Harold Mansfield
08-06-2009, 10:27 PM
Net Books are all the rage this season. If you haven't seen them yet, it's basically a mini laptop. Not exactly powerful enough for a full fledged computing solution, but they offer nice portability and beat the heck out of carrying a full laptop to meetings, or the local coffee shop.
Verizon has been pushing both their HP Mini and Dell versions, and they seem like a good deal on the surface, but with further investigation, I opted for a new Acer Aspire One 11.6".
2 things about the Verizon netbook turned me off:
1. It's only $199 if you sign up for a 2 year contract with Verizon wireless ( and that is after a $50 mail in rebate, so it's $250 out of pocket)...not too bad except Verizon broadband wireless is archaic. They don't offer an unlimited plan, and their 3G network is far behind other companies like Sprint and Clear that are launching 4G networks, or WIMAX.
Without the 2 year contract, the net book is $599 !
The Verizon Dell's start at $399 with a 10.1" display.
2. The embedded broadband wireless only works on the Verizon network. Kind of like how a cell phone only works on the network you purchased it from.
Here is the real kicker...even if you buy it without the 2 year service contract, it still comes preinstalled with the Verizon Network. They have an option of a "Day Pass" which basically lets you pay for a days use of wireless broadband (24 hr periods) at $15 a whack ! Can you imagine ? Just 5 days of that is $75 !
Comparatively the AT&T Netbook (which is the 10.1" Acer Aspire) starts at $199 (after a $100 mail in rebate so $299 out of pocket) and a 2 year contract, and is $499 without the contract. But it does have 1G of ram and 160 GB Hard Drive.
I opted for an Acer 11.6" Aspire One ($329). It's not preloaded with any plan (although AT&T uses Acer's and Lenovo's for their net book offer.)
I can honestly say I am very happy with it. Once I uninstalled all the trial offers and configured it the way I like it, it is a very nice little machine that I highly recommend.
It's great to take with you, but I do recommend getting the one with the 8 hour battery which will run around $359 (I wasn't thinking, now I have to buy an 8 hour battery for $129 :().
Full sized keyboard, Twice the memory, twice the RAM, 5.1 sound availability, better graphics, and a bigger display, 3 USB ports, 5 in 1 media card reader, VGA port for an external monitor....all more than what the Verizon HP mini, or Verizon Dell is offering. The AT and T is comparable, but with a smaller display.
I already had a Sprint Broadband wirless USB card ($49.99 unlimited), and WIMAX drivers are free on the Acer site, so it's Wifi, WIMAX, and with a simple Blue Tooth USB adapter ($16, but you can get them as cheap as $5 or less)...Blue Tooth ready.
I test drove the web cam at the local coffee shop combined with Skype, (or Yahoo, AOL, or MSN Messenger) the blue tooth headset I had for my phone ($12) and it was pretty cool. Crystal clear.
It gets looks and conversation.
Since, I have run into all kinds of people who are using theirs for work, and everyone seems to be quite pleased.
I don't think that buying a net book from a wireless provider is a great move, unless it's your provider and you definitely plan on staying with them for the life of the computer, or the company is paying for it.
It seems that you should be able to use any wireless card you wish, but after I read the specs it seemed like it would only work on the Verizon network and that scared me.
I looked for 2 months before I pulled the trigger and I can say that I made a good choice.
Previously the Acer 10.1" is one of the best selling net books on the market. the 11.6" just came out, so I jumped on it...the price is already starting to go up.
Have any of you been thinking about a net book ?
Verizon has been pushing both their HP Mini and Dell versions, and they seem like a good deal on the surface, but with further investigation, I opted for a new Acer Aspire One 11.6".
2 things about the Verizon netbook turned me off:
1. It's only $199 if you sign up for a 2 year contract with Verizon wireless ( and that is after a $50 mail in rebate, so it's $250 out of pocket)...not too bad except Verizon broadband wireless is archaic. They don't offer an unlimited plan, and their 3G network is far behind other companies like Sprint and Clear that are launching 4G networks, or WIMAX.
Without the 2 year contract, the net book is $599 !
The Verizon Dell's start at $399 with a 10.1" display.
2. The embedded broadband wireless only works on the Verizon network. Kind of like how a cell phone only works on the network you purchased it from.
Here is the real kicker...even if you buy it without the 2 year service contract, it still comes preinstalled with the Verizon Network. They have an option of a "Day Pass" which basically lets you pay for a days use of wireless broadband (24 hr periods) at $15 a whack ! Can you imagine ? Just 5 days of that is $75 !
Comparatively the AT&T Netbook (which is the 10.1" Acer Aspire) starts at $199 (after a $100 mail in rebate so $299 out of pocket) and a 2 year contract, and is $499 without the contract. But it does have 1G of ram and 160 GB Hard Drive.
I opted for an Acer 11.6" Aspire One ($329). It's not preloaded with any plan (although AT&T uses Acer's and Lenovo's for their net book offer.)
I can honestly say I am very happy with it. Once I uninstalled all the trial offers and configured it the way I like it, it is a very nice little machine that I highly recommend.
It's great to take with you, but I do recommend getting the one with the 8 hour battery which will run around $359 (I wasn't thinking, now I have to buy an 8 hour battery for $129 :().
Full sized keyboard, Twice the memory, twice the RAM, 5.1 sound availability, better graphics, and a bigger display, 3 USB ports, 5 in 1 media card reader, VGA port for an external monitor....all more than what the Verizon HP mini, or Verizon Dell is offering. The AT and T is comparable, but with a smaller display.
I already had a Sprint Broadband wirless USB card ($49.99 unlimited), and WIMAX drivers are free on the Acer site, so it's Wifi, WIMAX, and with a simple Blue Tooth USB adapter ($16, but you can get them as cheap as $5 or less)...Blue Tooth ready.
I test drove the web cam at the local coffee shop combined with Skype, (or Yahoo, AOL, or MSN Messenger) the blue tooth headset I had for my phone ($12) and it was pretty cool. Crystal clear.
It gets looks and conversation.
Since, I have run into all kinds of people who are using theirs for work, and everyone seems to be quite pleased.
I don't think that buying a net book from a wireless provider is a great move, unless it's your provider and you definitely plan on staying with them for the life of the computer, or the company is paying for it.
It seems that you should be able to use any wireless card you wish, but after I read the specs it seemed like it would only work on the Verizon network and that scared me.
I looked for 2 months before I pulled the trigger and I can say that I made a good choice.
Previously the Acer 10.1" is one of the best selling net books on the market. the 11.6" just came out, so I jumped on it...the price is already starting to go up.
Have any of you been thinking about a net book ?