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View Full Version : Cheaper laptops hitting the US market on Oct. 22

BenPanced
10-15-2009, 09:49 AM
There's a catch, though: you're sigining a two-year agreement with AT&T's 3G data service for $60 a month (http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/patterson/58080).
STKlingaman
10-15-2009, 10:01 AM
$60 x 24 doesn't sound cheaper to me.
Chasing the Horizon
10-15-2009, 10:34 AM
OK, I've been trying for the last 15 minutes to understand why anyone would want one of these. Is that AT&T contract supposed to take the place of your home internet or something? I pay $60/month for my internet, and can connect unlimited computers for unlimited hours with unlimited data . . .
blacbird
10-15-2009, 12:00 PM
Bovine excrement, if ever I've smelt such.

caw
icerose
10-15-2009, 05:36 PM
The 3G network would only work with that one computer but you could use it anywhere. It's like the service you get for your cellphone. If you were looking to get this specific network, it would be worth it. The USB adapter plug in thingy is 120 something on it's own. So if you needed a computer, wanted this specific network, then it would be worth it.

Outside of that, no.
whistlelock
10-15-2009, 07:57 PM
It gets even better- there's a 5 gigabyte limit on the amount of data transferred to and from the netbook.

Want to watch a couple of movies on Netflix? Sure, just don't count on using it for the rest of the month.
dgiharris
10-15-2009, 08:42 PM
It gets even better- there's a 5 gigabyte limit on the amount of data transferred to and from the netbook.

Want to watch a couple of movies on Netflix? Sure, just don't count on using it for the rest of the month.

Gotta love that fine print

and the two year contract. In the world of computers, two years might as well be two decades. In two years, 3G will be much cheaper than it is now, that is, unless you are locked into a two year contract with 2009 pricing :(

In two years, 3G will probably come as standard with your normal internet connection

Mel...
the addster
10-15-2009, 08:47 PM
Pfffft. Let's see, $299 + $1440 for the contract?

I don't think so.

I'll keep my Crackberry, thanks.
dgiharris
10-15-2009, 08:53 PM
Pfffft. Let's see, $299 + $1440 for the contract?

I don't think so.

I'll keep my Crackberry, thanks.

I'm always amazed how so many people are 'duped' by these types of scams.

It's like a car dealer selling you a car for $100 but you MUST get there service package and the service package costs $20,000.

Who falls for that crap?

I guess it must be a lot of people since so many companies do it.

Actually, just thought of something, there are people in this country that think that mankind and dinosaurs lived side by side...

So if you can believe that, then yeah, a $299 dollar computer with a $1,440 contract makes a lot of sense.

Mel...
jennontheisland
10-15-2009, 09:55 PM
Bad enough that cell phones make you sign up for long term plans, now they want us to do it with computers?? They're fucking nuts.
Don
10-15-2009, 10:18 PM
Who falls for that crap?

Actually, just thought of something, there are people in this country that think that mankind and dinosaurs lived side by side...

...and people who believe "we're from the government, and we're here to help..." :ROFL:
Jcomp
10-16-2009, 12:15 AM
Bad enough that cell phones make you sign up for long term plans...

This is the idea. They're teamed up with Nokia on this and they're using the cell phone model for selling the computer and counting on consumers who don't know how to dig for a better deal or just aren't thinking about the long term. Most people don't think of $60 x 24 = $1,440. They just think "$60 a month? I can afford that."
aadams73
10-16-2009, 12:47 AM
Fools and their money are soon parted.
BenPanced
10-16-2009, 12:53 AM
And according to the article, AT&T is already subsidizing three netbooks without the extra charges. Looking to drive themselves out of business by competing with themselves?
blacbird
10-16-2009, 01:22 AM
How similar is this to the famed Nigerian inheritance scam?

caw
tjwriter
10-16-2009, 01:37 AM
Oh.

I thought you were going to be discussing the cheap Compaqs that HP is going to be putting out. I heard talk of it today, but I wasn't sure of the timeline.
Shadow_Ferret
10-16-2009, 01:41 AM
Yes, I saw one of those computers at Verizon Wireless. I thought it was pretty cute and considered getting it for my son so he'd have a small puter for school and to surf the internet.

Not at $60 a month though. That's why I don't have a crackberry because of the $30 a month data package.