AT&T has announced it will be the exclusive US launch partner for the new HTC Jetstream tablet. The Jetstream, formerly known by its code-name “Puccini” is the HTC Flyer‘s big brother. While the Flyer has a 7 inch display and runs Google Android 2.3 Gingerbread, the Jetstream has a 10.1 inch screen and will ship with Android 3.1 Honeycomb.
The HTC Jetstream tablet features a 1.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon dual core processor, HTC Sense software with custom home screen widgets and applications, and the HTC Scribe software which will allow you to use a digital pen to write or draw on the tablet. For a limited time AT&T will throw in the pen for free when you buy the tablet.
The tablet features 4G LTE mobile broadband as well as 3G and WiFi capabilities. It has a front-facing 1.3MP camera and an 8MP rear camera. It comes with a 7300mAh battery, measures 7″ x 9.9″ x 0.5″ and weighs just under 1.6 pounds.
Now for the bad news. AT&T will charge a whopping $699.99 for the tablet — and that’s the price when you sign up for a 2 year service contract. The HTC Jetstream will run $849 if you try to buy it contract-free.
That’s not necessarily a ridiculous price for a device with the Jetstream’s specs… but with Apple iPads starting at $499, many Android tablets selling for even less, and a new batch of $99 HP TouchPad tablets due out in a few weeks, $700 seems like a lot of money to spend on a tablet. Hopefully HTC will have a cheaper, WiFi-only model soon as well.
Pricing it at $699 with a 2 year contract, it’s like the Motorola Xoom all over again. I hope a wifi version comes out that’s at least $200 cheaper.
I still don’t understand why tablets are tied to carriers so often. I think it’s good that there’s the option to get 3G/4G for those that want it, but most people I know aren’t going to pay for another ISP plan when they already have one at home and one for their cell phone. I would have thought a wifi only version would sell more.
A
very expensive tablet, however, I know that HTC has a reputation for making
reliable phones. The Jetstream comes with a dual-core processor, 4G, and a large
10.1 inch screen. It would be perfect for watching movies on. The Jetstream is
on my list for my next tablet. I am a huge movie
streamer, and I think the Jetstream would do great if I got one. I use the DISH
Remote Access app for all my streaming needs. I love this app because it lets
me stream live TV and recorded shows from my 922 SlingLoaded receiver to my
phone anywhere I am in crystal clear HD! Whether I am on my way to school, or
in another country, I can watch any channel I subscribe to. As a customer and
employee of DISH Network, I have been using the app for a long time on my HTC
Thunderbolt, and I know it will work wonders on the Jetstream!