Mobile/PDA About Us Advertise here


		User name	Password

		Not registered yet? Register here. Lost your password? Click here.

Browse by topic

News

Verizon starts selling netbooks

18 May 2009 17:21 by Rich "vurbal" Fiscus | 8 comments

This week Verizon Wireless added a unique offering to their standard selection of subsidized phones. If you sign up for mobile internet service you can get a HP Mini 1151NR netbook for $249.99 ($199.99 after $50 rebate).

The netbook features a 1.6GHz Atom CPU, 1GB RAM, an 80GB hard drive, a 10.1" screen with a native resolution of 1024x576, and mobile broadband, 802.11b/g wireless ethernet, and Bluetooth connectivity built in. It comes with Windows XP Home installed.

In the nearly two years since the introduction of the original iPhone the line between smartphone and ultra-portable computer has gradually blurred. There's even talk that Nokia, a leader in the smartphone market, will have their own line of netbooks soon.

But given the issues that AT&T iPhone owners have had making full use of their mobile internet servce it will be interesting to see how Verizon's network holds up.

It's one thing to support mobile email and scaled down versions of web pages. It's something else entirely for thousands (or tens of thousands) of people to use the same bandwidth for even basic web surfing using a standard desktop browser.

If sales take off by the time the next school year rolls around, don't be surprised to see either a lot of happy students or an equal number of disgruntled Verizon customers.

In either case this may signal a major shift in the way US consumers use mobile internet services, and ultimately the change in focus should be good for consumers.

Permalink to this article | Topic: Gadgets

Netbook shipments grow to 33 million (15 July 2009)

Nokia launches music store in India (13 July 2009)

Direct movie downloads headed to iPhone? (25 May 2009)

LG begins shipping new BD390 Blu-ray player (19 May 2009)

« Previous news article
Wilco lets fan stream upcoming album

Next news article »
Napster slashes prices

Post your comment

Discuss this article!
ZippyDSM (AfterDawn Addict) 18 May 2009 22:48
If they would offer sane rates IE 10 bucks a month for every GB you download on it caped at 5GB+ for 80 a month it would not be to bad for basic surfing 1-2GB is all I require and with picture gainers and flash blockers I could use the bandwidth fully without really using a lot of it. I scoff at Versions 40/60 plan 1 GB for 40 a month is down right silly, 60$ for 5GB is not too bad but I only really need 2-3. They need picture/flash plug ins,something you can send links to your home PC so you can download big stuff later,bandwidth counter to help people manage bandwidth and they wont need they charge people through the nose for it.... [ + quote]
cart0181 (Junior Member) 19 May 2009 4:01
@ZippyDSM, what is a good pic/flash plug in? The article says they have WinXP Home on there, but can they run normal apps? I heard Netbooks suck royal. (By the way, the spellchecker doesn't know what a netbook is). [ + quote]
ZippyDSM (AfterDawn Addict) 19 May 2009 4:54
*Originally posted by cart0181:* @ZippyDSM, what is a good pic/flash plug in? The article says they have WinXP Home on there, but can they run normal apps? I heard Netbooks suck royal. (By the way, the spellchecker doesn't know what a netbook is). The browser plug ins let you minmialize pictures(shrink size/qaulity) and stop flash from flooding your bandwidth this adds up over time and allows you to do more with that costly wireless bandwidth. Basically the stuff you absolutely want to see will come in the same as it dose on your land line home PC. [ + quote]
blueboy09 (Newbie) 19 May 2009 8:45
Why not just give the netbook for free when u buy their 2-year crippled internet over-the-air deal. Tried their aircard, and if you want BELOW 56k modem speed, then by all means join the crowd of gullibles who would give in to this supposedly good deal. Hell, it might even be better than Comcast's wonderful capped deal!! (Scoffs; throws hands in the air) - BLUEBOY [ + quote]
ZippyDSM (AfterDawn Addict) 19 May 2009 8:50
You mean below DSL speeds...then again I tried out a friends verision air card for a month it was better than dailup but worse than DSL. And you know that dose sound like a good deal for 60$ a month you get a USB air card and a netbook under a 2 year contract. [ + quote]
slickwill (Junior Member) 19 May 2009 11:31
Does anyone else think that the HP netbook is a little over priced compared to the other branded netbooks available? [ + quote]
KillerBug (Senior Member) 22 May 2009 0:38
*Originally posted by slickwill:* Does anyone else think that the HP netbook is a little over priced compared to the other branded netbooks available? Normaly it is, but for $200 it is a great deal. The cheapest eeePC is $250, and that does not have a WWAN adapter (~$150 from Dell). [ + quote]
cart0181 (Junior Member) 22 May 2009 4:17
*Quote:* *Originally posted by cart0181:* @ZippyDSM, what is a good pic/flash plug in? The article says they have WinXP Home on there, but can they run normal apps? I heard Netbooks suck royal. (By the way, the spellchecker doesn't know what a netbook is). The browser plug ins let you minmialize pictures(shrink size/qaulity) and stop flash from flooding your bandwidth this adds up over time and allows you to do more with that costly wireless bandwidth. Basically the stuff you absolutely want to see will come in the same as it dose on your land line home PC. Yes, I understand. I meant specifically what is a good one(s)? [ + quote]