Everyone’s buzzing about the Nokia Booklet 3G, the mobile manufacturer’s planned entry into the netbook market. Here are five reasons why I might put off my netbook purchase until this baby comes along.
(Disclaimer: Mind you, these are all first impressions based on the slick marketing video found at Nokia Conversations. Here we go!)
Windows 7
On one hand, using a mainstream OS makes it harder to differentiate your product from competitors. But using Windows 7 for the Booklet 3G also saves Nokia from spending time and money to attract converts; the gadget already potentially appeals to the mainstream market, especially long-time Nokia users.
HDMI
The very feature that potentially makes desktops unnecessary for future Booklet 3G users. This won’t apply to those who need their regular gaming fix, but otherwise the ability to quickly plug in a larger HD-capable display immediately makes Nokia’s concept netbook notable
12-Hour Battery Life
Granted, it’s usually optimists who come up with battery life estimates. But Nokia has mostly been on-the-level with its approximations. Phones and small laptops are different creatures, but even if the company has overshot its longevity estimate by 50%, that leaves future users with a 6-hour battery life. I’m wetting my pants at the prospect of that figure actually representing usage with all connectivity options on.
Keyboard
Only the HP Mini and MSI Wind have usable netbook keyboards. Their secret sauce? Make full use of the body space, and threaten the boundary between the netbook’s side and keyboard. Seems Nokia has taken the same approach, promising a decent keyboard experience at the very least.
Marketing
As a long-time fan (there, you know my bias) and proud owner of the N97, seeing Nokia always get the short-end of apathetic reviews always broke my heart, especially since the company’s only sin was not taking marketing more seriously. Over the past couple of years, that has slowly changed, culminating with the goosebump-inducing feel of the Booklet 3G introduction video. Keep packaging your strengths into easily-digestible slickness, Nokia!
Whether you think I’m on the money or totally off-kilter, feel free to hit the comments below.