Hewlett Packard Netbooks To Bypass Existing Mobile Companies

[Mulboyne]

[Taro Toporific]

The computers—]...more...[/URL]

She-e-e-it... "100 minutes of free airtime" would not last until lunchtime for my first day of use. Even my grandma spends more than 20 minutes a day checking email (20min x 5 days = 100min). Such a "pay-as-you-go wireless system" is only for extremely light users or tourists.
Now if HP was offering 1/2 price on the flat rate system for 3G (which runs around 6,000 yen/month regardless of the carrier), I would be camped out on the HP doorstep.

...businessweek.com...
HP's arrangement is the exception. But it could spur imitators offering pay-as-you-go wireless services for all kinds of gadgets that use the Web in new ways. One example: car navigation systems. Most in-car systems give directions and allow map searches, but hardly act like Web-connected PCs. Auto industry executives say it's because they haven't found a low-cost solution to connect cars to the Net...
....To lure consumers, HP plans to sell its computers for $50 to $100...

A car navigation system would need the system "on" all the time. Ouch. that sounds expensive.

[IkemenTommy]

Failed business model.

[Doctor Stop]

Failed business model.

Yep. That's why:

HP's event, at a downtown Tokyo hotel, was a small affair, attracting just a few dozen journalists and one TV camera.

[IkemenTommy]

HP needs to exit the PC market, period. I don't care if it's consumer or for business. It's a losing deal and they know it.

"HP shakes up Japan's market..."
They fuckin wish. This is obviously written by some monkey who never even bother to set foot or know anything about Japan.

[Mock Cockpit]

That interview with the boss of JCI was interesting, but yeah Taro is right the price of connecting to the network has to drop, 6000 yen on top of hikari is too rich for my blood but 3000 yen might be interesting as long as the speed is there and the coverage area expands, it's crap as far as us imo-chans are concerned right now.