HP and Verizon to offer subsizided netbooks?

We’ve already seen Dell and Acer partner with AT&T to offer discounted netbooks when you sign up for a multi-year wireless broadband service contract. Now it looks like HP and Verizon may offer a similar deal. Engadget reports that an anonymous but “reliable” tipster suggests that Verizon and HP are working together on a subsidized laptop deal that could launch in the next few months.

There’s litle info on the details, but it seems reasonable to assume that we’re looking at an HP Mini 1000 netbook bundled with a 2 year service plan. The HP Mini 1000 with Windows XP has a starting price of $329.99, or $279.99 for the Linux version. It’s not hard to imagine Verizon knocking $100 or $200 off that price when you sign up for a service plan that will net the company more than $1000 over the life of your contract.

On the other hand, this is just a rumor and it’s possible that no deal’s in the works at all.

Posted on Wednesday, March 18th, 2009, 2:04 pm by Brad Linder

ThinkyT

I wonder how big an early termination fee they will slap on the contract.
Ohio Red

I presume that this would be a data contract above and beyond a cellphone contract. If that's correct, it doesn't seem like much of a bargain for the consumer who would pay a higher price in installments for the netbook instead of a smaller price up front.
thequinox

No way in hell I would ever purchase a netbook to run on a CDMA network. That is a can full of awful.
Jay

You're not paying $45 a month for the computer but for the internet connection. So if you get this deal and lets say the computer is $99, and then cancel your contract with the 175 cancel fee and paying $99 you keep the computer for 275. Its not like this computer won't work with out a data plan.
wyscj

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HP and Verizon to offer subsizided netbooks?

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