Laptop Thoughts: News & Reviews on Laptops, Netbooks, Slates, and More.

This is a nice video demonstrating some of the customizations Dell has done to optimize the Streak to make better use of Android on a larger screen. For the most part it looks pretty good. From the video, they imply that the Streak is landscape-only, which is not something I'd heard before, but maybe I'm just inferring too much from what he said. If true, I think this is a bit limiting, as I'd want to use a lot of apps, like an ebook reader, in portrait mode.

"You didn't think I'd mention all of that Dell Streak beta-testing business if I didn't actually have one for myself, did you? I already unboxed the UK version of the Streak but since the packaging is so different and could end up being what the retail devices ship in, I had to do another unboxing. There's no evidence on the box that this is a pre-production unit and it doesn't seem feasible for Dell to have made these boxes just for 1,000 beta testers, but there's always a chance that the final units will be packaged differently."

Wow - compare that packaging to the UK version, and you can tell that Dell put a lot more effort into the US experience - maybe this means they'll be sold at retail in a bigger way? Lots of pictures and details over at the link, because this guy is one of 1000 beta testers in the USA, so he has the scoop. Anyone out there getting a Dell Streak? I'm rather intrigued by it myself...I like the idea of a device this size, but it really depends on the software/services that come along with it, and I'm not very familiar with anything running Android.

"Dell have worked hard to produce something rather unique, that is a small form factor tablet device (or a large form factor phone device) that has a decent balance of size against functionality. Their customisation of the Android operating system onto the machine has been carried out with aplomb and the interface is a pleasure to interact with. Final thought would I buy a Streak? That is difficult, if it felt a little more robust, and had the software glitches fixed, then yes. Otherwise if I bought one now I'd be handling it very carefully and complaining to Dell over the few bugs that are in there!"

Whenever this hits the US, I'll seriously consider upgrading IF..... It is available on Verizon for a reasonable cost. It has a more current version of Android and looks to be on a faster upgrade schedule. It has a better screen resolution. Until then, just a bunch of wait and see.