Contract-laden 3G Acer Aspire One hitting US at just $99?

These days most people wouldn't think of buying a new phone without getting a couple hundies off in exchange for their wireless free will. But netbooks? Internationally such deals aren't altogether uncommon, but we haven't seen one here yet. That changes next week if the above image turns out to be legit (and we kinda think it is), with Radio Shack set to offer an Acer Aspire One for just $99 so long as you sign up for a $60/month (or more) data plan through AT&T. (If you squint you can see it's a rather less enticing $499 without.) That comes to something north of $1,500 over the life of the contract, which is hardly a steal -- but then again your average sub-$200 smartphone doesn't seem like such a bargain after two years of $35/month, either.

[Thanks, A RadioShack Guy]

[broli @ Dec 8th 2008 7:47PM]

God why do only Americans see the price including data plan as cheap.

[hexoDAT64 @ Dec 8th 2008 7:53PM]

First whats with the hate on Americans, and second, its a great deal if you wanted a netbook if with 3G. The whole point of this is that its a 3G Aspire one, and I assume you would want to use that so if you were going to pay for 3G service is really helps to bring the cost of the machine down.

[who? @ Dec 8th 2008 7:55PM]

"I would gladly pay you $2000 over the next two years for a free ____ today" :P.

[Totalfixation @ Dec 8th 2008 7:57PM]

I don't see the hate for american in broli's comment but i do agree with you hexoDAT64. It does bring the cost down. Only problem is the service cost is unreasonably too high!

[Brazen521 @ Dec 8th 2008 8:07PM]

50 bucks says you're ugly.

[hexoDAT64 @ Dec 8th 2008 8:09PM]

Ok yeah after reading his comment I see that I overreacted a little bit. I'm just tired of seeing so many comments on Engadget that have hate towards America. Sorry :). But yeah the 60/month plan sucks, but if you are in the market for a 3G Netbook you might as well save on the cost of the unit if you can.

[Flashpoint @ Dec 8th 2008 8:19PM]

Me: "I'll have the phone and my Acer 1" for $99 !

BBY employee: Ok sir...but, I think you'll want the service plan for that !

Me: why?

BBY cause it could break - the manufacturer's warranty is 99 days but they only cover the keys, the HDD and the CPU

Me: what do you cover?

BBY, we cover the keys, the screen, the battery, and the led lights - in case they die out.

Me: ok, well how much is it?

BBY: $200 for 4 years...

Me: WHAT???????

BBY: Hold on, let me check... oh yes, there is also the 2 Year plan for $149.99 plus tax

Me: But its only $100

BBY: Well actually, its a $500 computer marked down, thats why the service plan costs that much.

Me: no thanks, i'll just take it as is...

BBY: Would you like the accessories to go with this...a new mouse? printer cartridges?

Me: No...

BBY Manager: You are gonna take the service with that aren't you?

Me: I don't think so its too expensive.

BBY Manager... let me see... if you take the service plan, I can discount it for you to $100!?!

Me: ...

[CBXweb @ Dec 8th 2008 8:37PM]

So anyone that is NOT American is far too advance to do a deal like this?



BTW, you're fat.

[page87 and counting @ Dec 8th 2008 9:57PM]

Why I'll take one at $99 with 2yr
Oops, looks like I'll need to cancel after 1 day
Oh, a $200 cancellation fee? Shucks...
For sale, 1 day old, bids start at $399
Seems like a good deal to me!

[linuxamp @ Dec 8th 2008 10:53PM]

Deferring payment is the American motto.

[Dustin @ Dec 9th 2008 11:12AM]

Yeah its Legit, I heard it from the local radio shack when I went to buy something on Saturday. $50 a month is definitely not worth it.

[OneLove @ Dec 9th 2008 12:51PM]

AT&T is the devil!

[Someone who knows what they are talking about @ Dec 9th 2008 3:44PM]

For those who are just looking at the dollar cost per month(60) you need to research the product. It costs more because you get more! You can use the internet from the laptop ANYWHERE you get a cell phone signal...on top of that it is a default wifi finder when you are in range to use it. You WILL NOT find a better value for what you get with AT&T $60 internet package. Did I mention you can send and recieve text messages too because it is assigned a phone number?? Lets see you take Verizon fios or any other home internet services on a road trip and recieve broadband internet!! Know the product before you speak on it :-) GREAT DEAL RADIO SHACK!! If consumers are smart they'll jump all over it!!!

[neodorian @ Dec 9th 2008 10:33PM]

Well, that is why I use WMWiFiRouter. I can share out a 3G signal that is faster than that provided by ATT and it only costs me $15/month. This kind of deal is for people who don't comparison-shop and will pay whatever a telco or ISP asks if it is presented as the norm.

[James Davis @ Dec 8th 2008 7:56PM]

I can verify this is true. I work for a RadioShack, and we have recieved these brochures, and we have been given training on this deal.

[Nick8708 @ Dec 8th 2008 8:06PM]

I can also confirm this as a RS sales associate. We got them in today. They've gotten a lot of attention from our customers.

[Gavin @ Dec 12th 2008 12:32PM]

Sorry to respond to a comment and not say a thing about it , ut i think people should know this. For all people complaining about the price of the service and only having it on one device u could do this.Well you could always go to at&t and get a usb dongle for $100, with a $100 rebate. the use the sim card in it to have mobile internet on any device! got that info from a At&t rep.

[who? @ Dec 8th 2008 7:49PM]

I got all excited at first :-), before I saw the monthly $60 minimum upon purchase :-0. This is kind of like a giant Peek with more features and way more $$$ due at the end of each month... Pass :-(.

[jmgrosen @ Dec 8th 2008 7:49PM]

Who needs 3G? It costs $$$ and WiFi's faster. But then again, WiFi isn't everywhere (yet). Just got a AA1 cheap, only $250!

[Totalfixation @ Dec 8th 2008 7:55PM]

But does your AA1 support 3G?

[JANET @ Dec 16th 2008 7:24PM]

WHERE DID YOU FIND A AA1 FOR 250.00.

[Cass @ Feb 10th 2009 3:24PM]

You can get the Linux version with 1 gb ram for $240 at newegg

http://todaysepicdeal.wordpress.com/2009/02/10/acer-aspire-one-onyx-black-atom-n270160ghz-89-netbook-23999/

[BigD145 @ Dec 8th 2008 7:55PM]

This reminds me of the time I traded a toothpick for a refrigerator. I didn't do it all in one step, but damn was that a steal. Anyone want the Brooklyn Bridge for $99.99? I'll throw in a box of Kleenex.

[andres @ Dec 8th 2008 9:43PM]

pfft, i once turned a mole-hill into a mountain.

[Stellar Developer @ Dec 8th 2008 8:02PM]

Ok, Seriously... Does it play DOOM ?!?! O_0 ... if so, my son would probably like this more than a psp.

[Flashpoint @ Dec 8th 2008 8:30PM]

Not only will it play DOOM...you can play HALF LIFE, COUNTERSTRIKE, QUAKE I or QUAKE II... ONLINE MULTIPLAYER !

[Nytrojen @ Dec 8th 2008 8:44PM]

Shut up Flashpoint. Just, shut up.

[digitalfireX @ Dec 10th 2008 10:05PM]

actually, this netbook can play Crysis.... any netbook can. Just do a simple google search!!!

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&pwst=1&q=netbook+%2B+crysis&start=0&sa=N

also there is something called StreammyGames...

http://streammygame.com/smg/index.php

[tnkgrl @ Dec 8th 2008 8:08PM]

Or you can use a $15 per month "unlimited" MEdia Net plan and my HSDPA mod: http://tnkgrl.wordpress.com/2008/10/28/modding-the-acer-aspire-one-hsdpa/

[SNP @ Dec 8th 2008 9:08PM]

Thx for the great video, I watch it and upgraded my A1 within the 1st hour of opening the package :)

[Brandon005 @ Dec 8th 2008 8:14PM]

ok so can you cancel the contract after 30 days pay the $175 early termination fee and have it for $275?? not a bad deal if you can

[sonny @ Dec 8th 2008 9:18PM]

not really...

You also sign a contract with radioshack that says that you must keep the service for at least 6 months or you will be charged $200 penalty from radioshack. pretty much like amazon.

I am a store manager for radioshack. I got 28 of those today and if you dont keep the service for the 6 months, the store will get $349.99 charge back from ATT.

Now remember that there is a 5gb tap from att.

[bandigolo @ Dec 8th 2008 8:16PM]

At least you can put a mobile phone in your pocket. A netbook is only as "portable" as the bag carrying it. And by $35/month I assume you are referring to only the data portion... either that or 50,000 iPhone users just jumped off a bridge.

[Bill @ Dec 8th 2008 8:18PM]

How much data are you getting for that 60$? in the uk yu can get 15gb plus an hp mini on 18 months cintract. Which i thought was very good deal. Though am waiting for them to bring the 1000 mini as the deal is for the 2133.

[Derek @ Dec 8th 2008 8:18PM]

But is there a 5GB data cap? I am not interested until these data caps are gone.

[Flashpoint @ Dec 8th 2008 8:28PM]

After looking at this deal, it isn't very bad.

a $60 a month data plan will cost about $1440 for 2 years + tax

Imagine if you will, that you are a mobile proffessional that wants a computer you can use anywhere for the internet - say a businessman in the field - and you need it to be portable, and connected to the internet wherever you are in America - and up to the moment you don't have a personal laptop with a data networking card.

Well... you pay $100, sign up for the plan and you have internet access wherever for $1500.

considering Verizon and AT&T are faster networks than T-mobile, you'd end up paying just as much to use either of them since you'd have to #1 buy a new laptop at a HIGHER PRICE (around $600 or more) and #2 you'd have to buy the network card or usb plug-in to access the data networks.

I love the fact verizon allows you to data -tether their phones like the Storm and the EnV (unlike some Apple cellphone I could mention). I do think having a USB adapter for 3G would be more convienient to use on any computer I have, but, this is very,very convienient if you are in the need for small size and access on -the-go

the computer is $100 and you pay $60 a month for unlimited internet access? That's kool !

[Salsa Shark @ Dec 8th 2008 11:37PM]

Yer not having a good posting day, are ya, Flashpoint?

BBY != Radio Shack

Data plan != Unlimited

Sleep it off. Try again tomorrow.

[HDE @ Dec 8th 2008 8:37PM]

The phone companies in Japan have been doing this (noticed when I was there last month) and include a USB aircard. Not sure if they have the Acers with the built in 3G card though.

[bebop @ Dec 9th 2008 3:33AM]

Not yet, though I imagine it won't be long.

[pinke123 @ Dec 8th 2008 8:38PM]

OK, why don't you just get an AT&T SIM card and pay $15/ month for data on that, put the SIM in the 3G Aspire One's that Radio Shack is selling for $349 right now, way cheaper in the long run, way cheaper!!

[Alexandre Emond @ Dec 8th 2008 9:10PM]

1540$ vs 710$+air card, what a steal!

[Nytrojen @ Dec 8th 2008 8:40PM]

Most of you seem to be forgetting the fact that you're NOT paying $1500 for a laptop, but rather you're buying an internet service and receiving a subsidised netbook bundled with it. It's not like they're charging you $1500 for a netbook alone.
Personally, I get a mobile/data service that suits me, and then get whatever phone comes free with it. Then, if I don't like the phone, I'll buy the one I want outright. Doing it the other way around just costs you more in the long run.

[Josh Cain @ Dec 8th 2008 8:49PM]

Exactly. This is the same deal as any other laptop data plan. I have a Verizon ExpressCard for which I pay $59.99/month, and they gave me the card at a subsidized price when I started the contract. If you want to use the service on a netbook, then you can get the new service discount on that instead of another 3G modem. It's not even close to being a $1500 netbook.

[3rdman @ Dec 8th 2008 9:50PM]

I disagree. The people here are comparing not just the netbook price and the data plan seperately; rather, they are comparing the overall price of the plan and netbook together. Consider the similar argument about the iphone 3G: Yes, the new iphone is much cheaper, but adding in the data plan makes the service+phone (the price, in my opinion, that matter most) cost more than it previously did.

If you are comparing netbooks thats one thing, but the people here are comparing the worth of the deal with the netbook.

[3rdman @ Dec 8th 2008 9:53PM]

But I do see what you are saying, although I don't know about buying a phone; seems to me that phones, by themselves, even the cheap ones, cost $150+, and can easily be 250+. I don't know though, I've never bought a phone separately.

[Eric @ Dec 9th 2008 7:57AM]

The bigger issue is this: when your contract is up, you should have paid off the subsidy for the netbook, right? So you'd think you could get a cheaper rate, right? No, your rate won't change, since the contract automatically goes to a month-to-month extension.

And there's no way for a sales rep to reduce the plans' rate, no matter what, except maybe for a one time credit that is likely to be denied.

[JohnDoe @ Dec 8th 2008 8:45PM]

I to can confirm. Stock is arriving at RS stores nationwide.

It is black in color with the SIM accessible behind the battery.

Will be a RadioShack exclusive for the time being.

[RobbieB @ Dec 8th 2008 9:02PM]

I don't mean to gloat, but I can't be the only one with a SERO plan for $30 a month and WMWifiRouter...which effectively is a phone, mobile internet device, and wireless/seamless tethering solution all in one.

[Karl @ Dec 8th 2008 11:37PM]

I, too, have the $30 SERO plan, but I use the USB cable to tether. WMWifiRouter does nothing special but kill your battery (both immediately and in long-term lifespan) unless you're sharing the connection with multiple computers.

[Rom @ Dec 8th 2008 9:04PM]

they are selling $200 acer aspire one here in the philippines with these specs

Intel Atom N270
Linpus / 1Gb Memory
8.0Gb SSD (with One slot for SD card storage expansion)
Webcam / 3-cell battery