Verizon softens the blow, offers $200 rebates on VAIO P wireless broadband activations

Yeah, $900 for the netbook, and a hefty chunk of change for Verizon data -- you're not made of money, right? Verizon Wireless is making things a little easier on VAIO P buyers hesitant to activate 3G service, and offering $200 rebates, in the form of a debit card, if they sign up for a two-year data contract. Hopefully Sony's working up a similar rebate program to help with the uptick in eye care due to that impossibly high resolution screen.

[Shattered Ice @ Feb 1st 2009 1:20PM]

I don't agree with it either. I mean who seriously would go to that site. Thanks for bringing it our attention. The site is shit you're better off not going to it. Thanks Juan any more shitty sites you can bring to our attention.

[Zane @ Feb 1st 2009 12:33PM]

How about a straight $200 rebate for the laptop itself?

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Feb 1st 2009 12:38PM]

I Second that motion!

[Jeffrey @ Feb 1st 2009 12:56PM]

I believe it's notion

[Phoenix @ Feb 1st 2009 1:26PM]

Nope

[Kyle @ Feb 1st 2009 2:04PM]

I thought the same thing when I read this

[Tarnation @ Feb 2nd 2009 8:28AM]

Your mom softens the blow.

[Harrison @ Feb 1st 2009 6:09PM]

No...(sings) I second that emotion.....

[LloydChiro @ Feb 2nd 2009 1:17PM]

Jeffery is out of order.

I make a motion that we take away Jeffery's internet rights.

[BigD145 @ Feb 1st 2009 12:35PM]

Verizon is relying on the 20% rule: Only 20% of people actually fill out and send in rebate forms.

[Jarhead2012 @ Feb 1st 2009 12:39PM]

Out of three rebates I've applied for from Verizon, only one of them ever found its way back to me.

[a ham sandwich @ Feb 1st 2009 12:47PM]

@jarhead somehow i dont think your case is isolated...

[Sebastian @ Feb 1st 2009 1:09PM]

Yep true. I personally don't believe in rebates. If the product is not worth buying when it is fully priced I don't buy it. If you want to promote a product reduce its price.

Rebates are too much of a pain and when I see a 'rebate' sign I think the dealer wants to screw you since usually there are ridiculous restrictions on how to request the rebates...

[MEAT! @ Feb 1st 2009 1:15PM]

Verizon offered me a $200 Circuit City rebate for signing up with Fios for 2 years. It took six calls and five escalations over the course of nine months for them to give me a $200 rebate--not in the form of a gift card, but against my next Verizon bill.

[Jarhead2012 @ Feb 1st 2009 2:19PM]

Yes, Verizon has probably the most reliable network, this is true, however their customer support is atrocious and their policies on proprietary software makes me ill. THIS is why the iPhone would have never worked on Verizon, and it's also why so many Blackberry plans end up costing a fortune.

[Knee to the Groin @ Feb 1st 2009 4:25PM]

I agree, if it's not worth buying without a rebate, I don't bother, HOWEVER any time I check out ads at officemax, the rebates are always "instant"... not sure why they still call it a rebate as opposed to a sale, but heck, Officemax refuses to do mail in rebates, they are all instant and thus fine by me!

[Sean @ Feb 1st 2009 6:49PM]

Technically on products theseler can file the rebates themselves and discount the price, but most won't do that as they buy their products on a commission basis and don't actually own the product to claim the rebate, and in most cases once they file the rebate they can'treturn the item.

[t @ Feb 1st 2009 7:44PM]

i didn't read the details on this rebate (and don't care to)... but the last time verizon offered me a 'debit card' as a rebate it was a verizon branded card that was limited to select merchants -- just fyi.

[TRLK @ Feb 1st 2009 12:39PM]

Is anyone else reminded of Ryan Wolfe from CSI Miami?

[Jon @ Feb 1st 2009 12:52PM]

Agreed ... he has that look about him - slightly confused and very homosexual ..

[Argot @ Feb 1st 2009 1:36PM]

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAH!

[The Dude @ Feb 1st 2009 12:44PM]

I'll pay Engadget $200 if they never post a picture of Charles in Charge again.

[Thats What He Said @ Feb 1st 2009 12:47PM]

im sure you will

[The Dude @ Feb 1st 2009 1:01PM]

That's what she said.

[Cheater912 @ Feb 1st 2009 1:04PM]

That's what you said.

[Thats What He Said @ Feb 1st 2009 1:16PM]

im pretty sure thats what i said

[Shattered Ice @ Feb 1st 2009 1:22PM]

That was directed at a spammer who had his comment removed.

[Cheater912 @ Feb 1st 2009 1:20PM]

o rly?

[david @ Feb 1st 2009 1:50PM]

BOB LOBLAW

[Aaquib @ Feb 1st 2009 3:54PM]

That's what she said.

[sjdurfey @ Feb 1st 2009 4:50PM]

ahhh, i always enjoy seeing a nice Arrested Development reference!

[tylerstempinski @ Feb 1st 2009 2:01PM]

What's With The God Damn Guy In The Picture?
Engadgets Founder Or Something?

[CraigJ @ Feb 1st 2009 2:39PM]

wha! wha! wha!

[Nelson @ Feb 1st 2009 4:02PM]

The Happy Days of Engadget?

Jesus, do I feel OLD!

[Jon Doe. @ Feb 1st 2009 4:47PM]

Charles 'n Charge. *shudders* And I actually watched that show when I was a kid....

[AVG @ Feb 1st 2009 5:55PM]

http://www.vh1.com/shows/series/scott_baio_is_46_and_pregnant/splash.jhtml

[Ineed911 @ Feb 1st 2009 2:05PM]

I got to play with the P yesterday at a Sony store. I actually ended up liking it - not enough to pay 2x what it is worth, but it is OK. The build quality is excellent, and I liked the form factor. I have never used the MSI, Dell or HP mini's, so I have no basis for comparison. Vista is foolish on this device though - or, on any device I suppose - but on this machine, it is really bad.

Not something you could ever put in a pocket. Not something you should ever pay $1300 - $2500 for. When Sony drops these to the $700 mark, I might have real thoughts of getting one.

[ahbi @ Feb 1st 2009 2:22PM]

test

[Jon Doe. @ Feb 1st 2009 4:45PM]

Fail

[LiQuiD_FuSioN @ Feb 1st 2009 6:53PM]

Oh, shut it.

[Giga @ Feb 1st 2009 2:23PM]

Money fits alot better in my pocket than the VAIO ever will.

[jeesusfreek @ Feb 1st 2009 3:25PM]

nice.

[Mobius_1 @ Feb 1st 2009 6:37PM]

But it will never fit as well as that Dimension.

[Ira Weissman @ Feb 1st 2009 2:48PM]

I finally just got it. Scott Baio / Sony Vaio. I love your sense of humor and sense of 80s/90s nostalgia. Engadget, you had me at hello.

[Snchpnz @ Feb 1st 2009 5:02PM]

Scott Baio / Sony Vaio. Wow Finally! I was thinking what does Chachi have to do with this post?

[Jeff @ Feb 1st 2009 11:50PM]

Except they got the pronunciation wrong, so there's no real connection. "Vaio" is pronounced like "Vye-o".

Sony had a big education campaign about this when the first Vaio models were on the market. If you went into a store, they had posters explaining it and audio running with the correct pronunciation. (I worked in one at the time, which is how I remember so vividly.)

Kinda disappointing that Engadget wouldn't know this. Also kind of amazing to see so many people before this point asking who Scott Baio is.

[jd @ Feb 1st 2009 4:28PM]

if poeple who can afford to buy this laptop without asking for the price, then why not sony price this laptop higher, like $1990? i am sure people would buy it no matter what.

[Jon Doe. @ Feb 1st 2009 4:44PM]

Welcome to the #1 reason I will never touch Verizon.

[slayermd @ Feb 2nd 2009 12:27AM]

True that, I bet they even locked down the GPS too!

[willyboy @ Feb 1st 2009 6:44PM]

The Karate Kid was awesome!