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        Nokia's $1,740 netbook revealed

        Jonathan Angel | Date: Oct 13, 2009 | Comments: 1


        Nokia has announced U.S. availability and pricing for the premium Windows 7 netbook it launched in August. The Booklet 3G will cost $300, including a built-in cellular modem and a required $60/month data contract, the company says.

        According to Nokia, the Booklet 3G -- previously announced in Europe for 575 Euros (approximately $852) -- will be exclusively available in Best Buy stories on Oct. 22. The device will cost $600 without a data plan, or $300 for customers who sign a two-year, $60/month data contract with AT&T, the companies say. Choosing the latter option would cost a total of $1,740, not including taxes.

        The number one handset maker globally, Nokia obviously took the high road when it comes to its first netbook, at least where materials and pricing are concerned. Touting the device's "stylish, premium design," the Finnish company says the Booklet 3G includes a chassis made from a single piece of machined aluminum, similar to Apple's recent MacBook designs.

        As the company originally announced in August, the Booklet 3G will outdo many other netbooks by including an HDMI output, a GSM/GPRS modem (data only) with hot-swappable SIM card, and GPS. While it's said to weigh just 2.75 pounds, the device will also sport a massive 16-cell, 56.8Wh battery that's claimed to allow up to 12 hours of operation.


        Nokia's Booklet 3G
        (Click to enlarge)

        However, Nokia has disappointed those who hoped that, as a byproduct of a recently announced long-term partnership with Intel, its netbook would be the first to employ the forthcoming Pine Trail chipset. The Booklet 3G instead sticks with the familiar, 1.6GHz Atom Z530 and SCH US15W northbridge/southbridge. These components do at least cut power consumption to 4.5 Watts and support HD video, unlike the N270/945GSE chipset used by the majority of other mini-laptops. Nonetheless, Best Buy shoppers are certain to encounter a variety of technically similar netbooks that can be purchased off the shelf for $300 without making any long-term commitment to AT&T.

        The Booklet 3G will include 1GB of DDR2 memory, "soldered down" and apparently non-expandable. The device also includes a 1.8-inch hard disk drive (HDD) spinning at 4200rpm, with 120GB of storage. (Most competing netbooks now employ faster, 2.5-inch HDDs and offer 160GB of storage.)

        On the plus side, the Booklet 3G does include a relatively high-resolution 10.1-inch display, with 1280 x 720 pixels. Also part of the mix are Bluetooth 2.1, 802.11b/g/n wireless networking, a 1.2 megapixel webcam, an SD card reader, and three USB 2.0 ports, says Nokia. The netbook appears not to have a wired Ethernet port, however.


        Nokia's Booklet 3G runs Windows 7
        (Click to enlarge)

        Nokia says the Booklet 3G will be offered with Windows 7 Starter, Home Premium, or Professional editions. The device will also ship with the "Ovi" suite of software, including maps and access to the Nokia Music Store, the company says.

        Features and specifications released by Nokia for the Booklet 3G include the following:

        • Processor -- Intel Atom Z530 clocked at 1.6GHz
        • Memory -- 1GB of soldered-down DDR2 RAM
        • Storage -- 1.8-inch hard disk drive (4200rpm) with 120GB of storage
        • Display -- 10.1-inch display with 1280 x 720 pixel resolution
        • Camera -- 1.3 megapixel webcam
        • Wireless:
          • WAN -- GSM/GPRS cellular modem
          • LAN -- 802.11b/g/n
          • PAN -- Bluetooth 2.1
        • Other I/O:
          • 1 x HDMI
          • 3 x USB 2.0
          • Headphone output (also functions as audio input with some headsets)
          • SIM/USIM slot
          • DC input
        • Expansion -- SD card reader
        • Battery type/life -- 16-cell 56.8Wh battery; up to 12 hours of operation
        • Dimensions -- 10.39 x 7.28 x 0.75 inches (264 x 185 x 19mm)
        • Weight -- 2.75 pounds (1.25kg)

        A promotional video for the Booklet 3G
        Source: Nokia Corporation(click to play)

        Further information

        According to Nokia and AT&T, the Booklet 3G will be available exclusively through Best Buy in the U.S. until the end of the year, and may be available directly from the carrier in the future. Alternative data plans are said to be planned "down the road," but weren't detailed.

        Further information on the Booklet 3G, along with comments by many prospective buyers who seem disappointed by the Booklet 3G's pricing and technical limitations, can be found on the "Nokia Conversations" blog, here.

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