Eek! Dell Streak!

[Headbanger]

What ho!

Having been convinced all I wanted from life was an iPhone 4, my husband has now done me 'ead in by bringing home a leaflet about the Dell Streak.

Any views from MN geeks?

It seems to be the main objections are that a)it looks daft when you clamp it to your ear for a phone call, and b) it's running an outdated version of Android.

However, a) I never ever make phone calls; on the rare occasions I do, I'll be in the privacy of my own home where I cannot be mocked. I want it for decent apps, MN web browsing, email, texts, and a document reader so I can read through my MS (I'm doing a PhD) on the go.

As to b) I gather everyone will be entitled to an upgrade to Andriod 2 later this year.

HELP! What do I do? I don't want to commit to 2 years of being laughed at by Appleheads!

Dammit! Someone? ANYONE?!

Sorry - saw your post and clicked the link but good old (!) Chrome has not shown me the Dell Streak off the O2 shop website. Don't know if it is a problem with Chrome browser, or their site, so will look with something else.

My initial thought was "Android v2.2 is out" and if that's not in the unit, just walk from an O2 shop telling them you will go to Argos for a laptop if there's a long wait (ie they won't get a sale from you if v2.2 isn't going to be on the Dell soon).

I simply wouldn't get the Dell until v2.2 is on, and you've seen reviews which say it is working well. However I'd certainly not be put off getting something running Android just because i is popular today or tomorrow.

Since there will be a range of manufacturers making Android products from TV to tablets, I think there will be considerable take-up compared with the "pretty, but expensive" Apple kit. I have a number of Apple buying acquaintances and yes, the products work well, but there have been plenty of 'niggles' too.

Oh hello! And thanks for replying - really useful advice.

I understand that if you buy it with A1.6, there'll be a free downloadable upgrade to A2.2 later in the year...

I hear a lot of really good things about Andriod, but always come back to the (slightly shallow) fact that Apple/iPhone stuff just looks so much better: for eg., my husband has an android phone and has downloaded the skymap app, and it's nothing like as impressive as the one from Apple. I realise that's peripheral..

Anyway: went and handled a Streak today (just a handset: it wasn't running for reasons I don't quite grasp). It looks very impressive, and whilst it isn't anything like as big as the gasps of horror from the internet suggest, it does look a little daft when held to the ear. But since I want it for browsing and texting etc., I'm not sure how much I care. That gorgeous 5" screen is so tempting...

Most childish of all, I don't want to be the odd-one-out, with this idiosyncratic bit of kit, when absolutely everyone else has an iPhone or an HTC...

Can understand the "not wanting to be odd one out"...

Does the Streak not have option of headset so you would not need to hold it to your face?

I clicked the link in your post again, went off and got into an argument about porn with someone, and have come back and there's still nothing but a nice blue background on the O2 site. However, a search with Yahoo! came up with some firm giving a Bluetooth headset for use with the Streak (OK, not great if you have earrings, perhaps but no need to hold a slab to your head (whether it be the Dell or an iPhone slab!)

Had not been aware of the differences in applications, to be frank, but that's because I've not "gone with the flow" (strapped for cash!) so no iPod or iPhone let alone an iPad for me... though did see some Android based tablets at US$150 on Ebay recently, and might be tempted if only my home broadband was more reliable (using a Three mobile USB modem more than landline as it dies for up to a week when there has been rain).

I was just looking on the e2save.com site (owned by Carphone Warehouse) and see they have the Dell on a 35 quid/month contract (yuk!) but then got me wondering when I saw some of their other deals, on HTC.

Do you already have a laptop ? It is just that from personal experience I've yet to be really impressed by some small screen device. May be fine for composing a quick text message, but always seem too much hassle for proper websites, especially as some sites don't seem to make allowances for narrower viewing devices.

Rather than jump at some Android device before v2.2 is out, it may be worth waiting a bit, and seeing what options the networks offer for 'tethering' (where you could use the mobile phone for internet access when your laptop was unable to get a wi-fi signal).

It's meant to be simple with v2.2 (from the Google presentation in April/May on YouTube) to use the wi-fi in the phone to allow access (I think they had an iPad getting net access via the Android handset's mobile network, with the Android unit acting like a radio relay). With the HTC Wildfire on Three, for example, you get 'unlimited' data (would need to check actual limits) for about 20 quid a month. Fine as a phone, but if it had v2.2 (currently v2.1) and you were allowed to use laptop with it, would offer better value.

Or is it the 5" screen and apps which will "win you over" to wanting a flashier newer phone and not touch your laptop?

Just saw mention of a Samsung P1000 running Android v2.2 and with a 7" screen (1024 x 600 pixels) but only a 3.2 Mpixel camera.

Only a prototype on some website in China but if it is 2/3 the price of an iPad it might well show the way things are going... Android :)