Michael Dell once again says he's down with competing with the iPhone... in the future

Ugh, make it stop. Every few months, someone in the media asks Michael Dell the inevitable question: "Do you plan on competing with Apple's iPhone?" While speaking recently in the Citi Technology Conference in New York, the chief executive stated that "I think you will see us with small screen devices," and he continued on to state that we the people will see Dell producing "smaller and smaller devices that have capabilities of the [iPhone]." Without missing a beat, he also proclaimed: "Not in the near-term." Alrighty then -- anything we didn't already know?

[gmark2000 @ Sep 4th 2008 3:49AM]

Give it up already, Mike. You're leaving a scorched earth full of your poorly engineered crap.

[ThePengwin @ Sep 4th 2008 5:16AM]

On the not of apple though...
Give it up already, Steve. You're leaving a scorched earth full of your novelty overpriced crap.

[d00b @ Sep 4th 2008 5:57AM]

The Dell Inspiron Mini is an iPhone competitor--it just needs a die shrink.

[gad get @ Sep 4th 2008 3:58AM]

So basically, he said that they'll be making small-screened devices, and that they'll be making devices with at least some capabilities analogous to those of the iPhone's, and that they will be making smaller and smaller devices with such capabilities... but not soon.
WOW, what a story!

[gad get @ Sep 4th 2008 4:01AM]

It's just about meaningless enough to be worth reading just for amusement's sake.

[happy_penguin @ Sep 4th 2008 4:11AM]

I'll have some of whatever you're smoking.

[digi @ Sep 4th 2008 4:15AM]

so thats a laptop then. Dell is a wang.

[Paulmichael @ Sep 4th 2008 4:27AM]

I wish they DID have plans for a smartphone sooner rather than later (If not ever...). If they could make it an X51V but thinner, I'd be floored (And sold).

[Totalfixation @ Sep 4th 2008 4:33AM]

Umm nObama, and Yes I own an iPhone, go McCain!

[dhytspam @ Sep 4th 2008 4:36AM]

And how exactly did you work that out from this article?

[giuliop @ Sep 4th 2008 4:37AM]

"anything we didn't already know?"

Anything WE didn't already know?

[XIYL @ Sep 4th 2008 4:44AM]

@happy_penguin
You can tell from his name that he's on yay. Not to mention his stance on iPhone.
@Yay
It doesn't make you smarter than anyone else to own a device that decided to take out a few features during the dumbbing down process. They shouldn't ever label the iPhone a smart phone.

[rBoLt @ Sep 4th 2008 5:10AM]

Take me to your dealer!

[gad get @ Sep 4th 2008 5:11AM]

Alright, guys. He was either making a joke, or being a troll. Either way, this particular comment was not worth responding to beyond happy_penguin's remark. Moving on!

[rBoLt @ Sep 4th 2008 5:13AM]

Dear Mr. Dell,

Please make sure your engineers are thing of a better thing, not another insult to your company. The only product of yours that i admire was you Axim 50 and 51 series, which is a great product that you stopped. i hope youll soon realize how far you are to the competition now.

[gad get @ Sep 4th 2008 5:16AM]

"Please make sure your engineers are thing of a better thing"

What the heck does that mean?

[giuliop @ Sep 4th 2008 6:43AM]

I've always told Mr. Dell, don't stop you products.

[Freakin Ijit @ Sep 4th 2008 8:09AM]

Dell has no problem outsourcing their devices. I would certainly expect Dell to contract with HTC (or someone as good) for any phone "they" come out with eventually.

[Lazaro17 @ Sep 4th 2008 5:19AM]

Are you guys serious? Why would you even mention politics on a post about Dell making a iPhone competitive device?

And for your own sake don't ever mention your choice in a president because you own a iPhone ever again.

[Glen @ Sep 4th 2008 5:44AM]

I reckon Dell are waiting on Microsoft to finish Windows Mobile 7... then you'll see "small screen phone devices" from Dell that run WM7. That's my guess... my sources within Microsoft say we'll be seeing these devices at the end of the year...

[j.d.ripper @ Sep 4th 2008 5:47AM]

If you're been reading engadget comments for sometime now, you'll know that Yay is just a troll and is best to just ignore him. Just click the "-" and move on.

On another note Obama doesn't have an iPhone and McCain probably has never heard of the term "cellular network".

[stone killer @ Sep 4th 2008 7:58AM]

wow , i didn't even know DELL was named after a person.

[Jack Storm @ Sep 10th 2008 2:07AM]

Why are you on this website then?

[Freakin Ijit @ Sep 4th 2008 8:07AM]

>>> "..."Not in the near-term..."

They're probably still negotiating with Palm to buy them out.

[pete @ Sep 4th 2008 8:44AM]

...and therefore the Delldo Phone is created

[mojo @ Sep 4th 2008 9:08AM]

Dell should close up shop and give the money back to the investors... :-) hehehhehe

[Unknown @ Sep 4th 2008 5:49PM]

Dell wants to emulate Apple in whatever way they can....... This is what I heard when I interviewed there

[ehvision @ Sep 4th 2008 10:08PM]

Dell, to beat iphone, all you need is minimalistic design like the outrageously nicely designed Dell E4200 that I am highly anticipating. The phone should be the following (do not compromise the list or else face failure):

1. 4.3" capacitive touch screen with extremely little border/bezel/frame (whatever you call it), width, and especially height (beats iphone).

2. With that screen size, it's perfect for GPS, so add GPS, look at all the current 4.3" touchscreen GPS, which is getting really pocketable!

3. Thin, and light, but can sacrifice some for good battery, and to pack all the other essentials behind the display.

4. Android OS, this is the only OS that can truly compete with iphone OS due to development community and openness.

5. Minimal external buttons, maybe the iphone position screen on/off button, and blackberry type thumb wheel scroll on the side.