AT&T just added a pair of Windows 7 Starter netbooks to its stable, and while we've got nothing against the
Samsung Go and the
Acer Aspire One, we just can't help but feel preloading 7 Starter makes the already-dubious subsidized netbook value proposition even worse. Let's break it down: both the Go and the Aspire One will set you back $199 upfront (well, after mail-in rebate), and then you're on the hook for two-year data contract, which will cost you either $35 a month for a 200MB cap or $60 a month for a 5GB cap. Now, $35 a month for 200MB of data is basically worthless for a netbook -- that's what, a half-day of watching YouTube? -- so assuming you do what most people do and buy the $60 plan, you're out at least $1,639 over two years for last-gen netbook hardware running a gimped OS that doesn't even let you change the desktop wallpaper. Not exactly a screaming deal. We'd say you're much better off finding a netbook with XP on sale and just getting a regular free-on-contract USB data card, which you'll be able to use on multiple machines -- or, if you absolutely must have Windows 7, holding out for the
coming flood of Pine Trail netbooks at CES, which we're hoping will come preloaded with 7 Home Premium.
posted November 16th 2009 11:53AM
If you have to get the subscriptions with the devices, then the TCO = device-price + (number-of-contract-months * monthly-fee).
*sent to the island*
You guys are missing the point. You can't watch Youtube on Edge anyway, unless you want to wait a year. With that expansive AT&T 2G network, you'll be able to send small graph-less excel files to your boss just fine. So whats all the hubbub about then?
@slick
The fact that's it's $1,639 over two years.That's what all the hubbub is about.
Damn, I hate missing sarcasm the first time around. Self-fail.
lol
Further proof that Engadget's comment system needs an "Edit" button.
features include: (but not limited to)
rubbery exterior!
who needs little rubbery nibs to stop the sliding when you can make the whole thing anti slip!
You are much better at just using their aircard and buy a real laptop or a really good netbook.
Of course, some businesses will see this as an easy way to provide on the go computing sign up for this. This is not meant for a non business consumer wasting his day on Youtube.
What a terrible deal, all around.
You would be better off with CLEAR if you're in a 4G service area. $45 for truly unlimited mobile web, and you can be smart about your money and buy your own netbook.
It's funny how people are so against accepting carrier subsidies for netbooks but so willing to accept those same (terrible) subsidies for mobile phones...
That's because up until recently you didn't get a service discount for buying your own device (T-Mobile).
But the prices here are not worth the cost. $199 upfront for a poorly equipped netbook? Really?
The Moto Droid is $600 without a contract. $200 with 2 yr contract. $400 subsidy.
Aspire One is $450 without a contract. Why isn't it $50 or free with 2 yr contract?
This is the problem. They discount phones heavily with subsidies, often you can get $400 or more off the retail cost of a phone by doing a 2 year subscription, but with these netbooks, carriers are only providing a $200-250 discount, which isn't worth it when you factor in the cost of a data plan. Better to pick up something that you can move around to a different computer or can discontinue if it gets lost/stolen/broken over the next two years, or if you upgrade to a better computer.
@ArcSyn
aspire one is free or $50 depending on that week's deal at radio shack. the problem is that customers dont know how to shop for good deals. the majority of the time you are paying more if you buy directly from the carrier.
no, wait, the problem is that carriers (except for tmobile) dont offer lower prices to customers who bring their own equipment. i would rather buy something up front than pay an extra $1000+ for it for the privilege of being stuck to a carrier for 2 years.
Get a unlimited data plan in your smartphone and tether...
Have people really become so dumb to get this?? I don't expect a "business" user to understand what tethering is and all that good stuff..but some googling and an ounce of common sense can go a long way...
"Hmmm $30 for unlimited internet at home....
$35 for 200MB or $60 for 5GB...
That's not right..."
Why is Windows xp better than Windows 7 Starter again? Starter can do all the same things as xp, except changing the wallpaper, but I'd trade up because Windows 7 is just a lot more productive.
For me, I don't really care about my wallpaper, especially on a netbook, since everything I use takes up the whole screen. Who sits there and just stares at their wallpaper all day anyways? Plus there is an easy bypass to change the wallpaper, so I would be happy to have W7 Starter over XP.
Just what I need: an ENORMOUS Samsung logo on the back of my $800/year netbook.
Suddenly the Nokia Booklet doesn't seem like such a bad deal.
Tomorrow's article "AT&T sues Engadet"
AT&T's response:
In essence, we believe the calculation of the contract total cost misleads consumers into believing that AT&T believes the vast majority of the country are idiots. In fact, AT&T's does not believe anybody in the country is an idiot. (Gullible, on the other-hand is a different story.) Engadget's misleading advertising tactics appear to be a response to Engadet's strong personal opinions against AT&T's network. We are extremely disappointed in Engadet for their clearly biased reporting of news. Chris Ziegler (Writer at Engadget) has admitted to the bias in the past, "Yes, I can definitely assure you that I'm biased against any network that regularly drops my calls. Guilty as charged."
needs bigger logo
Samsung GO (or n310 here in Yrop) runs Ubuntu netbook remix very well (I run a "re-remix" called Jolicloud, which rocks, btw)
Engadgets daily att troling continues...
There goes AT&T being dumb again. I have a feeling that AT&T is on its way to business hell with in 36 months unless they can pull something out of their ass.
Where does SAMSUNG get its designers from? Second, who thought it was a good idea to take a photo of the hideous cover instead of front of the laptop?
Why do they hate us?
I think they actually had a good deal where it was some sort of netbook for $200 off or something, but with a new DSL contract. Now that would be a good deal, since you can use the DSL with your real machines and the rest of your whole network, and get a free toy. This is just a rip-off.
The heck with the air cards for $60/mo. I can tether my Macbook for $10/month with wifi tethering on my Nokia E71. Plus, I can tether anyone else's computer or iPod Touch to it too. And (if you had a charger handy) could theoretically talk, text, and surf on a computer all at the same time (I really want to do it just to say that I have lol).
It's a toy most of the time, but very useful when I visit my grandparents in Northern Michigan, as they don't have broadband at their cottage, so I tether to my E71, and I am off surfing with 5 bars of high-speed EDGE, usually over 120k. I would moan and groan about AT&T's coverage for $60/mo, but for $10/mo, EDGE is fine.
Nevermind the cheap netbook with DSL... it requires a combined mobile plan... I think someone was doing a cheap netbook though with home service... maybe it was Comcast?
AT&T needs to die. They have no business selling laptops. Just die down to the dumb ISP you are.
$35 for 200MB is hilarious.