Dell Venue

“Honestly, one of the best things about the Dell Venue is the fact that it’s one of those handsets you don’t quite expect to see in the wild – thus, it’s able to stand out more amongst the usual pack of smartphones out there. Looking into it more, Dell has done a magnificent job with its design, and much like its Windows Phone 7 sibling, every inch of it seeps with elegance – though, it doesn’t quite hit the high marks in all categories with its performance. In the end, its $99.99 price point is fitting for a handset with its hardware, but no longer competes on the same level as some of the newer handsets on the scene. For the money, it’s a respectable offering that stands out from the usual crop out there.”

“All in all, Dell's delivered a solid phone that comes in nice package, as well as a form factor that's no doubt more tolerable for the average joe. For what it's worth, the Venue is certainly a very attractive deal (in Hong Kong, at least), especially with its relatively new OS, slick UI, and a surprisingly good camera. If Dell gets around to tweaking the charging issue, audio quality, camera app, and camcorder performance, then the Venue would pretty much be the must-have phone. Well, except we all know that it probably won't get its 2.3 update until a gazillion months later.”

“To achieve true success, Dell must now focus on hardware. It's got sexy down pat, but there are some missteps along the way that make the Venue really hard to commit to. They've got the right idea for the screen but have somehow managed to muck it up with that concave design. Sleek? Yes. Pleasant to use? No. What's the point of an attractive screen if it's unresponsive and always dirty? What's the point of a Snapdragon processor if it's easily choked? And no LED notification light? REALLY? Optimization is key here, and is clearly something Dell is still working on. I have faith in you, Dell. You're far from perfection but with a little determination, you will improve. You've got all the ingredients, now turn it into something delicious.”

“This phone is not the strongest device on the market in any one category, but together all of its features DO make it a solid choice for those looking for a device that can run on any network they choose. Dell is a brand you can trust to bring you a quality product, and if you’re the sort of person who only buys Dell for your desktop computers, heck, why not stick with a group you love?I cannot bring myself to dislike a device like the Dell Venue, but I do have to say that it’s not the device I’ll be carrying around this Spring season, not even a little bit. Only think I’ll miss is the unique feel including, but not limited to, the curved Gorilla Glass up on the front. Very smooth and fierce!”