Dell launches Streak to compete with iPad

Dell Inc, one of the leading computer manufacturers in the world, has announced the release of Streak, a tablet computer that the company hopes will provide some stiff competition for Apple's iPad. Streak is scheduled to be released in the UK next month through O2 and Car Warehouse, with plans to make its debut throughout the US later this year, reports www.discountvouchers.co.uk.

The Round Rock based computer giant unveiled Streak on Tuesday, although company founder Michael Dell provided a sneak peek at the product at a conference in San Francisco two weeks ago. Streak will run using Google's Android operating system, and will be the first product on the market designed to take on the iPad.

According to IDC analyst Will Stofega, the device is incredibly functional despite its small size. He went on to say that the Streak, which serves as a mobile phone and has a front-facing camera for videoconferencing, is infinitely usable.

Although the device may be powerful and have immense functionality, overtaking the iPad is a tall order, according to Forrester analyst Charles Golvin. Golvin said that although the hardware is more than adequate to serve the needs of the many users who wish to buy Streak, the lack of available software apps is a major hurdle that needs to be overcome. Apple's iPad has an ever-increasing arsenal of apps, with over 200,000 currently available.