Dell has finally launched its first smartphone in the U.S. See CNET's hands-on photos of the Dell Aero here.
Bonnie Cha
Bonnie Cha was a former chief correspondent for CNET Crave, covering every kind of tech toy imaginable (with a special obsession for robots and Star Wars-related stuff). When she's not scoping out stories, you can find her checking out live music or surfing in the chilly waters of Northern California.
First announced at CTIA 2010, the Dell Aero is the company's first smartphone for the U.S. market. The Android phone is available from AT&T and Dell for $99.99 with a two-year contract.
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Limited features
Dell's entry in the smartphone world is a disappointing one. The Aero ships with Android 1.5 and is sluggish compared with today's latest devices.
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Design
The only thing the Dell Aero has going for it is a slim and lightweight design.
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Navigation controls
One of the frustrating things about the Aero is that it doesn't have the standard Android shortcuts below the screen. Instead, they've been relocated to the sides of the phone. Here on the left side you get a home/back button sandwiched between the power key and Mini-USB port.
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Right side
On the right, you get the equivalent of the menu button. The placement of these controls isn't very user-friendly. Even worse, there's no dedicated search key.
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Camera
On back, you'll find the smartphone's 5-megapixel camera and flash.
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Picture quality
Though we could make out the objects in the photo, colors were quite drab.
