Dell 'Mini 5' tablet prototype shows up as M01M in Shenzhen black market
By Richard Lai 
posted January 28th 2010 6:40AM
posted January 28th 2010 6:40AM
[Thanks, Shaun Wu]
posted January 28th 2010 6:40AM
A look back on popular stories from today in a specific year.
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
this looks better than the iTampon ...
@amirmah LOL
@amirmah Now that we have seen the "Other Device" this is starting to look A LOT more appealing isn't it?
@Eternity
Having been sorely disappointed with the iPad, this just looks absolutely amazing.
@Eternity absolutely, how much does need to innovate to put a camera on these things? multitasking?
@unwynd if you want a smart phone get a smart phone and it will be about an inch smaller and easier to handle. If you want a media device how about something that has a nice big beautiful screen that makes your consumption of the media pleasing and large amounts of text easy to read. Not something that is 1" bigger than an iPhone running 800x480. This thing is basically an iPod Touch on roids for $1,000 OR a mini iPad w/camera for $1,000. I'm confused about what their vision for this is. Its not exactly big enough to be an eReader/Media viewer, but its big enough to be awkward to carry around as a phone replacement.
@digitizedsociety
About this devices place in life:
The iPhone brought a great number of innovations to the smart phone/touchscreen game. Some things were (not necessarily apple)double tap to zoom to a area of text and pinch to zoom in farther. But as a reading device the iPhone fails. To read small text you have to zoom in so far your consistantly sliding the screen over and back, think iPhone safari.
This is aimed at the people who want their "everything device" to be an alternative reader. Something to handle webpages in a larger format. If you do alot of web browsing on the iPhone, you'll notice alot of text and links will go unnoticed simply because the page is built for computer monitors.
At least thats exactly why I want this.
@Chroma +1
just as ipad isnt meant to be a "do all" device, this isnt too. atleast this one gets many things right over the ipad!
@unwynd
That is why I am disappointed on the ipad as well. I thought apple was going to make it a step up from the iphone 3GS; turns out to be wrong. But just like apple. They will make the Mac heads buy this mediocre device, then release one with just a little more things in it and have them fools running to buy that, then do it again. Then they sit there and laughing at all the money the made from the mac fools while sipping on Gin and juice in Aruba......Sad but true.
Example: iphone 3G and 3GS
@amirmah
Looks a lot more like a pad too!
Ok, seriously, it's very cool.
Hmm.. iPad or this? Tough call? I don't think so. Android is still not quite there yet.
@Anphaser android's not, but i wouldn't put too much faith in the huge iPhone either. At least android is improving in the hands of developers.
Buy the iPad, and it's a waiting game for Apple to decide if a feature is important enough.
@Anphaser This is a large phone, the iPad is not.
@Chroma Yes, we know, it's a large Ipod Touch!
wow..sick!
This is the proper size for an enlarged iPhone
@Cynical Hippie:
Precisely. If I could get an iPhone with a 5" screen, I'd not take a second glance at the iPad. I don't necessarily need 10" if that's going to be the bulk of what differentiates the product from its venerable predecessors.
@Cynical Hippie
What just big enough to not fit in your pocket? This is like the person on the Price Is Right guessing $1 less the other person. If it's not going to fit in my pocket that I'd rather it be bigger so there's actually an advantage over a pocket-sized device.
If this thing isnt less then $500...I'll be getting the Ipad.
YEAH I SAID IT!!
@steverl22 this will definitely be less than $500...I'm thinking around $299-349 depending on processor and internal memory. BIG advantage here...1) Android : open source development (rooting to boot) 2) EXPANDABLE MEMORY!
When will Apple learn?
It's also only a matter of time until we have a Nook android app (if there isn't already?)
@steverl22 Those processors surely made anyone's senses perked up. It's an oddly satisfying implementation of a camera, in a super sizing kind of way. This will be dell's flagship for their tablet device. More Details: http://bit.ly/dell-mini-5-details
@nike514 http://aldiko.com/ works pretty well
And Calibre for Linux converts all the ebook formats
@cherryboom They are a 50 billion dollar company because of sheep like you.
@nike514 When will Apple learn ... to stop making billions of dollars?
I'm not a fanboy, but really. Also, I don't think there's anything like a guarantee that the Dell Streak, which looks very cool, is definitely less than $500. The internals suggest that it's going to be very close to $500.
@cobaltage No doubt they make big bucks, which is their ultimate goal. But most of the reason they do is due to marketing. What I'm saying is take that marketing, which more open hardware/software to appeal to an even larger audience.
Then you make even more money.
@1ofdakoolkidz
No, they're a $50 billion dollar company because they know how to do business. It's called being successful. That's what most companies try to achieve.
@nike514 299-349 for a cellphone unsubsidized?!?! i dont think that'll happen considering the specs... maybe on contract.. but not off contract.. Thats a bit to optimistic :P
Android is "not there" yet, but our little iTampon will NEVER be there. The point is moot.
@Sunil
Really? Care to make a little wager? Which will sell more, the Dell Mini 5 or the iPad? Like it or not, Apple's gonna sell a ton of these. The original iPhone was incredibly lacking when compared to most smartphone and I'd say it's done OK.
@tbayrgs Yea... I agree with u totally. Even worse products have become massive sellers, such is the power of marketing. My point was Dell 5 is a more complete product, even with android (in reply to a poster who said Android is "not there" or something similar). Else I have no doubt that this iPad will be a hit. (atleast quite successful).
@tbayrgs
There are plenty examples anyone could give on the topic of "selling lots does not a good product make"
Want it on ATT so bad, I'll drop my iPhone for it!
I want to use this as my next phone. Ditch the 3GS for it.
Now this is an iPad I would buy!
That is sleek and appears to have the features I would want.
what? ¥7,500 is only about $83
@Seanluxor
How hard is it to figure out that the price is in Chinese yuans? It says the thing is in Shenzhen, a Chinese city.
@IndyMac
no (¥) thats Japanese Yen.
@Seanluxor No really, it's the same symbol for both currencies.
@Richard Lai
wow, I didn't know that, 12 years in japan, not long enough..
7500yen to 1000dollars? Might want to recheck that conversion?
@dgs It's in yuan, or Chinese RMB.
@cherryboom
Where did you read 1.5 GHZ, or did you even read the article?
@bo3of .. It has 1/2 the battery life, 1/4 to 1/16 the hard disk size and no native apps. It does have Flash but that is really the only decent part.
@taligent
ah, don't forget it can make calls too, and it has a 5MP camera, and its still portable.
@jir0 .. if I wanted those things I would just use my Droid. I want a better Kindle.
@taligent
well, hopefully this Dell device won't disappoint.
So this is going to cost about 2x what the iPad costs
... yup, so once again, you have to pay the Apple Tax... oh wait, opps... I mean the Dell Tax to get one of their devices.
So now that Apple's tablet is going to cost less than most competing tablet units, is the price difference going to be called the Apple Rebate? Or Apple Refund?
@Hazdaz
Here's a tip, when things aren't on the open market, you pay a premium for them. I bet this thing will cost 5-600 dollars. The extra 500 dollars or so is being put in someone's pocket.
@BigJayDogg3
I'd keep praying if I were you.
@Hazdaz
No you idiot, this one is $1000 because the device isn't even out yet and it's a prototype look at what leaked engineering sample processors or that prototype Droid sold for on eBay vs their actual RRP once released.