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Does such a device exist?

Discussion in 'Technology' started by fish78, Jul 15, 2009.

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  1. fish78

    fish78 F1 Rookie

    Sep 10, 2004
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    #1 fish78, Jul 15, 2009
    What I am thinking about is a cell phone driven netbook or laptop. What I mean by this is a device that you can plug...for lack of a better term... not tether...a cell phone into and be up and running. As it is, I pay a fee for my home internet service and another fee for my Blackberry data service and yet another fee for my phone usage...what I have in mind would be a 3G/ wifi enabled device that doubles as a phone...I think it could also enable video calling via the camera on the phone...Ok does it exist anywhere other than my mind?
     
  2. Bas

    Bas Four Time F1 World Champ

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    #2 Bas, Jul 15, 2009
    I'm not sure what you mean but we had a USB stick with a sim card in it...Could get fast internet out of it (pending on location). Paid a set fee each month and could use it anywhere.
     
  3. AMGBiturbo

    AMGBiturbo Karting

    Nov 21, 2008
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    #3 AMGBiturbo, Jul 15, 2009
    You can buy netbooks directly from the major carriers right now that are subsidized and have built in 3G radios.

    So yes... done and they aren't selling that well anyway.
     
  4. CrusaderTBC

    CrusaderTBC Karting

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    #4 CrusaderTBC, Jul 15, 2009
    Verizon MiFi may be what you're looking for. However, why isn't a cell phone tethering an option?
     
  5. fish78

    fish78 F1 Rookie

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    #5 fish78, Jul 15, 2009
    I haven't seen any of these advertised...do you have a link? I am interested in ow they are configured. Subsidized in what way and by whom?
     
  6. fish78

    fish78 F1 Rookie

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    #6 fish78, Jul 15, 2009
    For starters, ATT wants 60 bucks/mo for thethering. But my real reason is simplification, and consolidation of devices through a modular assembly scheme...would like to see TV and home theater control devices integrated as well...the idea of a modular do it all device is very appealing to me. Can we add a combination microwave-infared oven as well.....
     
  7. fish78

    fish78 F1 Rookie

    Sep 10, 2004
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    #7 fish78, Jul 15, 2009
    That might be a beginning of the solution for what I have in mind...will look into it.
     
  8. fish78

    fish78 F1 Rookie

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    #8 fish78, Jul 15, 2009
    OK, I found the subsidized 3G netbooks...they are a start, but not what I have in mind...the good news, is that they are moving in the right direction...also it tells me my intuition is still working.
     
  9. Schatten

    Schatten F1 World Champ
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    #9 Schatten, Jul 15, 2009
    This has been out for several years. There is a built in option or even a dedicated card for Verizon or AT&T. You can buy it with your Dell or HP notebook.
     
  10. fish78

    fish78 F1 Rookie

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    #10 fish78, Jul 15, 2009
    Those also require additional fees to ATT...What I am trying to accomplish is to eliminate having to pay for both DSL and mobile data fees to ATT...Also I see no need to have to disassemble the phone in order to accomplish this. Further, with a modular device, it would be expanable and updatable...a single device that addresses your computing needs, your phone needs, both home and mobile, controls other devices such as stereo, TV any any thing else you might think of. QWith only one fee due ATT...
     
  11. fish78

    fish78 F1 Rookie

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    #11 fish78, Jul 15, 2009
    It looks like a company called BUG Labs is working on something akin to what I have in mind...they use the term LEGO to describe what they are up to...pretty sure its not where I want it to be at the moment, but its moving my direction.
     
  12. TheBigEasy

    TheBigEasy F1 World Champ
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    #12 TheBigEasy, Jul 15, 2009
    That's cool.

    I think most laptops will go the way of the Mac Air. I haven't used my CD drive in years... the future is to have as much possible web based/stored and the pc itself as simple as possible.
     
  13. AMGBiturbo

    AMGBiturbo Karting

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    #13 AMGBiturbo, Jul 16, 2009
    The HTC advantage is a phone/laptop... to big for any real usage, but it exists.
     
  14. fish78

    fish78 F1 Rookie

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    #14 fish78, Jul 16, 2009
    Can the phone be uncoupled from the laptop?
     
  15. fish78

    fish78 F1 Rookie

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    #15 fish78, Jul 16, 2009
    Not too big...too small. it needs to be a full sized, full functioning laptop, that uses the smart phone as the modem but couples together, so that the phone can be removed and used independent of the computer...it would have NO other way to connect to the Internet...the idea is to avoid duplicate carrier fees...This seems like a no brainer to me, but maybe I am the only one...
     
  16. agup48

    agup48 Two Time F1 World Champ

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    #16 agup48, Jul 25, 2009
    I like the HTC Advantage, never heard of it until this thread. But to be honest, cool concept, but I'd rather have a netbook and connect to wifi. Unless you travel alot, or are away from a wifi spot.
     
  17. SRT Mike

    SRT Mike Two Time F1 World Champ

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    #17 SRT Mike, Jul 25, 2009
    Prolly have to wait 5-10 years. The problem is that we have a voracious appetite for bandwidth, and even the 4G networks don't come close to what we need.

    We have pretty good computing power in the cell phones now... the netbooks are closing in on size/power from the other direction. But it will be some time until your imagined device is reality.. but it will be cool. The other issue is the screen. OLED flexible screens that fold out and better battery life should seal the deal.
     
  18. SRT Mike

    SRT Mike Two Time F1 World Champ

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    #18 SRT Mike, Jul 25, 2009
    Sun Micro went broke on this idea... it's been around for a while and software companies love it, but I think the user will always want to be running their apps locally in the future.
     

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