Cingular 3G option appears on Lenovo's ThinkPad page
By Ryan Block 
posted June 21st 2006 4:33AM
posted June 21st 2006 4:33AM
We're still not really sure what's taken Lenovo so long to make good on pushing out Cingular 3G options in their beloved ThinkPad line (well, yes we are -- could be anything from hardware to network optimization to Verizon exclusivity -- but is simply most likely the lack of HSDPA rollout), but from the looks of things Lenovo's finally about to launch some laptops with Cingular BroadbandConnect. If it's anything like their Verizon option it'll cost you a bit of cash (about $250 for EV-DO, anyway), but all we know for now is that there's at least one page on Lenovo's site advertising a ThinkPad T60 for a cool $1,900 (not counting the $200 mail-in rebate they're serving up). Hey, these laptops aren't for mere amateurs, so consider yourself warned; you didn't exactly expect the baseline model to come in real cheap, now did you?[Thanks, Dale]
Does n e 1 no where the engadget podcast had been?
This is moderately offtopic, but as an European I really don't understand this whole main-in rebate thing. I mean, what's the point? Why can't they just directly lower the prices, why go through the hassle? Where did this thing start from?
Re: ragnar
Mail-in rebates are great from the company's perspective. You see, many people see the advertised, after rebate, price, and jump on the offer. Then when they get home and realize they have to actually fill out some forms and mail it in, they say it's not worth the effort. And even more people don't keep accurate records of their pending rebates, so if/when the rebate gets lost in the mail, delayed, or somehow doesn't make it back to them, the don't even notice. If the customer forgets to get the rebate back, it's like the product was never discounted at all. Terrible for the consumer, great for the company.
Too bad Cingular's 3G network coverage sucks, even within the 16 select markets that currently have it. Thank god for Cingular's 30 day return policy. I just returned a 3G phone and 3G data card after trying it for a month. I found a number of times where the phone and data card would fall back to a full 5 bar EDGE connection from 0 bars of 3G signal. I think I'll stick with Verizon for my 3G service for now. :)
How is Verizon's wireless? Price seems pretty steep. at 79.99. Sprint has 49.99 unlimited... i think. So this means no sony Vaio for me ...looks like its either a dell or a thinkpad ultraportable....