1) True, but as I said MOST people don't read in full sunlight. In fact trying to read an old fashioned paper book in full sunlight is uncomfortable to most people as it's just too bright.

2) Pixel QI screens are lower contrast than quality LCD panels when the backlight is on, and have a poorer viewing angle. When the backlight is off it still draws power (unlike the eInk screens) and you pretty much lose colour completely. It's not an ideal solution for devices like the Dell because of this and 1 above.

3) No it isn't, especially with the backlight off. It's about equal to a cheap TN panel with the backlight on. Contrast changes hugely by angle with it off.

4) CVS isn't linked to using backlit screens, it's linked to staring at close images for protracted periods with low blink rates. Using eInk or Pixel QI won't help here (in fact staring at a smaller screen closer up makes things worse).

@ Steve T.

Thanks, but your comment does not seem to address the issues I mentioned, namely:

1) Only E-ink and Pixel Qi screens can be used to read comfortably in full sunlight. Can you can show me a backlit strictly transmissive-mode LCD or OLED screen that can do this (and even better, do it while saving 80% on power compared to similar displays) while displaying full-motion video? AFAIK, only the proprietary reflective-mode LCD Pixel Qi screen is capable of this, although your concerns over the slow response of E-Ink screens are justified.

2) Pixel Qi screens DO have a backlight that can be switched on (manually or automatically) to read in low light if you were not aware of this, so you may be interested in this option for your own use.

3) The viewing angle on the latest Pixel Qi screens has also been greatly improved and now is equivalent to most other LCD screens.

4) Computer vision syndrome (CVS) is a known, documented source of eyestrain that can result in vision damage from reading for extended periods on back-lit monitors (http://www.aoa.org/x5374.xml). Most E-book readers presently on the market (such as the Kindle) have reflective-mode E-ink screens, so they are probably OK (but again, have slow response). Ipads and the like (using back-lit LCD's) are a relatively new entry to the market, and I suspect that we may well see a rash of issues related to eye-strain from people now using these to read entire books. CVS-limitation guidelines recommend taking a break every 10 minutes (and I wonder how many Ipad users do this when reading an E-book?).

I understand that Pixel Qi conversion kits are presently available for laptops, so I would imagine that we will be seeing these screens in other devices very quickly. Having said that, I personally would not want to invest in a device with a non-Pixel Qi screen and have to almost immediately upgrade. I can't really see any drawbacks to the Pixel Qi screen technology, hence my original comment.

Dell has promised that they will update to Eclair and Froyo after the summer. Gingerbread is another matter. But anyway the important thing is Froyo.

Regarding the device itself, yes, it's just another Android smartphone with the usual snapdragon, 5 Mpix camera, 512 Mb RAM, GPS, accelerometer... but with a bigger screen. Now, I can see myself reading web pages and books much better on a 5" screen.

The iphone4 960x640 in a 3.5" screen is ridiculous. You need a magnifying glass or hold the phone at 3 inches from your eye, which is something I do not intend to do. Nobody has ever made a 300+ PPI display for ANY product, and there's a reason for that. You cannot see the details, so what's the point?

The iPad has 132 PPI and I see millions of people reading books and web pages on it without complaining about the resolution.

no* manufacturer supports a 2 year old pc.

Love the Dell hate :) I am not a fan myself but I'm sure manufacturer supports a 2 year old pc. Using Android 1.6 now however without confirmation of an update would be very poor. Knowing their pc build quality though by the time 3 comes out they will all be broken anyway :)

The world is of course full of people blinded by using LCD screens. NOT! There is nothing inherently worse about using a backlit screen vs a reflective screen. Absence of flicker, clarity of image and viewing distance are the important factors for ease of reading, not any other imagined property in your fervid imagination.

Backlit screens work better in lower light situations (where most people read BTW) but draw more power and lose contrast in high light levels. Reflective screens are not without their own issues (slow refresh rates for eInk, pretty much monochrome images, lower contrast and narrower viewing angles for Pixel QI).

There is a saying, abbreviated to TANSTAAFL. There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch. All of these technologies involve trade-offs. Which works better is a matter of personal choice, not an absolute.

My HD2 fits in my pocket with room to spare... 5" is 35% more area than 4.3" (and 95% bigger than the iPhone's puny 3.5"). It's so much more comofrtable to read, browse the web... while still being a phone.

To Mr. Update Whiner: Apple's original iPhone no longer has updates either, 3 yrs after its release. So 2yrs of updates sounds standard. My LG20 could not install firmware upgrades from Windows 7... please let me know which phone companies have 3+ years updates, I'm interested.

The presenter was quick to point out that the device was a great web browser, but even a simple scroll of the screen up or down showed just how sluggish it was.

But you can't really expect much from Dell, all the years of shipping cheap garbage at rock bottom prices to naive consumers, pretty much guarantees the R&D department at Dell has no true innovators left.

I've been using Dell laptops for years and I know from experience that Michael Dell has a skeleton hiding in his closet that definitely applies to the Streak. What could it be you ask? I'm glad you asked. It's been my experience that Dell is notorious for not providing bios or driver updates beyond two years at the extreme after a consumer product is released unless it's a major security issue. Even then that support comes to a screeching halt not much later. The fact that Dell is releasing the new Streak with a very old version of Android does indeed tell the tale. You can bet your Granny's life savings that Dell will be increasingly slow at releasing updates and even that goodness won't last for long. Dell is shooting itself in the foot with this short term profit philosophy and has already lost many customers as a result.

While I really like the concept of the Streak, especially the huge oversized screen for my tired eyes, I probably will look elsewhere for a similarly featured Android smartphone from a Dell rival. This is knowing that in the not too distant future a Streak buyer will be on his/her own in trying to find Android updates after Michael Dell turns his back on this device, which is as certain as the sun rising tomorrow. And this update problem is exacerbated because Dell, like most manufacturers, uses a custom version of Android. So even if you find a newer generic Android version, you will most likely lose Dell's custom features that you've probably gotten used to.

I wish the situation were different, but like my younger brother says for just such occasions: "it is what it is".

I've been using Dell products for years and I know from experience that Michael Dell has a skeleton hiding in his closet that definitely applies to the Streak. What could it be you ask? I'm glad you asked. Dell is notorious for not providing bios or driver updates beyond two years at the extreme after a consumer product is released unless it's a major security issue. Even then that support comes to a screeching halt not much later. The fact that Dell is releasing the new Streak with a very old version of Android does indeed tell the tale. You can bet your Granny's life savings that Dell will be increasingly slow at releasing updates and even that goodness won't last for long. Dell is shooting itself in the foot with this short term profit philosophy and has already lost many customers as a result.

While I really like the concept of the Streak, especially the huge oversized screen for my tired eyes, I probably will look elsewhere for a similarly featured Android smartphone from a Dell rival. This is knowing that in the not too distant future a Streak buyer will be on his/her own in trying to find Android updates after Michael Dell turns his back on this device. And this update problem is exacerbated because Dell, like most manufacturers, uses a custom version of Android. So even if you find a newer generic Android version, you will most likely lose Dell's custom features that you've probably gotten used to.

I wish the situation were different, but like my younger brother says for just such occasions: "it is what it is".

The form factor is interesting...more portable than a clunky 10" tablet, usable as a phone, more screen real estate than any smartphone. Missing a USB port is a bad decision that should be corrected in future versions, IMHO. People will not want to have to buy additional proprietary docks at home and office, and this could limit the uptake of this device.

Most significantly, the screen is still the issue: it cannot be used to read ebooks (or easily/enjoyably operate the phone) in full sunlight. If Dell stuck a Pixel Qi screen on these, they would have a winner that could actually be used to read ebooks without damaging users' eyes, and could be used in any lighting conditions (like reading ebooks at the beach, or in any outdoor location). And the battery life would probably increase to several days.

Hopefully Michael Dell reads the Inquirer...I for one am waiting for a Pixel Qi screen.