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LG Electronics has launched its first netbook for the United States. The LG X120, which runs Microsoft’s Windows XP operating system and features a 10.1-inch LED backlit screen, will be soon available at RadioShack locations.
The netbook doesn’t rely on Wi-Fi connectivity alone, and includes an integrated modem for connecting to AT&T’s 3G network. Also notable is its SmartOn interface, which loads in just seconds and offers one-touch access to the Web, photos, instant messaging and the MP3 player.
“We created the LG X120 to allow consumers to stay connected on their own terms,” said LG’s Ehtisham Rabbani, in a Nov. 23 statement. “The SmartOn button puts consumers seconds away from the fun stuff such as showing off your vacation photos or picking your fantasy football line-up.”
The X120 still means business, however, with seven hours of battery life and a traveling weight of 2.8 pounds. It comes with 1GB of RAM and a 160GB hard drive, and there’s also a 1.3-megapixel camera and HD stereo speakers for video conferencing – whether about fantasy football or other must-chat topics.
The exterior of LG X120 is white and matte with a blue trim. RadioShack – though neither company has announced an exact date for the netbook’s arrival – will have it priced at $179.99 with a two-year AT&T DataConnect service agreement, which is $60 a month for a 5GB plan. The plan additionally entitles subscribers to access AT&T’s more than 20,000 Hot Spots nationwide.
Phone-maker Nokia also recently got into the netbook game, with its introduction of the Booklet 3G. Also with connectivity to AT&T’s 3G network, the 2.76-pound Booklet 3G will soon be available at Best Buy locations for $299 with a two-year AT&T service contract.
Research firm Display Search has found netbook sales to have risen by 264 percent year over year, and while some industry voices believe netbooks are best left to consumers, others are making an argument that it’s time for enterprises to embrace them.
In the handset market, LG has been a strong performer, and in the third quarter of 2009 shipped an all-time high of 31.6 million handsets, thanks, in part, to the introduction of a mix of new phones running Android and the Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system.