Lenovo netbook with built-in 3G hits the FCC -- destined for AT&T?

The Lenovo S9 and S10 have already been approved by the FCC, so the appearance of this mysterious nine-inch Lenovo netbook in Uncle Sam's all-knowing database is certainly thought-provoking -- especially since it's got a built-in AT&T-compatible 3G card in it. That suggests to us that Ma Bell's about to start offering a subsidized S9 alongside its current stable of laptops, but we haven't seen or heard anything definitive yet -- do let us know if you spot something amazing in the SAR reports, would you?

[Saad Rabia @ Apr 15th 2009 8:05PM]

I think that it is time that all laptop manufactures include built-in 3G & GPS capabilities as a standard in all of their coming products along with or instead of the dial-up modem that they still slap inside. I could guess that more people will use 3G than dial-up.

[comments4cheap @ Apr 15th 2009 8:12PM]

I am not a tech guy but doesn't 3G means that you have to get a data plan from a company? If so than having both 3G and wifi should be in all laptops. IMO

[CJ @ Apr 15th 2009 8:36PM]

Yes and no.

I'm not sure of the situation in the states, but I've got a 3G card in my Laptop, and I'm on a Pre-paid Data plan.

[Saad Rabia @ Apr 15th 2009 8:49PM]

Here in the UAE we have the cheapest HSDPA payment rates in the world and with a very clean wide range coverage, but unfortuanitly technology that uses such advanced telecom service is still lacking behind due to our dependence on outside companies to update us with laptops with 3G chips and other technology add-ons.

[KilgoreTrout @ Apr 15th 2009 10:12PM]

@Saad Rabia
Here in Danemark too there is HSDPA on nearly 100% of the inhabited territory , I use it all the time and I could'nt care less if manufacturers put 3G chips in their laptops or netbooks because both my HTC TouchHD and my Samsung Omnia work perfectly as modems both wireless via Bluetooth or via USB.
Besides I have never heard of a netbook with dial up modem, and I ve never heard of one without WIFI.

As for desktop I'm glad they still include a dial up modem because sometimes I still need to send some Faxes and it's impossible to do that on ADSL broadband, so I need to plug in telefon cord too.

[sk @ Apr 15th 2009 8:17PM]

No thanks, I rater wait a couple more years to get a 4G connection. Especially with AT&T's 3G service, spotty at best.

[Sebastian @ Apr 15th 2009 8:23PM]

And then please make sure that it is actually affordable. Similar Netbooks are all over Europe. No wonder: Those little machines often have 3G build in and it is cheap there - this really could be a boom market for the US. But come on guys, 3G will not work at 60 USD per month for crappy 5GB...

[Wewtaco @ Apr 15th 2009 8:23PM]

wow, this actually makes sense.

[aj121489 @ Apr 15th 2009 8:25PM]

That kinda looked like a DS at first to me

[LondonConsultant @ Apr 15th 2009 9:02PM]

Sounds like the upcoming S10-2 or S12:
http://www.liliputing.com/2009/04/lenovo-launches-3g-enabled-netbooks-plus-a-12-inch-model.html

[Ryan Trevisol @ Apr 15th 2009 9:24PM]

"that Ma Bell's about to start offering a subsidized S9 alongside its current stable of laptops"

AT&T sells laptops?

No, seriously. Do they?

[wickedpheonix @ Apr 15th 2009 9:31PM]

I've got a 3G card + antenna built into my Tablet PC and I would LOVE to be able to use it - but NOT for $60/month with a 5 GB cap. That's disgusting - it might as well not exist / be offered at all.

[Anon @ Apr 15th 2009 9:44PM]

I hope this netbook is better than Lenovo's Ideapad which was possibly the worst keyboard design for a laptop since Eniac.

[TheSuburbanWhiteBoy @ Apr 15th 2009 9:41PM]

AT&T sucks for 3G, my iphone is proof

[nick @ Apr 15th 2009 11:22PM]

cables like this have been floating around sets for a while now...... RED has their hands plenty full trying to work out the many other things with the RED, to put it lightly...
this cable im sure, as all the other versions of such cable, will not work as advertised, at all.

the reality of the RED, and what people think it to be, are worlds apart.
Thats the reason you wont see any new products hit the market til late 2010, trust me. They have plenty of work left to do on the RED 1 to try even tackle anything else.

to their credit, their team works very fast to solve issues and the camera has come leaps and bounds from when it first hit the ground... so i like the companies work ethic and enthusiasm...but they have a a ways to go here.

[Elaine @ Apr 16th 2009 12:49AM]

I'm hoping that this will have a TrackPoint!

[blahblah @ Apr 16th 2009 1:42AM]

Yessss... a track point. Please Lenovo, is that too much to ask. I've recently had to start using a touchpad in addition to my regular thinkpad trackpoint and it is so tiresome. Trackpoint is the ultimate in ergonomics!!!

[lxuke @ Apr 16th 2009 1:52AM]

i have this netbook...without 3g I love it! wish it had ion though lol

[Hackettman @ Apr 16th 2009 12:06PM]

Just give me the damned netbook I will decide how I connect..... Fascists....

[z33 @ Apr 16th 2009 10:15PM]

I like the appearance.