Nokia Reviews

Nokia is releasing a laptop computer called the Nokia Booklet 3G. It will be available exclusively at Best Buy and it requires a wireless plan from AT&T. It will be available on October 22, 2009.

The Booklet 3G release will coincide with the release of Microsoft Windows 7 and run that operating system. It will run on an Intel Atom processor and promises 12 hours of battery life. It has a 10.1 inch HD screen and includes an HDMI port for HD video out. It weighs about 1 kg (2.2 lbs) and is approx 2 cm (13/16”) thick. Yes, this computer is less then an inch thick and weighs only 2 lbs! It is incredibly portable and will make a great companion on the road.

The Nokia Booklet 3G also has Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and it’s 3G/HSPA compatible for fast uploads and downloads.

It has a built in camera for video conferencing, onboard GPS with Ovi maps and a built in SD card reader.

Nokia is billing the Booklet 3G as a “mini computer” and not a netbook. They tout that although its form factor is small like a netbook, it will perform more like a standard laptop PC. They are counting on the new Windows 7 to help in this aspect. Microsoft is saying that Windows 7 will perform admirably on computers with the Atom processor. Microsoft’s current operating system, Windows Vista does not perform well. The Booklet 3G will certainly test Microsoft’s claims and push the limits of the Atom processor.

The computer will have a retail price of $599 and be available exclusively at Best Buy through the end of the year (the holiday selling season). If you sign up with AT&T for two years and include a data plan, then you can purchase it for $299. A data plan will start at about $60 per month.

It is nice to see a carrier subsidy on this computer. At a price of $300 this looks like a very hot deal. You get a netbook like computer for a good price with the ability to access the internet from Wi-Fi or the 3G network. Despite Nokia’s claims to the contrary, any computer with an Atom processor should be classified as a netbook. However, hopefully with the addition of Windows 7 it won’t feel like one!

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