'Free' Laptop + Netbook Offers

[Chriss]

Hi, does anyone know of any 'good' deals for these sort of things. Most of the time it seems cheaper to take out a 12 month contract for mobile broadband, and buy the laptop on a credit card an pay it off over 12 months.

I'm only really after a netbook, and don't really need a lot of download, 1GB would be more than enough.

Anyone know of a worthwhile offer?
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TheShaggyDA: I've got 3 or 4 pairs that predate my wife, so at least 11.5 years old.

[Louise]

*Bump*

Am looking for something like this.
My Virgin BB has run out and I dont want to carry on.
Seeing the mobile internet/free laptops seems a good idea-but are they?
I the mobile internet USB? so I can always place it back into my PC and use it on here also?
Noob stuff about wireless
Dont want to pay more then £25 a month really and I do download at least 4-5 gig a month.

[Chriss]

Hi, I've got use of a friends wireless dongle whilst they're out the country, and I have to say, it's not replacement for proper broadband. Also, it's worth noting that your connection speed is the shared connection speed for everyone in the area.

I think it's great for what it is, but defiantly no substitute for ADSL.
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TheShaggyDA: I've got 3 or 4 pairs that predate my wife, so at least 11.5 years old.

[Fortuna]

I'll try to find the link if I can remember where it was.
Basically you end up paying more for these so called "deals" than what you would buying them both seperately.
Oh I remember it was Which, I'll see if I can scan it or get it online.

[GodzGift]

try pc world
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Bike Level: Amateur | CBT Passed

[pa_broon74]

Folks.

I have a Samsung NC10 netbook with vodaphone mobile 'broadband.' I payed £70 for the net book and pay £20 a month (for 18 months) for the BB.

First off, its a bit of a trade off. The net book was £320 to buy out right, so you need to work out if using the BB deal as a sort of HP payment plan is going to make it cheaper or atleast get you mobile 'BB' for less.

So, all in I'm paying 18x20 for the 'broadband' plus the £70 which works out as... Ummm... Eh.... Erm... £360?? (I hope...) Subtract what you would've paid for the laptop (£320 minus the 'broadband') and you get... Eh... £40...

Basically you're paying £40 for the mobile 'Broadband.' Or getting mobile 'broadband' and a net book for £23 a month. (I'm not even sure any of that works out... I just thought, 'oh I'll get a netbook and internet just incase' and it was cheaper in the short term to do it this way.)

In truth, while the net book is nice and shiny, mobile broadband is absolute crap. Its a huge misrepresentation and a total waste of money. Its worse than dial up and pretty much unusable even in town centres, with that in mind, its a total con.

Broadband doesn't necessarily mean speed, its to do with the way comms takes place (double duplex blah de blah stuff.) You won't even with maximum signal be able to stream video a la youtube or even listen to radio over the internet.

In an emergency then fair enough (although not if someones stopped breathing and your on wikipedia for CPR, they'll be dead before you even get google up...) But for things like email or very simple stuff.

Only upside is if you can get a wifi connection... But who wants to sit in a bar with a netbook? Ummm...

Only other point of note... New hotmail and OWA causes my netbook to freeze, no option but to turn it off and start again. I think its to do with mobile XP...

I suppose with mobile 'broadband' and with netbooks (although less so with the latter.) Its a case of the technology promising to deliver more than its capable of at this time. I wouldn't bother with mobile 'broadband' for now, its gash.


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Didn't catch anything.