Qualcomm shows off Snapdragon-powered Lenovo smartbook for AT&T

It may still have a few lingering problems with the "smartbook" name, but it looks like Qualcomm is pushing ahead with the still-nascent product category nonetheless, with CEO Paul Jacobs taking advantage of a recent investor get-together in New York to show off a new Lenovo-built smartbook that will apparently be offered by AT&T. Unfortunately, neither Lenovo nor AT&T is saying anything about the device just yet, and Jacobs doesn't seem to have offered much more than what was already known from the standard smartbook specs. There is the requisite low-res photo captured from the webcast, however, and all parties involved should be doing plenty more talking when this one makes its official debut at CES in January.

[Vance Posted Nov 12th 2009 5:39PM]

I know no one ever agrees with me on this, but I'd love a netbook with a mobile instant-on OS. I was even considering a Foleo!

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 12th 2009 5:45PM]

I simply don't understand the awesomeness behind instant-on. Have you ever used a netbook before? Do you shut it down every time you close it? No, you just close the lid, and it goes to sleep. Open the lid, and .5 seconds later, you're back to where you were.

If it's a smartbook, and can receive calls/texts/emails, you probably don't WANT it to EVER be fully shut down. Think about it.

[Vance Posted Nov 12th 2009 5:54PM]

Yes, I have a netbook. No, it is not instant-on, nor do I think Windows sleep mode is good enough.

It's a distinction that is hard to define, I admit, but I just wish my computers behaved like my smartphone. On when I want it, off when I want it. OS on ROM, not on disk. Snappy in every way, without having to rely on skating and clicking on a trackpad six times to check an email.

[Plothole Posted Nov 12th 2009 6:13PM]

The actual boot for every smartphone I've owned took around a minute or more (not including the time it takes to connect to the network). Definitely not "instant-on". You don't normally see this because they usually go into a suspended state, rather than completely off.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 12th 2009 5:42PM]

I still don't understand the smartbook.

Is it like a low-end netbook? Seeing as how netbooks can be had for $200 these days, this doesn't seem to be.

Is it a full-on replacement for a smartphone? Something that you HAVE to carry everywhere so that you can take calls and text people?

I can ONLY see this product breaking through if it uses the SAME plan as your phone (no extra monthly fees), and you can make/take calls/text, etc. from either of the devices. It's actually quite surprising that this type of functionality hasn't been introduced to WM/W7 or iPhone/Mac yet.

[Gregorian Posted Nov 12th 2009 6:26PM]

Is a Smartbook sort of a MID, but a bit bigger?
Is it a Netbook but running a mobile OS?

[Verythrax Posted Nov 12th 2009 5:46PM]

What the hell is that curved design?

[NAME Posted Nov 12th 2009 6:01PM]

What is the point.

AT&T 3G coverage is shite!

This will end up in the Island of the Misfit toys.

[schaabie Posted Nov 12th 2009 6:07PM]

This thing looks awful. I do not get why anyone would purchase something like this!

[NAME Posted Nov 12th 2009 6:12PM]

You know they said that about the iPhone... and... well..

Stupidity is ample in this world... When you find a way to seperate stupid people from their money, then you will be stinking rich...

unfortunately you need to bring yourself down to their level of low thinking... kinda hard for us smart ones...

see as soon as you say AT&T you know this is crap.

[schaabie Posted Nov 12th 2009 6:15PM]

yaaa... I dont think anybody said that about the iPhone except you....

[Gregorian Posted Nov 12th 2009 6:28PM]

Can you even tell what it looks like?
It's a vague red blob to me. Perhaps is has a keyboard, but I can't be sure.

[jjeremycai Posted Nov 12th 2009 6:25PM]

of all services...at&t?

[sola Posted Nov 12th 2009 6:26PM]

This red thing looks really nice. It is a pitty that the picture so low res.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 12th 2009 7:03PM]

and its thinner than a Palm Pre !

[Plexus Posted Nov 12th 2009 7:23PM]

Sometimes the life of a geek gets very hard.
Thake those smartbook for exemple: with a laptop, a netbook, 3 smartphones, two desktops and a media center/HTPC, I know that I do not need one, and yet I know that I will end up buying one as soon as I'll see one in a B&M store.
We are the only engine of economic recovery.
Recovery plans should be aimed squarely at the geek community.