Best/cheapest netbook plan?

[dudeman007]

Boss wants to get a network with mobile broadband installed. Seems almost everywhere the fee is set up to be $40 for 200/250 mb and $60 for 5 gigs a month. Netbook prices seem to be about the same all over too. Anyone know something I don't?

 

[zerocool84]

Have you talked to him about tethering?

 

[dudeman007]

Yes. We know about the broadband cards and all that jazz too. We're specifically interested in the netbooks.

 

[boomhower]

Just curious, but why do you want to be stuck in a two year contract with already woefully underpowered hardware? I would just get a USB stick and call it a day. Use it on whatever netbook/notebook you want.

 

[dudeman007]

Originally posted by: boomhower
Just curious, but why do you want to be stuck in a two year contract with already woefully underpowered hardware? I would just get a USB stick and call it a day. Use it on whatever netbook/notebook you want.

Most of the stick plans use the same agreement, and we don't need power. Browsing and email is the focus. All of the laptops we use at work have shit battery and are huge. We need something lightweight that we can take with us on the move.

No one knows of any deals?

 

[Pliablemoose]

Dell Outlet has refurb Mini 9's 10's & 10v's with 3g capability.

You can likely find subsidized netbooks though for less up front, you'd just be locked into data plans for a couple of years.

A Dell refurb would allow you to do a proof of concept without getting locked into a 2 year data plan.

You can sort the netbooks, the 3G systems are the most expensive ones $350-$499 or so, the last column on the right shows what kind of card they ship with. I believe they're all ATT.

 

[zerocool84]

If you do go that route, go Verizon/Sprint as AT&T's 3G still isn't up to par as their's are.

 

[erwos]

Originally posted by: dudeman007

Originally posted by: boomhower
Just curious, but why do you want to be stuck in a two year contract with already woefully underpowered hardware? I would just get a USB stick and call it a day. Use it on whatever netbook/notebook you want.

Most of the stick plans use the same agreement, and we don't need power. Browsing and email is the focus. All of the laptops we use at work have shit battery and are huge. We need something lightweight that we can take with us on the move.

I don't understand how using a USB stick modem somehow negates the portability of your netbook.

 

[shortylickens]

I think if this is a business deal and you are buying lots of netbooks, I would check with Dell and see if I could get some kind of business account. You could probably get netbooks all with built in and/or USB modems for a steal. And possibly even get a deal on the monthly service too.
Call up their business phone number and ask about it.