This is a totally hot deal, the fantastic HP Mini-Note 2133 is currently on sale at Walmart (of all places) for just $298 after a $100 rebate.

The rebate is valid until TODAY (September 30th), so you have just a couple of hours to pick on up. The machine has a 120GB drive, a Via C7 1.2GHz processor, Gigabit Ethernet and an 8.9" display. Clearly HP will have something new for us soon!

There are some other Mini-Note versions on sale, you can find them all here .

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The tool depends on linking the mobile device to a computer for connecting to the Cloud, so it isn’t all that great.  But at least they’ve come up with something that passes for a legitimate use of the “cloud computing” moniker that they’ve been touting recently.

They support a number of devices beyond just Windows Mobile-powered options, which is nice.  Ironically the WinMo devices are only supported via a USB cable, while non-WinMo devices also have BlueTooth support.  A full list of known supported (and some unsupported ones) are contained here.

You know the rule when it comes to Apple rumors; if someone claims they “heard it”, it is probably false.

Nevertheless; 9to5mac.com has a pretty decent list of evidence trying to make the case for a CDMA/EVDO enabled iPhone.

There are several CDMA operators in the world that are large enough for an order of iPhones. Verizon alone has over 80 million customers (once the Alltel merger is completed) AND a very extensive 3G network.

Despite the promise of “iPhone killers”, nobody has made a phone that comes close to the success of the iPhone, and it is obvious that some operators that said no to the original iPhone are pretty pissed off at that decision.

Source: 9to5mac.com

No voice service on the network, yet, and a modem will run you $45 if you’re in the neighborhood.  Oh, and the service will be $10/day, $35/month or $50/month for unlimited data for life.  I don’t understand that last one and how it is different from the $35 plan, but I’m sure it isn’t just that they are charging $15 more for the same thing.

Chicago and Washington, DC appear to be the next cities scheduled for activation, with Dallas, Fort Worth, Boston, Providence and Philadelphia following eventually.

You’ll be parting with about $100 of your hard earned cash, but you’ll certainly be one of the first on the block with this much storage. These cards should work in most Blackberry, Nokia and HTC devices with SDHC support.

I took the plunge and ordered one, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed it isn’t a fake/scam/broken/mistake. You’ll find them on Ebay or many retailers outside the US (apparently Sandisk has not shipped them to US retailers yet).

Here is why I think the mobile department in Redmond will suffer a lot from this new phone:

1) Their number one client has defected (partially); HTC has been making Windows Mobile phones for ages. They are without a doubt the biggest customer and have clearly been a little disappointed in the direction Microsoft has taken them. In recent years, they have had to do a lot of work to make Windows Mobile more attractive (TouchFlo for example). This may be just one phone, with one operator, but it does show that HTC will not sit back and stick to just one OS. The hardware used in the G1 is quite impressive, and at that price point it is even more attractive than the iPhone (albeit not as sexy).

2) The G1 is perfect for the more “hip” T-mobile customers. The kind of kids that send text messages 24/7. The kind of kids that are currently using the T-mobile Sidekick! And it just so happens that Microsoft purchased Danger (who make the Sidekick) last year! OUCH. When these kids are eligible for a contract renewal, rest assured that the G1 will be high on their must-have list. All T-mobile has to do now, is create a prepaid version.

3) Windows Mobile 7 has been delayed AGAIN. It is now on track for a late 2009 release. By then, the next iPhone will be here, Symbian S60 will be available on touch screen phones, the Android platform will be on more phones, and all Blackberry phones will have 3G. There will be very little room left for Microsoft.

4) Everything in the G1 shows how they have learned from the iPhone. From the Android applications store to the built in accelerometer. Microsoft on the other hand has learned nothing from the iPhone. You can’t deny that Apple created the basis for all future mobile operating systems. In this day and age, Microsoft doesn’t even have a decent mobile browser, and installing apps on your Windows phone is still as enjoyable as a root canal.

Of course, the G1 is not perfect; it lacks Exchange support, it has nothing for the corporate user and little is known about any of the big players working on applications for it. But I’m convinced that every mobile developer in the world is looking closely at October 22nd, and the 400,000 G1’s T-mobile plans to ship by the end of the year. With some developers in the Apple App store making $250,000 in a few months, more people will want in on similar action. If anyone can do it, Google can.

This new phone and OS is important for several reasons;

- It will be the first non Windows/Blackberry/Danger powered smartphone to be launched on T-mobile. Up till now, they have always stayed clear of Symbian powered phones, and they don’t have the iPhone

- It will also be their first 3G enabled smartphone, with the rumored specifications in the G1, it would not have been possible to take full advantage of all the features without access to 3G.

- It will finally provide a serious alternative to the iPhone; Verizon and Sprint already launched fairly successful touch screen phones on their networks, so T-mobile was clearly lagging a little.

And finally; with T-mobile acting as the launch partner for Google, the world will be watching, AT&T already had their party with the iPhone and now T-mobile gets to have some fun.

Check in tomorrow for updates on the new G1.

Here are 5 of my tips that will help prevent losing your machine, or that can help your laptop find its way back to you in the event it is lost, forgotten or worse…

Mark it

Back in the days when I was stupid enough to actually check bags, I always made my bags stand out from others. That way, when they finally came down the baggage carousel, I’d be able to spot them from a distance. That naturally also works for a laptop. Make it look different. On any given hour of the day, your Dell or Thinkpad will be one of 10 or 20 moving down the x-ray conveyor at the same time.

A piece of duct tape or a large fluorescent sticker will do wonders. Steal some stickers from your kids and add flowers and stars to it.

Make it yours

In this day and age many companies do not allow you to affix your business card to your laptop. Especially publicly listed companies will advise you to remove any traces of the company name from your machine. That doesn’t stop you from putting your name and phone number on the machine. Once again, make it nice and clear, put it on the top and bottom. And be sure to add your mobile number in case someone at the TSA is kind enough to actually call you and track you down at the airport.

Make a mental checklist

Flying sucks. We all know that, and we all know the stress involved with getting from the parking lot to your gate. Add some structure to what you do by making a mental checklist. Once you get past security, go over a few simple things; do I still have my wallet, my jewelry, my mobile phone, my laptop. Do the same thing when you leave the plane. I’m one of those people who is standing up as soon as the plan reaches the gate, but I always take 20 seconds to feel all my pockets and double check the seat back.

Get a checkpoint safe laptop bag

The easiest way to prevent losing track of your laptop, is to never take it ouf of the bag. There are several manufacturers that have started to ship TSA approved laptop bags, including Tom Bihn, Travelon and Mobile Edge.

Use technology

Add some technology to your laptop to help retrieve it. For starters, consider a software package like LoJack or Undercover (for the Mac). IF your machine does go missing (and it isn’t on the lost and found shelf), these packages will help track down where it is. Other products to consider are this Belkin laptop alarm or this Kensington lock.

It has taken 2 years, but the first real Windows Mobile phone with the potential to take on the iPhone is coming soon. The HTC Touch HD is a very well specced device with a 5 megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, GPS, a 528MHz processor and a 480×800 “HD” screen. The specifications are fairly similar to the SonyEricsson Xperia X1, which is still not shipping.

The only thing missing in this device is quad-band 3G support. As usual, HTC will be making several versions of this device, and none will provide true worldwide support for the various 3G networks.

It should be out in a month for around $600 (unconnected price).

Source and image from: Mobifrance.com

Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Orlando, Philadelphia, Sacramento, San Francisco and Seattle

Of course, this is all perfectly timed to be done along with the new Google Android phone that’ll be launched on T-mobile. I’m admittedly excited about this new phone, as it means we’ll have another OS to help force Microsoft to get Windows Mobile 7 released sooner.