NetbookTech

Missed this one last week. Verizon Wireless announced a new netbook mobile broadband bundle in the form of the Samsung N150. The 10.1 inch netbook is available for a mere $49.99 after a $100 dollar mail-in rebate and a new two year agreement for a Verizon Wireless mobile broadband plan.

The N150 has the following specs:

• Intel Atom N450 1.66GHz processor
• Windows 7 Starter
• Built-in 3G connectivity
• Global-ready with a pre-installed SIM card for access in more than 200 countries
• Built-in chargeable USB port
• 93 percent full-size keyboard
• 1GB of RAM
• 10.1 inch LCD WSVGA LED backlit display
• Intel GMA 3150 graphics
• Built-in webcam
• Built-in speakers
• 160GB 5400RPM HDD
• VGA port
• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Ethernet connectivity
• 6 cell battery for up to 7 hours of power

You’ll need to choose from one of the following Verizon Wireless Mobile Broadband plans:

• $39.99 monthly access for 250 MB monthly allowance and $0.10/MB overage
• $59.99 monthly access for 5 GB monthly allowance and $0.05/MB overage
• Prepaid Mobile Broadband plans are also available:
  • $15 for 75 MB (one day of use)
  • $30 for 250 MB (one week of use)
  • $50 for 500 MB (one month of use)

To make use of the Global GSM support, you’ll need to opt for one of the following GlobalAccess plans:

• GlobalAccess Monthly Plan – starts at $129.99 for monthly access (5 GB allowance for the United States and Canada, $0.05/MB overage) with 100 MB allowance in select destinations ($0.005/KB after allowance). Customers who require higher usage when traveling abroad can opt for the $219.99 monthly access plan which offers 200 MB allowance with the same rates for overage as the $129.99 plan.
• GlobalAccess Pay Per Use for occasional use must be purchased with a $59.99 Mobile Broadband service plan in the United States. The Pay Per Use rate is $0.002/KB in Canada, $0.005/KB in Mexico, and $0.02/KB in more than 200 other destinations.

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Verizon Wireless announced on Tuesday the availability of theHP Mini 210-1076NR netbook for $149.99 after a $100 dollar mail-in rebate and a new two-year mobile broadband plan. The HP Mini 210-1076NR features the following specs:

• Windows 7 Starter
• 10.1 inch LED BrightView Infinity widescreen display
• Intel Atom N450 processor
• 1GB of RAM
• 250GB HDD
• Built-in stereo speakers and HP webcam with integrated digital microphone
• Built-in 5 in 1 digital media reader
• VGA port
• Mobile broadband chipset supporting CDMA/1X/EV-DO Revision A: 800/1900 MHz; UMTS/HSPA: 850/1900/2100 MHz; GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
• 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity

Mobile broadband pricing starts at $39.99 per month for 250MB of data per month and $59.99 per month for 5GB of data per month.

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AT&T is now offering two new 3G LaptopConnect cards – the LG USBConnect Turbo and the Option USBConnect Velocity.

The LG Turbo is the first LaptopConnect card from LG and features a compact, lightweight design with support for HSPA 7.2 connectivity.  There’s a built-in microSD card slot allowing the Turbo to double as a portable storage device.

The Option Velocity is the first GPS-enabled LaptopConnect 3G device from AT&T allowing you to utilize location-based applications on your laptop. The device comes with the free Option GPS Control Panel software application which leverages location-based sites such as Yahoo! Maps and Bing for directions and points-of-interest.  Like the LG Turbo, the Option Velocity comes with a built-in microSD card slot.

The AT&T USBConnect Turbo will be available for free after a mail-in rebate and a new two year DataConnect contract of at least $35 dollars a month (you’ll pay $99.99 and after a mail-in rebate receive a $100 dollar AT&T Promotion Card).

The AT&T USBConnect Velocity will be available for $29.99 after a mail-in rebate and a new two-year DataConnect contract of at least $35 dollars a month (you’ll pay $129.99 and after a mail-in rebate receive a $100 dollar AT&T Promotion Card).

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Those of you who love the idea of mobile broadband but hate the idea of committing to a two year subscription will love Virgin Mobile USA’s new Broadband2Go plans. Although the prices remain the same, three of the four plans now offer high data thresholds. Here’s the breakdown for the new Virgin Mobile Broadband2Go plans:

• $10 dollars for 100MB of data which expires in 10 days
• $20 dollars for 300MB of data which expires in 30 days
• $40 dollars for 1GB of data which expires in 30 days
• $60 dollars for 5GB of data which expires in 30 days.

Getting onto Broadband2Go is pretty straightforward. You can add data to your service via credit/debit cards or via Virgin Mobile/Broadband2Go Top-Up cards. The underlying service is provided by Sprint and you can purchase a USB modem (Novatel Wireless MC760 Broadband2Go device) for $99.99 at places like BestBuy.com, Target, Walmart.com, and VirginMobileUSA.com.

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Dell is currently offering two mobile broadband/notebook deals – one with the Dell Inspiron Mini 10 netbook and one with the Dell Inspiron 11z thin-and-light notebook. Both system bundles are for AT&T’s 3G DataConnect service with the Mini 10 priced at $99 dollars after an instant discount and a new 2 yr AT&T DataConnect 5GB plan. The Inspiron 11z is priced at $199 after an instant discount and a new 2 yr plan also.

As a refresher, specs for the Inspiron Mini 10 are:

• Intel Atom Z520 processor
• Windows XP Home
• 1GB RAM
• Intel GMA 500 graphics
• 160GB HDD
• 10.1 inch LED backlit display
• 10/100 Ethernet
• Dell 1397 Half-Mini Wi-Fi card
• Built-in audio
• 1.3 megapixel webcam
• 3 cell battery
• 3 in 1 media card reader

while specs to the Inspiron 11z are:

• Intel Celeron 743 processor
• Windows 7 Home Premium
• 2GB RAM
• Intel GMA 4500MHD
• 160GB HDD
• 11.6 inch HD WLED display
• Ethernet
• 802.11g Wi-Fi
• Built-in audio
• 1.3 megapixel webcam
• 3 cell lithium ion battery
• 3 in 1 media card reader

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Best Buy is now offering the Nokia Booklet 3G for $199.99 along with a new two year AT&T Data Connect mobile broadband plan. If you think the price is still a bit steep, consider the regular starting price of the Booklet 3G which is typically $599.99.

The Booklet 3G features:

• Intel Atom processor Z530 processor
• 1GB RAM
• 10.1 inch 1280 x 720 resolution display
• 120GB SATA 4200 RPM HDD
• HDMI output
• Built-in 1.3 megapixel webcam
• GPS
• SD media card reader
• 3 USB 2.0 ports
• 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
• Windows 7 Starter Edition

Head on over to a Best Buy or Best Buy Mobile location to check out this deal.

If you’re looking for netbook/mobile broadband deals, you’ll want to check out Verizon Wireless Black Friday deals which run until Monday. Here’s a list of the deals available through the carrier:

Gateway LT2016u netbook with 2 year mobile broadband agreement for $29.99. Specs include:

• Intel Atom N270 processor
• 1GB RAM
• 160GB HDD
• Mobile Broadband and GlobalAccess Service enabled (SIM card provided separately)
• 10.1 inch LED backlit 1024 x 600 resolution TFT LCD display
• 0.3 megapixel webcam
• 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi
• Multi-in-1 media card reader
• HD audio
• Built-in stereo speakers
• 92 percent keyboard
• 3 USB 2.0 ports, headphone out, microphone in
• Ethernet
• Weighs 2.95 lbs
• 6 cell battery

The LT2016u is yours for $29.99 along with a new 2 year mobile broadband contract.

Verizon also has the HP Mini 110-1046NR netbook on sale for $149.99 after an instant $100 dollar discount and a new two year mobile broadband agreement. The specs are as follows:

• Intel Atom N270 processor
• 1GB RAM
• 160GB HDD
• Mobile Broadband and GlobalAccess Service capable (SIM card provided separately)
• 10.1 inch 1024 x 576 resolution display
• HP webcam with integrated microphone
• 802.11 b/g Wi-Fo
• 5 in 1 media card reader
• HD audio
• 92 percent keyboard
• 3 USB 2.0 ports
• Weighs 2.57 lbs

One last mobile broadband deal for you to consider. If you don’t need a new netbook but you do want a mobile broadband connection – why not consider the MiFi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot? This small device connects to the mobile broadband connection and acts as a Wi-Fi router with support for up to 5 Wi-Fi enabled devices. Verizon currently has the Mi-Fi for a mere $49.99 after an online discount of $50 dollars and a new two year mobile broadband agreement.

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AT&T announces two new mobile broadband-enabled netbooks into the mix – the Samsung Go and Acer Aspire One – both of which feature the new Windows 7 OS. The new netbooks will be available for $199 after a mail-in rebate via an AT&T promotion card as well as a new two year DataConnect service contract with AT&T.

The Samsung Go weighs in at around 2.8 pounds and features the Intel Atom N270 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB HDD, a 4 cell battery, 3 USB 2.0 ports, external VGA port, 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi, Ethernet connectivity, 3 in 1 media card reader, 1.3 megapixel camera, and a 10.1 inch 1024 x 600 resolution display. Even better, the Go will come with Windows 7 Starter Edition vs the more common (and older Windows XP Home Edition).

The Acer Aspire One is even lighter than the Go, weighing in at a mere 2.2 pounds. Features include an Intel Atom processor, 160GB HDD, 1GB of RAM, HD audio support, two built-in speakers, three USB 2.0 ports, and a built-in webcam.

AT&T offers two DataConnect plans to choose from for netbook systems – a 200MB plan for $35 dollars per month and a 5GB plan for $60 dollars a month. Customers will also get free use of AT&T’s Wi-Fi service available in more than 200,000 hotspots around the country.  Both netbooks come equipped with AT&T’s Communication Manager (ACM) 7.0 software package to help manage and use their wireless connections.

As expected, Sprint has expanded their netbook/mobile broadband package program by offering the Dell Inspiron Mini 10 in three new areas – Indianapolis, Phoenix, and the Bay Area. The netbook is available at select Sprint Stores for $199.99 along with activation on a Sprint Mobile Broadband plan and a new two year agreement and after a $100 dollar mail-in rebate. The Mini is a 2.6 pounds netbook with a 10.1 inch LED backlit display, an Intel Atom Z520 processor, Windows Home XP, 1.3 megapixel webcam, 160GB hard drive, Intel integrated graphics, 5 in 1 media reader, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity.

You’ll need to sign up for Sprint’s Mobile Broadband Connection Plan which offers 5GB of data at $59.99 per month.

Now here’s an interesting deal for those of you who are Verizon Wireless customers or thinking about moving to the mobile carrier. Verizon is currently offering a deal where you can buy a BlackBerry Storm2 and get a select BlackBerry or Mobile Broadband Device for free. What makes this interesting of course is the selection of Mobile Broadband Devices you can choose from should you not be interested in a second BlackBerry handset. Those of you looking to get a new Mobile Broadband-enabled netbook could pick up a Gateway LT2016u netbook free with this deal.. OR you could opt for the Verizon Wireless MiFi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot (should you already have a netbook at home). The Hotspot is a nice device to have because it lets you share that mobile broadband connection with up to 5 Wi-Fi enabled devices. Keep in mind of course that you’ll need to select a data plan for that second free device…

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