After a few weeks of impatiently waiting I finally received a Nokia Booklet 3G for trial. With Windows 7 on board and a customised Nokia experience, the Booklet 3G promises to set the standard for netbooks going forward.
Netbooks generally have a low quality build with cheap-looking plastic bodies, but the Booklet 3G with its aircraft-grade aluminium body is getting set to make its mark on the world.
I had seen several pictures online, but opening it up for the first time was quite a treat. Nokia does good when it comes to design. You can watch my unboxing video below to see what the package has in store.
Design & Build
The device looks good all around. The top has a glossy plastic-like coating which is quite a magnet for fingerprints, while the sides and bottom have a fine metal body that looks very sleek and professional.
Opening the device reveals a beautiful display with the built-in webcam just above the "Nokia Booklet 3G" text.
Keyboard & Indicators
Just above the keyboard there are three indicator lights for connectivity — Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and 3G — and three for power: sleep, battery and power.
Below the keyboard sits the touchpad with right and left keys. The keyboard itself is neat with slightly indented keys. Coming from a MacBook Air I know I'll miss the backlight when working in low light or a dark room.
The Intel Atom sticker seated next to the Windows 7 badge is not very reassuring — the device sits at near-minimum requirements for the OS — but I'm open to giving the Booklet a fair review.
Ports & Connectivity
The right side has the power socket, a USB port and the tray for SD cards and your 3G SIM.
The power button is also on the right but is barely visible — I found myself struggling to locate it at times. Nokia should have added an LED indicator to make it easier to find.
On the left: two more USB ports, a 4-pole 3.5mm headphone jack and an HDMI port. The HDMI is a welcome addition that lets you connect to an HDTV or digital projector.
It would have been nice to see a VGA connector for older displays, but the no-compromise design keeps the Booklet 3G impressively thin. The front and back panels are clean and uncluttered.
Battery & First Boot
Flip the laptop over and you're greeted by the device's ample battery slot. Nokia claims a 12-hour usage time, which would put it at the front of the pack — and for a device with that kind of battery life, it's surprisingly light.
On powering up I was welcomed by the familiar Nokia connecting people logo — a sight I've grown accustomed to on my Nokia devices. The Booklet boots up quickly compared to most netbooks I've used. After about 45 seconds I was staring at the Windows 7 welcome screen.