Head to head: Apple iPad versus Dell Streak

Dell's Streak is closer in size to a smartphone than the iPad

Apple's hotly anticipated iPad tablet goes on sale in the UK today, although some lucky online buyers received theirs a day early, while Dell's Streak is due to ship in June. But whether the Streak offers any kind of competition to tempt buyers away from the Apple product remains to be seen.

Both devices represent a new category that vendors aim to fit somewhere between smartphones and netbooks in size, and more importantly to have a different usage profile than either of these existing formats.

There are parallels between the two products, but also significant differences, the most noticeable being size. The Streak features a 5in screen, while the iPad is much larger at 9.7in across the diagonal. This makes the Streak closer in size to a phone, whereas the iPad is almost as large as existing full-sized tablet PCs.

However, a look at how the companies envision their respective devices being used shows some common ground. Apple pushes web browsing, email, photos and video viewing as uses for the iPad, while Dell similarly talks about a great web browsing experience, photos, movies and music on the Streak.

Under the skin, both devices are powered by ARM-based chips and are effectively running smartphone operating systems; the iPad's software is based on the iPhone OS, while the Streak runs Google's Android platform.

In theory, this should provide buyers with a wide selection of existing applications, but things are not so simple. It appears that applications created for the iPhone will require updating, or else they will continue to run at their original screen resolution and appear as a tiny window on the iPad screen.

Android was designed for devices with different screen sizes, so many applications should run without modification. In practice, however, applications on Android Market are often customised for specific Android devices.

One point in Dell's favour, depending on your point of view, is support for Adobe's Flash in the browser. Dell has promised Flash Player 10.1 support with an update to Android 2.2 due later in the year.

However, there is already considerable momentum building behind the iPad in the consumer and enterprise spaces.

Software vendors have been queuing up to announce support, especially with remote client software such as Citrix's Receiver or Wyse's PocketCloud that provide access to virtual desktops or thin client sessions.

However, Android is considered a more open platform, and devices such as the Streak could prove more attractive to enterprise developers.

One firm already planning an Android version is Wyse, which told V3.co.uk that its PocketCloud had been designed to port easily to other platforms.

"We see tablets being a very popular platform for accessing virtual and cloud-based desktops, and are bringing an Android version of PocketCloud to market," said David Angwin, director of marketing for EMEA at Wyse.

Some analysts, meanwhile, still doubt whether there is any real enterprise appeal behind the hype.

"At this point we're seeing a lot of experimentation going on around the right format for these companion devices, which don't actually have any clear usage case yet. It comes down to finding the applications they are optimised for," said Ovum analyst Tony Cripps.

In our review of the iPad as a business tool, we awarded it three stars out of five. However, this may not stop the devices filtering into the enterprise by the back door, he added, as has already happened with the iPhone.

Some of the iPad's most attractive features for consumers are support for iTunes and the iBooks application for reading electronic books, and Apple's larger screen is likely to prove an advantage for the latter.

Meanwhile, the Streak's smaller size makes it more attractive as a mobile web access device, but in this respect it is competing directly against smartphones.

In fact, several experts and reader comments on V3.co.uk have already pointed out that the Streak is basically just a large smartphone, and that its screen may be too small to compete against the iPad in the electronic reader stakes.

Dell, however, is planning further Streak devices that will have 7in and 10in screen sizes.

Much will also depend on pricing. Dell has yet to disclose a price for the Streak, while Apple's pricing starts at £499 for the cheapest iPad. Both devices will also be available via mobile networks with subsidised pricing, but this assumes that buyers will want to use them for mobile access, rather than at home connected to Wi-Fi.

There are also other mini tablet devices around. Archos is already selling its Android-based Archos 7 home entertainment device, while firms such as Acer are planning to introduce their own Android tablet devices later this year.

Finally, devices based on Intel's Moorestown platform are also expected later this year, many of which will fit into the same broad category as the Streak and iPad. Whether there will be enough demand for all these new devices remains to be seen.

V3.co.uk will be at Apple's flagship London Regent Street store on Friday morning, so be sure to check back on the site soon for an update on the UK iPad launch.