their higher end models are actually pretty decent. The Latitude line is pretty solid, though I'm not as confident in the lower end Inspirons.

[Matt @ Jul 28th 2008 2:42PM]

I just got an XPS 1530, and it's pretty awesome. STFU thx.

[OneLove @ Jul 28th 2008 2:48PM]

no, its fix that...First!

[CraigJ @ Jul 28th 2008 3:00PM]

Well, I tend to agree, sorta/maybe.

Dells are OK, not great. I've had 7 or 8 over the years. The 4 I currently have are just fine. The last couple of laptops I had, a 5150 and a Lattitude 820 were complete crap. The 5150 would spontaneously reboot and the 820 would blue-screen all the time. I reinstalled the OS on both, updated firmware, etc. No dice. My wife's Inspiron laptop is pretty good, but Vista drags it to its knees on a regular basis.

No Dell laptop can touch the Thinkpads for performance or reliability. My old T series was the best laptop ever.

[1234321 @ Jul 28th 2008 3:04PM]

go configure an m1530, you can get MacBook Pro performance for less than MacBook price, and even the heavier inspirons are still good performers for the price, as for their handheld experience, the X50v was the pinicle of PDAs before the market went to smartphones, the performance can stand up to modern smartphones, and it has a VGA screen which people are still looking for today, not to mention the iphone to a page from it on physical design but couldn't match the 2 expansion slots or expandible battery

[phanbouy @ Jul 28th 2008 3:27PM]

go (con)figure.

[Kaiser-Machead @ Jul 28th 2008 2:20PM]

The Axim.......reborn??

[Kamokazi @ Jul 28th 2008 2:32PM]

I certainly hope so. The only Dell producst I ever liked were my X5 and X50v

[kccboy2004 @ Jul 28th 2008 7:06PM]

@Kaiser,

you are right. The Dell Axim looks just like the iphone. I think that Dell stole the design from Apple. They even made it touch screen, and icon driven.

Cheats

[JAmerican @ Jul 28th 2008 7:57PM]

LOL kccboy

[Zal @ Jul 28th 2008 2:30PM]

"kind of working on that"

Is that like being kind of pregnant?

[Matthew Hilario @ Jul 28th 2008 2:41PM]

More like I'm kinda the father.

[phanbouy @ Jul 28th 2008 3:08PM]

i kinda pulled out

[retro77 @ Jul 28th 2008 3:32PM]

I was kinda high

[crow610 @ Jul 28th 2008 4:45PM]

I was gonna buy a Dell, but then I got high.

[Cal @ Jul 28th 2008 6:53PM]

You sure you didn't buy the Dell, because you were high?

[jeff @ Jul 28th 2008 2:30PM]

dell = drop down !!

[kjb434 @ Jul 28th 2008 2:31PM]

I'm guessing he's waiting until Android and LinuxMobile are in widespread use. Then he'll see all the current new mobile operating systems in play.

If Android and LiMo take off, he may consider a phone in that direction. Dell currently has PDA with Windows Mobile, all he was have to do is add the phone components and possibly make it a little smaller.

In the end, he may have a device for all three systems.

[kjb434 @ Jul 28th 2008 2:32PM]

You will always be beaten until you start posting something that is worthwhile.

[huh @ Jul 28th 2008 2:37PM]

Just what the world needs as a response to the iPhone, a Dull phone. Seriously, this is a company that has confused Dorky with Design. Well, at least they could come up with a cheap Android based device with a nice screen, which would be nice.

[Darren @ Jul 28th 2008 2:41PM]

What could Dell possibly bring to the table? They can't do software, so they best they could come up with is just another mediocre WinMob device, just what the world needs.

[fred @ Jul 28th 2008 3:12PM]

So they should just not do anything because you dont like them?

It's a free country, and they have the right to make their own device.

Just pipe down and just see what they do then harp on it.

[Freakin Ijit @ Jul 28th 2008 3:56PM]

> What could Dell possibly bring to the table?...

Palm's Nova?

[chickenator @ Jul 28th 2008 2:41PM]

dPhone!

[jd @ Jul 28th 2008 3:06PM]

iDhone? hmmmmmmmm

[jd @ Jul 28th 2008 3:13PM]

iDhone?

[phanbouy @ Jul 28th 2008 3:36PM]

iDrone?

[El Taco @ Jul 28th 2008 7:00PM]

iDellphonewithfeaturesthatarebetterthaniphonesfeaturesbutnotreallywejustsaythatbutitcompetesfairlywellwiththeiphoneyouhavetoadmit

it's a catchy name

[ericdano @ Jul 28th 2008 2:41PM]

Oh, you mean like the success they had with MP3 players?

[chickenator @ Jul 28th 2008 2:43PM]

...so u can proudly be the "FIRSTTT!!!"???

[phanbouy @ Jul 28th 2008 2:52PM]

i-sheep / ocean: go play on a freeway already

[Gr1zz @ Jul 28th 2008 3:00PM]

I would be highly unlikely to by another PDA device from dell after my last one. They never provide patches/updates to fix known issues. Irritating their fan base to no end.

[Striker @ Jul 28th 2008 3:01PM]

@i-sheep

$%@# off, nobody loves you.

[Striker @ Jul 28th 2008 8:12PM]

Yay! i-sheep's comments got removed!

[Allen Jazeera @ Jul 28th 2008 3:01PM]

Haters. You're just afraid of a truly innovative company.
Oh I hope it's a touch-tone phone!

(that's sarcasm)

[CraigJ @ Jul 28th 2008 3:01PM]

Engadget should create an algorithm to identify the types of lame posts and auto ban the user and IP address.

[jd @ Jul 28th 2008 3:09PM]

fire those the in house designers and hire some new ones from apple inc, sony, or japanese. and then make sure they are under 30!!

[phanbouy @ Jul 28th 2008 4:21PM]

then get your bail money for breaking age discrimination laws!!!

[Justin @ Jul 28th 2008 4:35PM]

Ah yes, the little known, but talented technology film, Japanese.

[Justin @ Jul 28th 2008 4:34PM]

Anyone else think Michael Dell looks like actor Richard Kind?

[Derek @ Jul 28th 2008 4:38PM]

If they can come up with a NEW interface, maybe this device could have a chance. (or make it cool with a low price)

[Jubei @ Jul 28th 2008 4:42PM]

As if they haven't learned their lesson from their "me too" device The Dell DJ Ninny.

[Maeztro @ Jul 28th 2008 4:50PM]

They had an horrible entry in to the mp3 player arena with the dell DJ (had one..)

Hope this attempt is better.

[Zak @ Jul 28th 2008 5:03PM]

Michael Dell then: "What would I do? I'd shut [Apple] down and give the money back to the shareholders."

Michael Dell now: "Apple is kicking our ass so hard we can't even find it, so we need to copy everything they do and call it 'innovation'."

[adrian @ Jul 28th 2008 6:58PM]

Maybe they should make generic pills, Because that's all Dell are good at, Copying everyone else.

[kccboy2004 @ Jul 28th 2008 7:13PM]

@zak,

you are such a tosser. You know very well that Apple copied the iPhone design from the Dell Axim 50v. You are such a Wanker ! This is why your parents are so disappointed in you. You don't have to look far to find the answers as to why you have failed so badly in life. When you were little, you seemed to have so much potential, but we were all mistaken. You turned out to be such a fuck-up and there is no turning back. You are a lost cause. let the depression wash over you. follow it. do as it wishes. darkness beckons.

[kccboy2004 @ Jul 28th 2008 7:45PM]

@zak,

you are such a tosser. You know very well that Apple copied the iPhone design from the Dell Axim 50v. You are such a Wanker ! This is why your parents are so disappointed in you. You don't have to look far to find the answers as to why you have failed so badly in life. When you were little, you seemed to have so much potential, but we were all mistaken. You turned out to be such a fuck-up and there is no turning back. You are a lost cause. let the depression wash over you. follow it. do as it wishes. darkness beckons.

[Uzza @ Jul 28th 2008 5:26PM]

I for one welcome our Dell Smart Phone overlords

[El Taco @ Jul 28th 2008 7:01PM]

no. you dont do it right.