Linkbook from Vodacom arrives

herbertk said:
Dont see wi fi ... so seems there is no other way of getting stuff on it than 3g :confused:

It has USB . . so flash drive could work.. cant get specs on capacity ?
Click to expand...

The highly portable Linkbook has a 8.9” TFT screen. It comes 3G-embedded for total wireless connectivity and has a
SIM card slot in the rear of the device. It has a high resolution screen. It is WIFI enabled with a 16 GB Flash Memory, a built in wireless LAN and two USB ports which support USB 1.1 or
USB 2.0 devices.
 
cleask said:
The highly portable Linkbook has a 8.9” TFT screen. It comes 3G-embedded for total wireless connectivity and has a
SIM card slot in the rear of the device. It has a high resolution screen. It is WIFI enabled with a 16 GB Flash Memory, a built in wireless LAN and two USB ports which support USB 1.1 or
USB 2.0 devices.
Click to expand...

Awesome... thx
 
• Where can I get a Linkbook?
From 1 May 2010 selected Vodacom retailers will have the Linkbook
in stock.

• My Linkbook has a technical problem, where can I get support?
Call 0861 994 443

• Can I roam with my Linkbook?
Yes but it depends on the contract you are on.

• Can I use non Vodacom SIM card in my Linkbook?
Only Vodacom offers you access to the Linkbook in South Africa

• Can I get a Linkbook without a Vodacom Contract?
Only Vodacom offers you access to the Linkbook in South Africa

• Why don’t some sites with Videos work on my Linkbook?
Unfortunatley the Linkbook doesn’t support Flash 10 which sites
like YouTube use to run their videos. Look out for updates that
will allow you to watch these videos.
Click to expand...

hmmm, so you have to take out a contract to buy this. :erm:
 
Is there any reason you couldn't just put a new OS on it or is it locked to whatever is on there now?
 
At first I thought this sound like a great deal, but when doing the maths it isn't!

If you take the measly 300mb bandwidth out of the equation it works out to be 24 x R199 = R4776 in total for the netbook! Vodacom will never sell this without the 300mb bandwidth. (They actually know that you will need to topup as 300mb won't last more than a few days.)

You could buy a same specced netbook for around R2800! (R117 p/m x 24)

If you think about it, the R40 per month x 24 is not really the hardware cost. I'm sure Vodacom is subsidising the hardware with the bandwidth, much the same as they are doing with the cheap cellphone packages for R29 p/m etc..
 
trancehead said:
Is there any reason you couldn't just put a new OS on it or is it locked to whatever is on there now?
Click to expand...

It's not running the Intel Atom CPU, but rather a specially developed Motorolla one. Windows can't be run on this (unlike the other netbooks).
Vodacom had Canonical (Mark Shuttleworth's company specially develop a version of Ubuntu for this processor..)
 
herbertk said:
Dont see wi fi ... so seems there is no other way of getting stuff on it than 3g :confused:

It has USB . . so flash drive could work.. cant get specs on capacity ?
Click to expand...
its got WiFi, the only downfall is 16gb flash drive, and they dont say if u can use xp on it or vista lite or something that most people are familiar with
 
From their site:

"This device was designed for surfing the internet, sending email and playing installed games. It is not suitable for third party software or downloads. Not all websites wil (sic) be accessible from this machine."

Sounds like an iPad, only worse.
 
I think it is a step in the right direction. With cloud computing gathering momentum all that you really need is a device that allows internet access. The main advantage of course is Vodacoms contract means easy terms for those that does not have cash.
 
I'm guessing it's the same Mark Levy from Blue Label Telecoms (big into cellphone business) and ex Director Integr8 IT. A company which wouldn't let me install one scrap of Linux for their customers, even if it was the better solution for them, while in their employ (Gold Partner with M$ and all) which in the end was a big reason i left. Quite funny that he's trying to make money off linux when back then his partners all went on about how linux will never make money, it's the darkside, it's going down (they getting sued by SCO, yes that turned out SOOO well for SCO) blah blah blah. Anyway if it's the same Mark, it would be a good product, he's good at what he does.

Thanks for all the tequila's at those office parties Mark. :)

Fantastic1 said:
just hope it is this Mark Levy ....

http://www.digitalplanet.co.za/blog/labels/digital planet.html
We're 10 & You're all Invited

or even this Mark Levy..

http://www.moneyweb.co.za/mw/view/mw/en/page55?oid=170354&sn=Detail
Click to expand...
 
IcemanMike said:
At first I thought this sound like a great deal, but when doing the maths it isn't!

If you take the measly 300mb bandwidth out of the equation it works out to be 24 x R199 = R4776 in total for the netbook! Vodacom will never sell this without the 300mb bandwidth. (They actually know that you will need to topup as 300mb won't last more than a few days.)

You could buy a same specced netbook for around R2800! (R117 p/m x 24)

If you think about it, the R40 per month x 24 is not really the hardware cost. I'm sure Vodacom is subsidising the hardware with the bandwidth, much the same as they are doing with the cheap cellphone packages for R29 p/m etc..
Click to expand...


This machine may retail at the sub R 3500 price inclusive of VAT on Prepaid at Vodacom stores
 
im in IT. i know how to setup mails etc. the only thing is, it says it is a good enough NBK for gran to use and setup. but not at all... my gran will throw this out.....
to check mails and browse it is not bad.
 
It looks as an affordable solution for people without telephone lines and modest budget (thousand of them in Soweto, Alexandra , Diepsloot who, believe it or not, also want to use internet)
300 MB - is little - 500 should be better.
But the idea shouldn't be spoiled by "unsaid" , hidden and
"fine print" information .

Can the devise be used as a 3G modem? Can it take external storage devices HDD / DVD ?

Where can we find more info ? Will facebook work ...or ... let's ask in a different way - is there a list of site that will work ?

:confused:
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X