I like being able to use my Nokia Internet Tablet as a computer, so that in a pinch I can work in a spreadsheet or edit some word-processing file.
But I got over the notion that it would be a computer for me and not primarily a web and e-reading device a long time ago.
Yes, the NIT really brought the price of a carryaround Linux computer way down.
But today I see[1] that Target has an Asus 7-inch EEE, complete with wifi, keyboard, 800×480 screen and 3 USB ports, for $270. BestBuy has the Asus 8.9-inch EEE (1024×600) for $300. And soon BB will be selling the 10-inch MSI Wind (1024×600, 120GB drive, 1.6 GHz Atom processor and Windows XP Home) for $399.
These are computer-first, carryaround-second devices, with pricing that seems to have sped past Nokia's. If computing were my primary portable need, I'd be looking at them instead of the 8-ounce pocket-sized NIT.
To
stand out in the crowd, the Internet Tablet needs to be the best at what it does best. Versatility counts, but let's keep in mind what our primary need is, what we want to see first when we turn the device on. And really shine at that.
So, yippee! that the N810 WiMAX Edition is out, and hurray! that HSPA is in the works. Getting the internet — even walking or driving around — that's what it's all about.
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[1] Via techbargains.com
