Dell Streak or iPad?

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Duffer

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Dell has just just launched a 5" tablet/slate handheld PC to compete with the 10" Apple iPad. It can be used as a large smartphone (unlike the iPad) and runs on the Google Android platform so there are plenty of apps (applications) to download (though not as many as from Apple).

Prices are from £25 per month for the Streak (or £400 without a contract) from O2 or Carphone Warehouse. The iPad starts at £429 from Apple (£529 with 3G plus 3G access from £7.50 per month for 1Gb of data).

Google either product for online reviews, demos and video clips.

They could be useful as portable chartplotters depending on the quality of the apps. Dell is said to be planning to bring out 7" and 10" versions as well.

Archos also produce slates though there seem to be issues with quality/support.

So which one would you be more likely to get? I think the standalone price for the Dell is high but could fall. Unusually the Dell is being launched in the UK even before the US.
 
I'd get an iPad but I'm biased. We had one at work for "experiments" before it was released and I synced it with my Navionics iPhone apps and charts - fantastic, even if not at the high res the iPad can offer.

I've just bought a new telly so I have to wait a bit but an iPad will be joining my Apple collection soon.
 
Kioni said:
I'd get an iPad but I'm biased. We had one at work for "experiments" before it was released and I synced it with my Navionics iPhone apps and charts - fantastic, even if not at the high res the iPad can offer.
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I too having been playing with an iPad at work. It really is a smart piece of tech. A little bit pricey, though. I'll probably buy one eventually but head and wallet are holding me back. The full resolution Navionics app would convince me, though.

The Streak looks like a mobile phone from "Land of the Giants".
 
I was using my cousin's iPad this afternoon. Despite all of my previous scepticism I have to say its a phenominally good bit of kit, with a great display too - a tad pricey at present but that is to be expected, as it is the latest and greatest release. I guess/hope prices will drop in the future though
 
gerry99 said:
a tad pricey at present but that is to be expected, as it is the latest and greatest release. I guess/hope prices will drop in the future though
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Its Apple and therefore not just a tool but a conspicuous consumption fashion accessory. Price won't shift appreciably. I think the Streak may be a good bet if it has Dell's relaibility and afetrcare support behind it. The stumbling block all devices smaller than a noteboook/iPad must get around is screen size, I reckon the Streak takes that one as far as it can reasonably go and still fit in a pocket.

I don't (yet?) see what the iPad brings to the table that you don't get, or approximate, with a netbook style PC costing about half the price, apart from battery life where they have a clear win.
 
I don't think Dogwatch's troll alert adds anything to the debate.

The ipad is very slick but less versatile than a similarly priced laptop (which would have a DVD rewriter, more ports and larger screen). You are paying a premium for style (and why not).

If you want a smarter smartphone with a larger screen (5") then the Dell Streak makes more sense. It's not cheap standalone but most smartphones are sold on contract. If the larger screen sizes appear (7" and 10") it will be more of a direct competitor for the ipad.

I'd like one of these devices, ideally for £100 or £10 per month but sadly that isn't going to happen anytime soon!
 
What the iPod has done for music the iPad will do for newspapers, magazines and a big section of the book industry. As a colleague of mine said, "I'm carrying around 200+ magazine issues, 50+ books, all my CDs etc. for less volume and weight than a single issue of PBO..."
 
For many years I have carried 3 ways to navigate on our boat:-
1. Chartplotter
2. Papercharts
3. PC

Depending on circumstances, I always use one of the first two as primary, and then the other as secondary. For example, I will navigate with the plotter for a passage, but also have a chart of the whole passage open for quick reference. Not once have I ever felt the need to use the PC, and fortunately, not once have I been forced into doing so, despite it having it's own power source and GPS aerial.

Last week found us on a 150nm passage complete. with a new iPad. We did all our weather research and passage planning on the iPad and essentially used the plotter to drive the autopilot and for AIS. I was very impressed with the Navionics charts and software on the iPad and it's just a matter of time before weather integration, AIS etc. are all very easily supported.

My boat laptop will be on ebay by then end of the week. I just see no need for it any more.

Yes, the ipad costs more than a laptop, but it does what I need, it does it easier, with a lighter unit and provides several things that the laptop does not. iBooks is a great way of taking a whole load of books away with you. You can lie on the saloon berth, read a book, navigate, check the weather and order your crew around - my sort of sailing!

I just need to get a gizmo that transmits NMEA2000 data over wifi and the thing will really fly.
 
Another vote for the iPad. Had mine a week and am writing this on it from a bar in Albania. Used it as a book on aeroplane over here and watched a movie last night as the tv is rubbish! I have not yet load any sailing apps yet but will do when I get back. I know I could have used my laptop for all of this but the speed from switching on and the ability the switch between apps means I would not have bothered especially on the plane and here in a bar.
 
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