Rant: Nokia’s netbook dissapoints
By Dusan Belic on Thursday, August 27th, 2009 at 3:40 AM PST In Devices, Ideas and rants, Nokia
I had few days to think it through about Nokia’s recently unveiled netbook and unfortunately I’m sad to report I’m disappointed. Here are few thoughts I had about it.
In bed with WinTel
Basically what Nokia (NYSE: NOK) has unveiled is yet another notebook. Sure, there’s the built-in GPS receiver and a great battery, but I’m sure other computer makers will follow the suit pretty quickly. After all MSIs, Acers, Dells and HPs of the world have more experience in notebook/netbook computers than the Finnish giant.
The way I see it is that the Nokia Booklet 3G is yet another WinTel netbook. If it’s affordable, that would be something, but judging from the press release, Nokia hopes to get a premium for that aluminum frame and exceptional battery life — we’ve heard rumors Nokia will ask $799 for its computer, which is way out of line. Sony has its premium offering in Vaio P series that is really different from the rest of the pack, and which Sony refuses to call a netbook. Netbooks sell like crazy because they are cheap, and to make something that’s effectively a premium cheap laptop doesn’t sound like a winning strategy. It sounds like nonsense.
Why not Linux?
That brings me to my second point. Nokia has its own flavor of Linux – Maemo, which is based on Debian, just like Ubuntu. In that sense, they could’ve unveiled a Linux-powered netbook that would certainly be faster than any similar Windows based product. You may argue Maemo is created for ARM-based CPUs to which I say – fine, make a Snapdragon-powered computer. It runs on 1 GHz, after all, but then again – this would go against Nokia’s alliance with Intel.
I love netbooks, but I doubt I’ll buy the Nokia Booklet 3G
I’m writing this on my Dell Mini 9, which runs Ubuntu and works great! I thought Nokia had a chance (and still does, BTW) to bring Linux to the masses. Just imagine a Sony Vaio P kind of device which is more affordable and because it runs Linux – faster. Moreover, it could sport a touchscreen! Now, that would be something I would instantly buy, even without a touchscreen. This way, when I already have a netbook, I don’t see a reason to get one made by Nokia, especially if it’s going to be more expensive.
Anyway, the main point I wanted to make is that I don’t see the unique selling proposition of the Nokia Booklet 3G. GPS and great battery life are not something I’m willing to pay a premium for, and I doubt many users are — except hard core Nokia fanboys. I want my next ultra-portable computer to be lighter than my existing one (Mini 9 weighs 1kg with 4-cell battery), smaller and that it doesn’t cost a fortune. If there were not for the last reason, I would’ve bought the Sony Vaio P long time ago. 
I agree with what you said for the most part but because the goal is to make this mass market, they chose a mass market OS. in an ideal world you should be able to choose what to boot to. But beggars can’t be choosers
I decided this immediately.
Aside from your points, I want… not a netbook. Why should I want a Nokia /netbook/?
I want: Three N900s.
- 3.5″
- 6ish”
- 9 or 10″
Touch. Sliders to keyboards (of increasing use). Maybe go N97ish slide-and-flip up for the larger ones so it works on a desk/lap if needed.
I keep waiting for something truly middling, instead of larger phones and smaller laptops. I had hoped Nokia could do this for us. But I still might get an N900.
Call it the Failbook.
Seriously Nokia, we thought you could do better than this.
I’m with you, I have just reviewed the spec. Z530 processor, 120G HD , no need to paid $800 for a 3G netbook..! For me, it’s look like an enlarge N90 cellphone. I don’t think this product will be impacted the netbook market, becasue it is no cheap…! Look at Sony Vaio P is a good example, and Sony now launches a cheaper new netbook around $599, but it’s still reached the laptop price…! Hopefully, Nokia get a lesson from Sony and cut down their price and good luck…:-))
$800 is too expensive, netbooks are cheap, bordering on throw-away and I can’t understand why they’ve opted for Windoze 7, ubuntu/maemo would make far more sense. Just shows how out-of-touch Nokia has become/is becoming.
I bet it comes with a spell checker though