With most PC manufacturers jumping into the netbook market; will the average consumer buy?
A netbook is defined on Wikipedia as:
"A netbook (a portmanteau of the words Internet and notebook) is a class of laptop computer designed for wireless communication and access to the Internet."
I always equated netbooks to sub notebooks but apparently the netbook category is more about price and network WWAN connectivity rather than size. Prices and specifications seem to be all over the map however the cellular carriers seem to think they may have an opportunity to get the consumer to buy WWAN data services by subsidizing the cost of netbooks. Several cellular carriers in Europe have started to sell netbooks including the sleek but expensive Sony VAIO P subsidized by T-Mobile DE. It is selling it for 599 Euros with a 2 year data contract.
Here in the US Verizon announced it would offer a netbook in the 3rd quarter and AT&T is starting a pilot program in Atlanta. AT&T is offering a range of netbooks from $49.99 for the Acer Aspire One to $749.99 for the Lenovo X200 with a 2 year contract. The qualifying data plan range from $40 to $60. It is interesting to note that AT&T has chosen netbooks with screen sizes ranging from 8.9" to 12.1". They also provide plans which include WIFI and DSL connectivity options.
Even though consumers despise contracts, it will be interesting to see if the subsidy sways their purchasing decision. An important part of the decision for a consumer is the value of mobility, but for some individuals they could do without a home broadband connection making a subsidized laptop an attractive solution.
I depend too much one my home broadband connection and don't travel enough to make these current offers attractive for me, but I will be curious to see if enough individuals buy into these subsidies to make them worthwhile for the cellular carriers.
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