07.30.08
A 3G N810? I’d love one thanks!
The results are in on the Tabletblog poll and looks like the majority would love a 3G enabled N810 over the pending WiMax device. I know I’d love the 3G tablet! I tether regularly with my phones (currently the Nokia E71), but having an independently mobile connection would be killer.
Having wireless beyond wifi really makes the Nokia Internet Tablet that much more powerful. The initial plans, as seen in our current devices, were to pair with your phone and extend the online experience. As I think many of us clearly realize there’s been a lot of action in the MID and UMPC space as of late, but I’d be willing to bet that few if any of these devices have yet to match the N810 in capabilities. Sure some have more power on the CPU or grpahics end, but none can offer 5 hours of battery life or fit in your pocket.
3G would certainly impact battery life as it does with everything else, but it seems like an acceptable give, in order to get a considerably greater range of use.
Technorati Tags: maemo, nokia, nokia internet tablet, n810, 3G, wimax, tabletblog
tz said,
July 30, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Or EVDO. That is what I use via a Cradlepoint pocket router.
It also doesn’t have to be either-or, it can be “both-and”. It would be nice if the industry had a micro adapter format where I could add 3G, wimax, evdo, or whatever else, but they don’t. You would need a SIM slot for 3G. For EVDO they are locked to the carrier.
I also didn’t get any answer to the question on roaming. EVDO will degrade to 1xRTT which is slower but very usable in the boondocks. I don’t know about WiMax. I assume 3G becomes 2G or such.
Another question is “I would be willing to pay $x for 3G”. $100? $200? Retail, not “plan slave for 2 years” price. AT&T only? T-Mobile only? The logistics aren’t that simple. You might get 3G under terms you didn’t like or couldn’t use.
Jonathan Greene said,
July 30, 2008 at 2:39 pm
One trick with GSM 3G in the US is that TMO and ATT are not using the same bands … On ATT we get 1900, but TMO is 1700 and if this was to be a global device, it would need to be at least tri-band if not quad to cover everything. All that definitely adds costs … I would pay $1-200 more for an open device on which I could just buy data access. It’s how I use my phones. I’m fine with a contract too even.
My HSPDA connection drops to EDGE pretty seamlessly … You still get data, it’s just slower, like your EVDO experience.
A.T. said,
July 30, 2008 at 5:20 pm
@tz - have you ever heard Nokia doing EVDO phones? yep, none of them ever - EVDO is locked standard made for few operators to get certain control over market (i.e. control over YOU too), not to get you into any kind of interoperable data transmission heaven.
turn.self.off said,
July 30, 2008 at 9:55 pm
on the negative side, this will add cost.
on the positive side, we may see future tablets subsidized by operators…
Sensei Garfi said,
July 31, 2008 at 2:22 am
If anybody at Nokia read this: please don’t tie device startup to SIM card !!!!
It’s the biggest mistake phone makers are doing: if you don’t have a SIM card inserted in your phone the device won’t start, thus rendering useless the camers, the wifi connection, the calendar, the notes, the games, everything.
SE has got it right in their top of the line K series, where you can choose a flight mode where the phone is not emitting/receiving while the other functions remain useable !!
Think about that before designing a 3G Nwhatever…..
Jonathan Greene said,
July 31, 2008 at 6:52 am
I have yet to own a Nokia handset that is in any way locked when you start it. I can choose offline mode and use all the features without a sim or carrier involvement.
Nokia could continue to sell the tablet as an open device and I’m not sure any of us are thinking of it as a real voice device either. Voice is still secondary — even on my phone where things are very data intensive.
john m said,
July 31, 2008 at 7:03 am
not convinced. battery with 3G is the killer. i tether to an an old 3G phone that lives in the bottom of my bag. by the time that goes flat i still have hours of life left in the n810. nol sure i’d want the battery sucking 3g on board. gues you could actually have it both ways
Jonathan Greene said,
July 31, 2008 at 7:26 am
it’s all about choice
Khertan said,
July 31, 2008 at 8:01 am
It s a personnal choice, but if they do this, hope they do also without 3G connection !
Jonathan Greene said,
July 31, 2008 at 10:22 am
That exists today … N800 and N810!
Manuel said,
August 1, 2008 at 5:47 am
I disagree that battery life will be an issue with a 3G NXX0. It’s true, 3G eats more watts than 2G and mobiles who have both options show that. But 2G is not the competitioner, wifi is what runs on our tablets. And in fact, a wifi connetion drains the battery much faster than 3G. Due to some native energy saving mechanisms 3G has, it is very energy efficient. My E61 stays definitive longer with 3G than with wifi (And beside that, it has the same battery as my N800). But just try it on your own if you have a mobile with wifi integrated.
Please don’t build up a myth that 3G would be a battery killer. We need as much acceptance in the community as possible if we want nokia to go that way.
Zuber said,
August 1, 2008 at 6:10 am
The advantage you have when using with a phone, is that you are spreading the load across 2 batteries (close to double the capacity) rather than putting all the drain in the single device.
However good 3G might be compared to WiFi, I doubt it beats a BT connection.
I have no problem with offering a choice.
But for me the only disadvantage a phone based solution offers is a few seconds delay while the BT connection fires up.
By the way, Nokia had better sort out a decent PIM Suite before they add a SIM to the unit
Zuber
Elzapp said,
August 1, 2008 at 7:30 am
Nah. I don’t see the problem with using the phone for internet connectivity. You’re going to have your cellphone with you anyway.
Manuel said,
August 1, 2008 at 8:39 am
@Zuber
You are right, bluetooth is the best choise to save energy. For my daily usage the direct 3G would fit fine since I can be longer online as with wifi.
Although I would like to see the tablets battery last about 8hr, but that won’t be solved with a frugal connection alone.
But beware that spreading the load across 2 batteries is a double-edged blade. With a setup like this you need to care for 2 batteries hence as early as one is empty, the setup won’t work. That’s what happend most of the time to me (I use the mobile-BT-n800 setup every day).
cmantito said,
August 25, 2008 at 2:03 am
I’d like it to be proper multi-band 3G (UMTS/HSDPA & 1700/1900) so that it’s usable in the US and Europe (I travel between the two). Although the operating billing for this kind of thing would have to be setup right - I don’t want to pay for a voice plan on my internet device, that’s why I abandoned smartphones.
jago said,
September 20, 2008 at 2:27 pm
They hold back to make money on expensive GPRS rates
john white said,
October 11, 2008 at 9:36 am
Have Sony Eric 3G ATT Bluetooth phone and get both device to recognize each other. I then enter the requested password on both devices but am unable to get them paired. The new update on OS 2008 really seems to have helped in recongnition but still unable to pair. Author of link says he tethers his Nokia E71 to the N810 so it must be possible. My model is a SEZ750a. If it’s a bug I can wait if it’s a step I’m missing any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
John White, M.D.
turn.self.off said,
October 11, 2008 at 12:57 pm
@john
quick guess, custom firmware on the phone, put there by the operator…
Jonathan Greene said,
October 11, 2008 at 7:03 pm
My guess as well … my phones are all unbranded and I’ve had no issues pairing with tablets since the 770