Mobile Providers Turn to Netbook Popularity to Lure New Customers

[Terry Olaes]

Mobile providers are selling netbooks at deep discounts in an attempt to draw in more customers. Most of the deals require a long-term data plan commitment before the discount so there’s always the warning of caveat emptor. However, if you were already planning on shelling out some money on a wireless data plan, these deals may be what you need.

[Analyst Jack] Gold said consumers should be careful. If a user starts downloading movies to a netbook and exceeds a monthly data limit, the overage fees could be onerous, he said. …Gold also said that netbooks are not a proven commodity, and it isn't clear if they are going to be used as replacements for laptops or fall into the category of toys.

 

[the_dealer]

I vote toys!

 

[randomdean100]

I vote extremely useful and helpful toy.

 

[RussianHAXOR]

I just tether my phone to my netbook, works fine.

 

[GuruX]

I vote extremely useful and helpful toy.

Agered there. My MSI Wind netbook works perfect for my needs.

 

[JimmiG]

I use my AAO just like I used my previous 14" laptop only it's easier to carry around. So if the netbook is a toy, so was my notebook computer. Then again, maybe it was

 

[Nanan]

I just tether my phone to my netbook, works fine.

I was doing this until Sprint decided to cut me off, guess they didn't like me using the Sero plan "unlimited everything" to that extent.

 

[rflcptr]

Yeah, I noticed this with Dell's Mini 9. It can be had for $99 after a $350 MIR with a 2 year contract.

 

[Trombe]

$60 a month just for data plan? Are you kidding me? It's probably some craptastic lmit too like 5GB. I'll keep using the free Wi-Fi available in Starbucks, McDonalds, etc, thanks.

 

[g1tigi]

I'm in Baltimore...WiMAX ftw! (~5-6mbps down, ~2-3mbps up).