When the specs of the Booklet 3G were revealed, the addition of a accelerometer seemed surprising, especially for a netbook. For mobile handsets and smartphones it’s mostly reserved for the top tier handsets, used for everything from screen orientation to device control in applications and games. I guess maybe because it was a device coming from Nokia, I immediately imagined a netbook where the screen could somehow re-orient itself or even applications or games that could use the accelerometer. But after all the excitement had settled down, it became clear to me how the accelerometer would be used: Hard drive protection.

A feature now common among high-end and mid-tier laptops, the accelerometer is used to “sense” a sudden fall. In this case the hard drive is “parked” to prevent or minimize damage. This is probably the first time I see this in a netbook, but judging by the segment the Booklet 3G is targeting with its price, it’s no surprise that Nokia included this high-end feature. It wouldn’t be a bad idea though if they could find more creative or useful uses for the accelerometer.

What do you think, are their creative or useful uses for an accelerometer in a netbook?