Nokia Raises White Flag on Netbook

A couple of weeks back, I made a post about Nokia’s shocking decision to enter the Netbook battle with one of its own: the Nokia Booklet 3G. It was great news for the regular users, as it allows for more competition, and hence, better services and more reasonable prices. While the former seemed to be on par, the latter has disappointed the large crowd who have been anxiously awaiting the Finnish’s debut in the netbook market.

Nokia has released the pricing of it’s inaugurational netbook, slashing an over-whelming $820 tag. In a marketplace where even the standard, powerful notebooks can be easily picked up at a much more humble price, it is indeed completely illogical how the Mobile-phone makers expect to have a piece of the netbook money pie with such a disproportionate value. It is clear that Nokia have raised their white flag even before entering the battlefield, and it is up to the consumers to demonstrate that in order to succeed, it is imperative to satisfy the customers. That means services, and pricing. Nokia will just have to learn it the hard way, and I personally see no possibility of success with their debut.

Nokia Booklet 3G colors

In a market where the average netbook is offered for $300 dollars, there must be an edge that almost triples the price. The following are the main features that separate the soon-available Nokia Booklet 3g from its counterparts such as the Acer Aspire One and the Asus Eee PC:

1. Runs Windows 7
2. 16-cell battery, arguably lasting up to 12 hours
3. Sim card slot, allowing you to connect to 3G networks without a cell phone
4. HDMI out for high definition videos on external HD displays

If we were to bend over backwards and add $100 for each one of the four features, it would still add-up to $700, quite distant from the original $820. I haven’t been as confused since Apple forced their customers to pay for patches and fixes. The only way Nokia can come out of this alive is via iPhone-style monopoly deals with carriers such as AT&T and Verizon Wireless, but even then, the netbook would still require an unprecedented $400 investment. Given the choice of tying yourself in a two-year’s contract and paying $400 for an average netbook, or the full $300 for a regular counterpart, no strings attached, how much “under the influence” would you have to be to make the wrong choice and aid the mobile-making Scandinavians?

We are left with no choice but to get over the bubble-burst and move on with our lives, there will soon be real contenders that provide us with the services that we deserve, for the prices that they have earned.

Even Nokia Makes Netbooks

Nokia Booklet 3G

To the surprise of many in the tech world, cellular telephony giants Nokia have announced that they will be introducing a “mini-laptop” by the name of Booklet 3G by next month. The Finnish company has come through the ranks over the years and has established itself as the king of the domain as far as cell phones and portable devices are concerned. Now they have taken it a step further with a small laptop that seems dubiously similar to the netbooks available in the market today:

• Intel Atom processor
• Ships with the new Windows 7
• 10.1″ screen
• Bluetooth, Wifi and GPS
• Card reader

Until this point, it does not seem significantly different than its counterparts produced by the likes of Acer and Asus. However, there are a couple of features that could just excite the crowd into rushing for it:

1. HDMI out means you can watch the high definition videos from your laptop on a large external HD screen
2. 3G sim slot brings the long-awaited possibility of inserting a sim card with a 3G connection and use your laptop to browse the web

In fact, there seems to be such hype on the new notebook, that the official website has been down ever since the announcement. If it does come back up, you’d be able to view it here.

It’s always good news when there’s new competition entering the market. The ability to access the internet via an integrated sim card slot is a right consumers should’ve been granted ages ago, but was not available due to the monopolies of the telecommunications companies forcing users to sign two-year contracts. However, judging by the quality of the high-end phones and portable devices produces by the Finns, it is difficult to be optimistic about the very first netbook they come up with. Yet another case of how time will tell.

Netbook vs Notebook

A common question amongst regular technology consumers is: What is so different about netbooks? When should I buy a netbook instead of a notebook? This video gives a concise, simple explanation:

To wrap up, you should seriously consider purchasing a netbook if:

1. You’re on a tight budget: They usually cost less than $450
2. Portability is extremely important for you: Given their small size and light weight
3. Battery life matters: Depending on the brand and model, could be anywhere from 6 – 8 hours
4. You’re a light user: Browsing the net, checking email, and occasional office applications (netbooks are not desktop replacements)

However, you should NOT consider investing in a netbook if:

1. You do not have a computer: Netbooks can only work well as a supplement
2. You regularly multi-task: Netbooks’ performance only keep up with you if you’re using one or two applications simultaneously
3. You’re big on movies: The biggest screens tend to be at 10″, not ideal if you’re a sucker for home movies on a regular basis
4. You run demanding applications: Programs such as Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, or even AutoCad are not made to be run on such machines

With the spread of the Internet, and the wealth of web applications offering free services to users world-wide, netbooks seems like the logical choice for many. However, there is a small percentage of users that require a better performance to complete their tasks, in which case the notebook market boasts unlimited possibilities.