Nokia “Mini-Laptop”: Like a Netbook, but With a Completely Different Name
by John Paczkowski
Posted on August 24, 2009 at 9:28 AM PT
The world’s largest mobile phone maker has finally entered the PC market.
Not a week after confirming its interest in the netbook market, Nokia leapt into it, uncrating the Booklet 3G–a 2.8-pound “mini-laptop” with 3G, WiFi and A-GPS support, a 10-inch HD-ready display and a claimed 12 hours of battery life. The machine will feature an Intel (INTC) Atom processor and likely run a version of Microsoft’s (MSFT) Windows. Finally, it will support Ovi, Nokia’s (NOK) version of Apple’s (AAPL) App Store.
“A growing number of people want the computing power of a PC with the full benefits of mobility,” Kai Oistamo, Nokia’s executive vice president for devices, said in a statement. “We are in the business of connecting people and the Nokia Booklet 3G is a natural evolution for us. Nokia has a long and rich heritage in mobility and with the outstanding battery life, premium design and all day, always on connectivity, we will create something quite compelling. In doing so we will make the personal computer more social, more helpful and more personal.”
Quite a pledge. And one that Nokia must deliver on if it’s to become a full-fledged mobile solution provider.
“Nokia is not trying to move into the extremely competitive market for PCs in general, even though it describes the Booklet 3G as a mini-laptop. What it is doing is moving to protect its key markets,” said Gold Associates analyst Jack E. Gold. “Indeed, netbooks are increasingly being sold as mobile device alternatives (or supplements) to smartphones. Many have 3G radios included, can make voice calls (via VoIP) and are increasingly being sold and subsidized by traditional wireless carriers. Therefore, it is logical to see Nokia make this move.”
Comments
If they are going to not call it a Netbook, seems like it should have some distinguishing characteristic (other than a high price).
I expect at some point someone will figure out that there is enough room in the larger netbook formats for a DVD player, but I don’t see such a thing listed in this product description.
12-hour battery life is an impressive CLAIM.
Nokia has such a lead that, like Microsoft, they can afford to throw a lot of things against the wall and see what sticks.
Still, it helps if some of what you throw against the wall doesn’t look like copy-cat products from the very beginning.
Posted by Mac Beach at August 24th, 2009 at 10:19 am