Nokia tells all on Booklet 3G: $299 with a 2-year contract on AT&T

Nokia, AT&T, Best Buy and Microsoft are all holding hands and singing the same song about Nokia's Booklet 3G today. The good news is that the device will be subsidized by AT&T, at $299 with a 2-year contract at a $60 a month data plan -- with other rate plans and prices to be announced -- and a $599 non-subsidized price. It'll be out with the launch of Windows 7 on October 22nd and available exclusively through Best Buy through the holidays. Nokia's also pretty strong about stating that 12 hour battery life isn't a "brochure number" but a real number -- though we doubt that since Nokia is using Mobile Mark '07 which doesn't include wireless in its base tests.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 13th 2009 4:48PM]

AT&T can go to hell. Glad I picked up a Hero and switched to Sprint.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 13th 2009 9:26PM]

You're all pretty quick to point out your ignorance of the device. There is a lot to mention that this is similar to same netbook(s) on market.

Win 7
HDMI out (that means to a HD TV for you morons)
Wifi b/g and n!
HD screen 1280 x 720
3G installed with hot swappable SIM
12 hours battery (lest be it known the best on market is 9 from Toshiba and that is with extended battery)
Aluminum casing

I mean really, this is completely above what is on the market now. Now I know all you Nokia haters are just reveling in the chance to try and say something negative and jolly good for you.

But at least have your facts somewhat straight for god's sake.

[segi Posted Oct 14th 2009 1:37PM]

Considering that the actual cost for the data plan remains equal to the existing plans, the Booklet is quite a good deal. It is, as always, something for the people that do not want to have the stuff everybody has...

And besides that: Consider Apple designing a netbook- I could imagine the Booklet is almost what an Apple product in this product line would look like

[Robbie Hottie Posted Oct 23rd 2009 1:05PM]

i think a lot of people are looking at this wrong.

its going to cost you $149 for a modem on a 2yr contract with the $60/month plan just to be able to plug the modem in to your existing laptop. for some people the netbook may actually be faster than their old laptop. for other people, maybe they would like something more portable than their 17" 10-key 5lb laptop with a modem hanging out the side of it. for either of those groups, they have the option to get this premium netbook for only $149 more than what a modem alone will cost them.

a lot of people are arguing back and forth about whether or not this is really premium. the way i look at it, its better than other netbooks that att is selling for more money.

oh and for the people complaining that it doesnt make phone calls... call customer service and tell them to change the netbook price plan to an add-on line for your family plan for only $9.99 per month. they can put the required $60 data service as a "bolt-on feature" instead of making it the plan itself. now u have ur booklet 3g, data, and can use the ovi software to make/rcv calls within your family plan minutes. :D

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 23rd 2009 9:57PM]

With $1739 ($60*24months+$299) at the end of two years, I'd rather take the scenario where I used that $1739 (perhaps not all of it) for a nice netbookish laptop and not had 3G internet than the scenario where I spent $1739 but I had internet wherever I went.

I know this isn't representative of everyone's experiences, but I'm a student and the places I tend to go (bookstores, coffee / cafe places, campus) tend to have free WiFi. The amount of gaps in coverage that would be filled by the $60/month 3G connection is just not enough; spotty wireless hotspots is one thing, but paying $1700/2yrs to fill those spots is another.