Another computer maker starts to talk the talk of dabbing in the handset making process.  Just last week, Om Malik of GigaOM, spoke with Michael Dell, founder and CEO of Dell, Inc., about plans that he has in the making.  And although the eighth richest man in the world didn’t actually close the deal on the future Dell smartphone, he did hint at the possibility and that is good enough for us.

Apple and Dell … Battle of the Riches

Ever since Steve Jobs decided to bring Apple to life, it has truly taken over the idea of an outstanding technology device.  Whether it is computers or a smartphone, Apple truly brings the best to the table every time.  At the same time, Dell computers have been around for awhile now and have consistently performed well in many tests.  With the new Microsoft Vista, Dell computers are back on the right track and making good profit.  I am sure Michael Dell has seen the success Apple has had with the release of the new Apple iPhone 3G, so why wouldn’t he want to join in the “friendly” competition? 

An Excerpt from Michael Dell (thanks GigaOM!)

Below is an excerpt from a GigaOM interview between Om Malik and Michael Dell … to see the rest of this interview, please visit GigaOM.com 

Dell: We are certainly looking at the whole smartphone category, but I wouldn’t expect anything anytime soon.

Om: With the emergence of Google’s Android, and with Symbian OS and Microsoft Mobile already on the market, do you think that makes it easier for Dell to get into the phone business?

Dell: What you’ve got [are] industry-standard platforms upon which applications are being built and ecosystems are being created, and that kind of building-block architecture gives us all sorts of opportunities.

Om: You can be a big game-changer in this market, right? You can decide to work with Android orSymbian. Is there a desire on your part to work with one over the other?

Dell: We’re not ready to publicly disclose our plans there…we’re kind of working on that. 

Closing Remarks

That part where Dell said “we’re kind of working on that” is enough for me to hear.  I think this will be great competition, especially for the consumer because they will continually be competing for better devices and technology.  I guess only time will tell, but I like the track that this train is going down …

After it’s supposed debut in the box office hit “The Dark Knight,” the Nokia XpressMedia 5800 Tube has been caught in the wild again.  Nokia has not released any official information on this slick looking handset, but it looks like it just might be a dandy of a phone.

Nokia 5800 Tube Specs

According to intomobile.com, the latest of Nokia’s lineup will be shipped in late 2008 as the Nokia 5800 Tube and will show-off a 3.2 megapixel camera with autofocus.  It will also include a 3.2-inch touchscreen display with 16 million colors, which is slightly less than its competitor’s iPhone screen with a 3.5-inch multi-touch display.  As far as communication goes, the Nokia Tube will have a quad-band GSM/EDGE radio with 3G UMTS/HSDPA.  Pair this up with Bluetooth 2.0, WiFi, and some GPS navigation and you will be home free.

And as far as the little extras go … there are plenty of them.  A 3.5 mm headphone jack and TV-out port is included with along with the ability to “geo-tag” pics.  Nokia is putting out a great phone with the Nokia 5800 Tube, but they aren’t considering it their “flagship device.”

Some Pictures of Nokia’s New Baby

Will It Compete?

I think that the Nokia 5800 Tube phone will be a great smartphone for people who want a great device, without all of the “extras.”  This phone has some good specs, but still may not be able to compete with the Apple iPhone 3G or a new BlackBerry device.  Nokia continues to push out new phones and are consistently a good option for any tech device … so my prediction for the late 2008 release of this phone is that you won’t be disappointed. 

As we eagerly await the release of the new iPhone and a slew of other smartphones, I’m faced with a decision - should I hop on the nearly-button-free, touchscreen bandwagon or do I want a QWERTY keyboard for easy texting and emailing?

Touchscreen Options

While Apple’s latest addition to the touch-screen movement is probably the most buzzed about, many cell phone manufacturers have touchscreen phones on the way for this summer. Blackberry’s Thunder is a much anticipated product, as it ventures away from the typical Blackberry form, but keeps some of the essentials, such as quick-touch buttons for sending and ending calls, browsing the menu, instant camera access, and other often used applications. It has, however, lost the tactile keyboard, leaving the user with only the visual one typical of  touchscreen phones. Also in this category are the LG Dare, Samsung Instinct, and HTC Diamond.

Tactile QWERTY Keyboard Options

The new HP iPAQ 910 has just been released, and packs a punch with its Windows 6.1 Mobile OS and sleek Blackberry-esque look. Another option with a full keyboard is the brand new Blackberry Bold, the first Blackberry with HSDPA networking. LG also has several QWERTY handsets for the mobile messager - the enV2 offers a full keyboard, and some great extras such as a 2MP camera, but leaves much to be desired with its subpar appearance. But for a consumer strongly concerned with ease of texting and emailing, a QWERTY keyboard could be the most important feature.

My Verdict

As far as my bottom line goes, I think my requirements are GPS, a full web browser, a high quality camera and reliable service. As a novice mobile messager, I think I can sacrifice the tactile QWERTY keyboard, but only because I don’t think I’ll be using a keyboard (in any form) much from my smartphone. So right now my frontrunner is the Bold, with its sleek touch screen and easy-access buttons, but I am confident I am not the only one facing this dilemma. As the products are released, and the race unfolds, we’ll see what a smartphone will need to take the lead.