CES 2011: Tablets at CES 2011 Dell Streak 7 & Streak 10
The Dell Streak runs on Android 2.2, not version 3.0 like most tablets announced at CES 2011.
Dell released its first tablet, the 5-inch Dell Streak, last year. At CES 2011 it has announced a brand new 7-inch tablet, the Streak 7, and teased the prospect of a 10-inch version to join it later in the year.
The spec sheet of the Dell Streak 7 reads like a very familiar book. At its heart is an Nvidia Tegra 2 chipset - the processor of choice for all the tablets at CES 2011 – and it runs on Android.
Tegra 2 is a dual-core processor, making it particularly good at multitasking where apps run in the background just like on a PC or laptop.
Dell Streak 7 first look video
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Android 2.2, not 3.0, and low-res display
Much to our surprise the Streak 7 doesn’t have Android 3.0, but runs on 2.2 instead.
It’s also restricted to a lower, 800 x 480 native resolution display – much lower than the 1,024 x 600 of the Samsung Galaxy Tab and even more so than the 1,280 x 800 of many competitors recently announced. This is disappointing, but might mean the Streak 7 is competitively priced to compensate.
There are some plus points with the screen, though. We found it to be very responsive to our finger gestures, and it uses ultra-strong ‘Gorrila Glass’ to stave away cracks and scratches if bumped or dropped
4G networking and 1080p video
Screen aside, the Dell Streak 7 doesn’t want for many features. It’ll come in 16GB and 32GB versions, and be expandable via memory cards. US users will get 4G connectivity, the next generation of high-speed mobile internet that’s not available in the UK yet.
You get two cameras – one 5MP on the back, another 1.3MP one on the front – so you record videos, take photos and video chat as much as you like. Like all Tegra 2 tablets, the Dell Streak 7 can play 1080p video with no problems and should produce some impressive graphics in games.
Dell Stage interface
Dell has also added its own interface to the Streak 7: Dell Stage. It’s impressive, too. The main home screen features large interactive tiles; some feature recently used apps, others offer quick access to photos, videos, contacts, and social networking applications such as Twitter and Facebook.
There are no details as to when the Dell Streak 7 will be released in the UK, but Dell confirmed it definitely intends to release it outside the US.
Dell Streak 10
Dell also teased another tablet, the Dell Streak 10, briefly showing it on stage before hiding it again. No details were revealed, but it’s safe to assume it will run Android 3.0 and use the Nvidia Tegra 2 chipset. This would make it a genuine iPad competitor, whereas the Streak 7 is more akin to the Samsung Galaxy Tab or Blackberry Playbook.
