With the Apple iPad drawing flak from electronic and paper media, Dell is pitching in to fill the void with its tablet-smartphone crossbreed device Dell Mini 5. The Android-powered device sports a large 5″ screen and is powered by Qualcomm’s 1GHz Snapdragon processor. (DAVOS-KLOSTERS, SWITZERLAND)

Taking cue from competing Android manufacturers, Dell has added a customized UI to the Android core, making the Mini 5 an attractive device both on the hardware and software specifications sheet. Though the device looks intimidating with its 5″ touchscreen, especially when placed next to the market leader iPhone, the handset is a delight to use and doesn’t feel awkward, as seen by the leaked demo video showing Michael Dell briefing (unofficially) the media at the World Economic Forum 2010 annual meeting held in Switzerland.

While the full specifications of the device have been known for a while since the tear-down of the Dell Mini 5 by Vietnamese website Tinhte, first appeared on the web; there was no word on availability or pricing until this demo video from Michael Dell appeared on the web, a couple of days ago. The Dell founder and CEO, revealed that the Mini 5 will be launched in a “couple of months” and refused to divulge any details on the pricing.

With the Apple iPad going for US$499, Dell may be forced to price its Mini 5 around the same range to compete with the latest device from Apple.
Read the rest of this entry