Sprint, Best Buy: Get Netbook for $1

Deals
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published

Best Buy has a cool plan that offer's the Compaq Mini 110c-1040DX netbook for one dollar.

Now this sounds like a great deal: get a 3G-enabled Compaq Mini 110c-1040DX netbook for less than a buck. With that kind of pricetag, it sounds like a piece of plastic junk pulled straight out of a gumball machine. However, for $.099, consumers get an Intel Atom N270 1.6 GHz machine packed with a 160 GB ATA hard drive, 1 GB of RAM, and a 10.1-inch antiglare 1024 x 576 LED display. Other features include a built-in webcam, a 5-in-1 media reader, three USB 2.0 ports and more.

However, the price tag comes with a price: a 2-year EVDO Rev.A data service with Sprint that will cost around $60. Normally the netbook retails for $389.99 without any additional service; a Sprint subscription ultimately will cost consumers $1440 overall. For those who would rather avoid Sprint, the special also included Verizon and AT&T, but the cost jacks up to $199.99 plus the two-year subscription fee. The netbook will come supplied with the CDMA EVDO Rev.A module for the Verizon and Sprint plans, while the AT&T version will come equipped with an HSDPA module.

The 99-cent deal can be found on Best Buy right here, however the offer is only valid in-store only. While the final $1440 bill may sound a bit hefty, consumers looking for new hardware and mobile Internet service may find a great value here. It may even be cheaper to ditch a mobile phone plan and just use the netbook and Skype via the EVDO subscription, but then again, that may be difficult to maneuver with one hand on the wheel. The EVDO plans are limited to 5 GB/month.

Kevin Parrish
17 Comments Comment from the forums
  • jacobdrj
    Cool?

    Contracts are stoopid.
    Reply
  • jerreece
    Course there's a gimmick. For those who already want a netbook, and already want a cellular data plan, this could be a win-win.

    Unfortunately though, BestBuy will probably talk numerous folks into the deal who will later realize they had no use for a contract based Sprint cellular data plan service. They'll end up using it at home only, and wish they just connected it to their wi-fi or LAN and bought the netbook for $389.

    But like I said, could be a win-win for some folks.

    My fear would be (having worked at Best Buy years ago) employees will push folks to buy the bundle because it counts toward their department's attachment goals. They (the employee) get no commissions from it, but it makes their boss happy. I can see lots of folks buying into this that don't really need it.
    Reply
  • saifallofjmr
    .099?

    Baby thats a dime
    Reply
  • Gin Fushicho
    only 5GB/s of internet a month?! Thats BS if you ask me , especially for people like me who use WAYYYYYYYY over 30GB/s a month.
    Reply
  • doomtomb
    However, for $.099, consumers get
    Editor please?

    So... are we supposed to be happy about the vice grip on our balls (contracts) by the likes of Spring, AT&T, and Verizon?
    Reply
  • matt87_50
    cool! so its like a giant, heavy, bulky smart phone without the phone!
    Reply
  • IronRyan21
    for $.099

    This looks like Retail Stores are following the Gas Companies on price notation, like 2.65 and 9/10 of a cent. LOL
    Reply
  • bk420
    ROLFMAO!!!
    Reply
  • "Normally the netbook retails for $389.99 without any additional service; a Sprint subscription ultimately will cost consumers $1440 overall." So, this same deal will ultimately cost at&t and verzion customers $1440 + $199.99, the sprint deal sounds better to me.
    Reply
  • joex444
    I love the quality of this article. It really strikes me as a well-written professional article someone should be paid to write.

    Lines like "the price tag comes with a price" is pure genius. Really, Kevin should be writing comedy for the big stars not this small time THG gig.

    And who can forget the classic tag line, "Best Buy has a cool plan that offer's ..." complete with that standard Kevin disregard for the appropriate use of apostrophes.

    Not to mention the technical analysis of what a $1440 purchase spread out over 2 years is really worth, when one considers the opportunity cost associated with that purchase (hint guys: it is less than $1440). There was some serious insight gained there.

    My favorite part of the article, though? Tough one, but I would go with " 2-year EVDO Rev.A data service with Sprint that will cost around $60." That's right boys and girls. Kevin here has, in such great comic fashion, thrown units away! What once was $60/mo is now just $60.
    Reply