Nokia's N810 Internet Tablet WiMAX Edition in stock for $493

Go figure -- Sprint goes live with its XOHM WiMAX service, and all of a sudden, the long-awaited Nokia N810 WiMAX edition pops in stock. Crazy, we know. After seeing this puppy announced (and in the flesh) way back in April of this year, it's about time Nokia made it available to Americans with the cash to spare. As of right now, the 4.13-inch, QWERTY-packin' Internet Tablet can be ordered for $493, and unless Nokia's fibbing, it's in stock for shipment. Hello 4G, we're thrilled you're here.

[Big Al @ Oct 13th 2008 4:37AM]

WiMAX is 3G. (IMT-2000)
http://www.wimaxforum.org/news/pr/view?item_key=993a9f3e2bf2b5b6822364fd90738185f17f2de0

4G (IMT-Advanced) hasn't even been fully defined yet, though it will kick some serious ass once it comes out. (1Gbit/sec in low mobility, 100Mbit/s in high mobility)
http://www.itu.int/ITU-R/index.asp?category=information&rlink=imt-advanced&lang=en

[SPOKE @ Oct 13th 2008 6:53AM]

WiMax is SPRINTS next generation wireless technology implementation following their 3G tech (which is....... (drumroll please)....CDMA2000!) So, this logical next step is logically named with THE ADDITION OF a 1 ! Whats 3+1? 4!

Pretty simple is you ask some people in your neighborhood :)

[makotti @ Oct 13th 2008 7:03AM]

WiMax can be SPRINTS bastard child for all I care, but its still 3G.

[loosely_coupled @ Oct 31st 2008 2:32AM]

Indeed, the whole "3G", "3.5G", "4G" stuff has been nebulous at best, with many companies distorting the meanings for marketing purposes. The WIMAX standard is written into the 3G spec, but many still refer to it as "4G" or "post-3G".

Regardless, Sprint's XOHM Wimax network won't hold a candle to Verizon's or AT&T's LTE/E-UTRA network once it gets online..

[Lloyd @ Oct 13th 2008 4:59AM]

how about a link that goes to the product page, not one that puts it in our cart, and has no link to the product itself on the page. i love when someone talks about something cool and such and does not link to what they're talking about.

[Christopher Alan Fields @ Oct 13th 2008 5:22AM]

Here you go, you can look at the product details or add it to the cart. The reason there was just a link to add it to the cart is because buy it now doesn't work from the product page.
http://www.nokiausa.com/A4409001

[fred @ Oct 13th 2008 10:01PM]

OK...this is catogorized under phone. If out and about, without wifi or wimax... this doesn't seem to be able to let me communicate, or does it? GSM, 3G...??

[Apreche @ Oct 13th 2008 7:33AM]

Yeah, I don't think it counts as a phone. However, you could run Skype, a SIP client, etc. on it and use it via wifi or WiMAX, so it's almost a phone. If the Nokia N810 were a phone, I would have gotten it instead of the iPhone.

[Kevin Farley @ Oct 30th 2008 1:59PM]

Apreche@

+1

[telepheedian @ Oct 13th 2008 8:22AM]

A quick question, now that this has come out at almost $500, will Engadget please stop whining about the price of the Eee line? I realize this thing has WiMAX, but i'm pretty sure someone can retrofit a USB WiMAX modem into an Eee for a lot less than what this beast costs, let alone a cheaper netbook, such as the Aspire.

[bachviet @ Oct 13th 2008 11:23AM]

Can you pocket your netbook?

[Richard @ Oct 13th 2008 9:44AM]

I just placed my order for a N810 WE!

[Sam Lowry @ Oct 13th 2008 11:33AM]

There's an automatic $50 off promotion happening at the linked site above. I've wanted to upgrade from my N800, but unless there are some other dramatic improvements, I'll hold off for the N900 or iPhone.

[adrusa @ Oct 13th 2008 1:38PM]

Is this likely to be useful anywhere in Africa?

[my @ Oct 13th 2008 2:27PM]

Well you can always use wi-fi if available or tether it to your mobile (if you have reasonable data charges), same as the previous models (N800/N810). So yes it can be useful in Africa.

[telepheedian @ Oct 14th 2008 10:47AM]

In other words, go get a standard N810 instead.