Nokia Booklet 3G running Windows 7 Starter unwrapped at Best Buy
By Thomas Ricker 
posted Oct 23rd 2009 7:41AM
posted Oct 23rd 2009 7:41AM
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Why is a premium netbook, using a stripped down OS instead of a premium OS?
So Windows 7 doesn't use as many resources. It's still a netbook, you know.
@Stevensnewest
I'm using Windows 7 Ultimate on a Dell Mini 10. It's not as powerful as this netbook and runs just fine. I'm even able to run it with Aero, although obviously there's performance degradation there. There's no excuse for a stripped Windows 7.
@Stevensnewest
Since when was changing the wallpaper a resource hogging process? The beta of Windows 7 Ultimate runs absolutely fine on my EEE PC with 1GB of RAM; there's nothing to worry about at all apart from Microsoft's stupidity to repeat the whole Vista Basic disaster like last time.
@Stevensnewest
Since when was changing the wallpaper a resource hogging process?
The beta of Windows 7 Ultimate runs absolutely fine on my EEE PC with 1GB of RAM; there's nothing to worry about at all apart from Microsoft's stupidity to repeat the whole Vista Basic disaster like last time.
@Tes
I guess you do bring up a good point. I have a Compaq Presario c500 with a Celeron (1.73 GHz) processor, GMA 950 graphics, and 1 GB of RAM running 7 Ultimate. It seems to be just fine with Aero for the most part, but, of course, there are times when I feel like it's almost struggling to keep up with Aero Peek and 7's transparencies. Thanks for letting me know about your experience though, as I'm thinking about buying the Dell Mini 10.
I have 2 netbooks Eeepc and HP mini both running windows 7 ultimate faster and better than xp on the same hardware,
So theres no excuse for this premium netbook to run windows 7 starter which is more limited than XP example you cant even change the desktop background image! etc
@Stevensnewest
If you plan on getting a netbook, I would hold fire until the ION based chip-sets are more prevalent. Then Aero and hi-def video can be offset to the GPU rather than the underpowered Atom
All forth-coming netbooks would come with Windows 7 starter. All the big OEMs (Dell, Hp, Asus or Lenevo) all have their netbooks pre-installed with Starter. For example the Dell mini 10 has only XP and Starter as the only OS options. http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=dncwfa1&c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19
The reason is not performance. The reason is manufactures wanted a cheaper version of windows 7 they can buy for cheaper notebooks instead of XP. So Microsoft made them a cheap version. Something had to go.
They probably figure the background thing will be so annoying that after a while people will do the real time upgrade to home premium for $80. ka-ching
@ O.P, nokia on itself, is already costy.. imagine 800 USD, that answers the reason why they use a ripped-off O.S. I supposed after the official unveiling, they will used a the premium O.S you're clamoring for.
Nokia has been like that, always.
sources about price: http://pinoytutorial.com/techtorial/update-nokia-booklet-3g-will-sell-for-us800/
3 x thumbs up
I don't understand why Microsoft even bothered with the Starter version.
I'm running Ultimate on my netbook with Aero enabled and all that kind of stuff and it still runs faster than XP did.
This is going to work against them, alot of people who get introduced to Windows 7 via the Starter is going to leave a bad taste in their mouth.
Because Nokia 3G only comes with 1GB of soldered, non-upgradeable RAM...
...and XP is any prettier?
@Alvin
My netbook has 1GB of soldered on RAM...runs W7 Ultimate like a champ.
I think people should try USING the things they choose to comment on first. You only make yourself seem really uninformed.
@Tes
I guess my HP laptop running W7 Ultimate with 2 GB of RAM really sux then coz the meter is showing that it's using 40% RAM.
Why can't one post a comment on this site w/o someone else ripping them a new asshole or making them feel like they are really stupid? Guess I'll just keep to myself next time and just read... thanks for letting me know that it works on your netbook...
It's all about the money. Microsoft sells this version cheaply to OEMs. Features are crippled to not undervalue their premium editions. We can moan and complain all we like but that is the web MS has weaved for itself. Damned if it does (offer premium OS versions at cut price) and damned if it doesn't (sticks with XP on netbooks).
I'd love to see just the one version of Windows tbh, but given MS makes its money from software and not hardware then I'm afraid we're doomed to have this situation.
@alvin
Windows uses more memory if it is available. If you have a lot of RAM, then some of the cache and page file is stored on the RAM itself, but if you have very little, most of the page file is moved to the HDD, which allows for the optimal performance for every variation.
For example, with 3GB RAM, I disabled page file, and my RAM usage runs up to 1GB upon start up.
@Alvin
No one is trying to rip you a new one, but you did comment where it seemed you didn't fully understand. RAM isn't a finite commodity. If you have 2GB RAM, you'll always have 2GB...use it! The OS will use what it needs or more. It's probably your fancy RAM meter that's eating your memory! I remember on XP my meter was a Yahoo! widget and the irony was the 50% I was using up was almost all the meter itself!
My laptop has 4GB of RAM and Windows shows 50% used. If you have free RAM, why shouldn't the OS use it for prefetches, caching, and other performance optimization? This is Computer Science 101, man.
As much as I want to love the design, the 3G internals, etc. The limitations (1GB, Starter, no SSD) combined with the price make this machine the netbook joke of the century.
Anyone buying it should be beaten.
I'd buy it if it wasn't W7 Starter. Starter is THE joke of the century.
Thankfully, not all netbooks will come with Starter. It'll change over time as specs increase
I certainly hope that "over time" means "immediately right this very moment" because there's absolutely no excuse for ANY atom netbook to run Starter, much less all of them.
@chef: Cutting $80 from the price isn't a 'good excuse'?
I don't know exactly the difference between the cost to OEMs of Starter vs normal, maybe it is less than the cost to users of upgrading, but it will certainly be large. Remember, Starter (and the netbook-specific XP pricing before it) were designed to (and did) kill Linux on netbooks. This wasn't necessary because manufacturers thought Linux was a fantastic OS and wanted to offer users more choice, etc. It was only necessary because the cost of a full XP (and now W7) license was way more than reasonable out of a $400 netbook budget. Reduce it to the $30 range? Problem solved. In the few cases where companies still offer a Linux version of their netbooks, they don't even bother to charge less.
Of course, this particular netbook has er... less of an excuse in price terms...
Home Basic should work on 1 GB o RAM, but Starter? That's ugh!
of*. Where's the edit button, Engadget?
Ultimate will run on 1gb of ram just fine, too.
umangs94, the edit button is on Engadget Ultimate. Sorry, you're using Engadget Starter.
Austerity I can understand, for functionality's sake, but it's beginning to sound as if -- even though Microsoft worked closely with OEMs and third-party software vendors -- Microsoft fought hard to build value "out" of Starter. Did I read correctly that you can't change wallpaper? What purpose would a (lack of) feature like that serve, other than to compel people to upgrade versions to one that (ostensibly) isn't optimized to run on their hardware? Trimming fat and stripping value are two different things. I hope I'm wrong, but it appears Microsoft missed the point if they unnecessarily removed features from their netbook OS.
Starter exists for exactly one reason: to force the end-user to buy their own OS.
Manufacturers can load on a super-cheap nearly worthless version that they know nobody wants, and then when the user gets frustrated with it, it has a built-in feature for an in-place upgrade to a real OS if you're willing to shell out the cash.
Correction- Pirate a copy of Home Premium/Ultimate.
Surely there must be a way to change the wallpaper, via a registry edit, or simply replace the MS background file with your photo of choice renamed. I give it a week before there is an app to change the wallpaper.
It doesn't run Irix by default so it scks.
That's a pretty big double bezel for a supposedly premium product...
I sorta imagine Microsoft sees the Starter Edition to be along the same lines as Windows CE or something.
this is staring to get rather expensive...$600 for the machine and $80 for the upgrade...ill have to get a copy of windows 7 home premium from school to make it reasonable
Netbook is a netbook is a netbook. After going thru 2 netbooks, I'm back to a laptop.
This whole ram thing is killing me. If I could upgrade the ram I would seriously consider buying it but it looks like you cant. :(
when is this going to be for sale? whats the holdup?
YOU ARE ALL MISSING THE POINT OF THIS COMPUTER.
10-12 Battery life(16-cell lithium-polymer battery)
Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR interface
Easily link with other Bluetooth-enabled devices, such as a mobile phone or MP3 player.
GPS and A-GPS
Combine with Ovi Maps to help you find your way quickly and accurately
Built-in 3G modem
Built in E Reader
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9575907&st=Nokia+Booklet+3G&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1218129406369
$399 with 2 year AT&T Contract
$599 without contract
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
Windows Starter Edition is designed to sell copies of Home Premium. Once folks realize how bad it actually is, they'll also realize they have no choice, but to upgrade if they want the desired functionality. The machine should come with Home Basic. I'll guess it doesn't come with Home Premium because, they don't want to hurt the already weak laptop sales dempographic.
Get Linux, Windows 7 is still Windows...
You guys realize that they pay LESS for the netbook running that version of the OS, and they can purchase the anytime upgrade to home premium the NEXT time they go into best buy and complain about the OS.
Here's my take on the Booklet 3G, and a bunch of pictures, too: http://tnkgrl.wordpress.com/2009/10/14/exclusive-nokia-booklet-3g-hands-on/