The new tablet phone: the Dell Streak

So I’m looking for a nice new phone… one that’s not an iPhone 4. Might I suggest testing your product before you mass produce it, Apple? (Okay, okay, that might have been a little below the belt.)

Samsung just made a nice one: the Galaxy. Also known as the Captivate on the AT&T network. Sure, I could get that, but what about…

THE DELL STREAK

What’s this? A phone with a 5 inch screen? Why would anyone need that much screen space? Am I really supposed to hold that up to my face? Do I have to buy pants with bigger pockets to hold it?

I must have one.

Just one problem… the Dell Streak apparently doesn’t exist.

WHAT’S THE HOLD UP?

Oh, sure, there were rumors about it being released in Europe. There are mouth-watering pictures of its 800 x 480 touchscreen deliciousness all over the internet.

But the Dell Streak release date was last Friday, August 13th. And still… no where to be found.

Sure, you can buy it online at dell.com. But where’s the fun in that? I need to see it! I need to touch it! I need to know how big the pockets on my new pants must be!

IN MOTHER AMERICA, INSTANT GRATIFIES YOU

So I go to Radio Shack and ask to see one. The manager’s eyes light up as the word “streak” drifts from my lips to his ears. He is thoroughly impressed that I have even heard of it. Because, apparently, it doesn’t exist. He has no idea when or if they will get any in.

The next day I go to Best Buy to see their glorious display of awesome. But I am greeted by no such shrine… only a dim-witted counter clerk. She informs me that neither she nor her manager have even heard of the Dell Streak or any such lovely device, so clearly it cannot exist.

Rage mixes with despair. Where are you, my dream phone? Are you nothing but a phantom, a whisper, here to haunt me?

DELL STREAK STATS

• Operating System: Android 1.6
• Display: 5″ (12.7 cm) WVGA (800 x 480) in-cell TFT LCD supporting multi-touch
• Camera: 5.0M Rear-Facing Auto-Focus Camera + VGA Front-Facing Camera
• Memory: 512 MB ROM + 512 MB SDRAM + 2 GB non-user accessible MicroSD for system & applications files only
• Storage: 1 user accessible MicroSDTM card slot (16GB pre-installed)
• Connectivity: WLAN 802.11b/g, Bluetooth^® 2.0 with EDR, USB 2.0
• Dimensions: 6 x 3.1 x 0.4 in
• Weight: 7.7 oz
• Other Goodies: Ambient Light Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Accelerometer, e-compass, GPS, Capacitive sensor keys