HP - Compaq nc6400 Notebook with Cingular Wireless Broadband
HP, together with Cingular Wireless, just released the HP Compaq nc6400, the first wireless broadband notebook computer available to the US. Ever wished your notebook wasn't tethered to a wi-fi hotspot? HP and Cingular Wireless believe they have your answer right here in the nc6400. Its UMTS / HSDPA technology allows you to roam anywhere in range of its mobile network.
This first-of-its-kind notebook has a tri-band UTMS modem that supports a throughput of up to 3.6 Megs per second, using high speed GPRS / EDGE networks. Cingular customers can use the wireless service provider's Cingular Wireless BroadbandConnect service, but it'll also connect internationally, anywhere a UTMS / GPRS is available. HP says the notebook will be priced at $1,599, and Cingular places availability of its BraodbandConnect service at sometime in late December, for $59.99.
HP Compaq and Cingular have marketed this computer directly at business applications. The price of a wireless notebook connection is cost-prohibitive right now for the average user. With the spread of wider wi-fi like WiMax and WiBro, in the near future wireless services will become less necessary for a laptop and other mobile computing device.
