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 wifi4milezBig Russ, 1918 to 2008. Rest in Peace
join:2004-08-07
New York, NY | reply to Ark
Re: something for free...? said by Ark:You completely missed my point. Most people don't need cellular internet access. Assume for this conversation that we are only talking about people who don't need or want it. I would argue that those people are not going to sign a 2 year data plan then. If you arent in the market for a data card, you arent going to be shopping for a netbook at a Verizon retail store to begin with. This deal is meant for people who come into the store looking to purchase a wireless data card, NOT someone who casually wants a new netbook. Thats the difference here, two different markets that will have very little overlap.
said by Ark:And no, full retail is not $400. Even Best Buy has them for $239.99. Nobody buys the Linux versions of netbooks (the $240 one you referenced), they have been returned in droves due to confusion over what they are. In fact, some manufactures have stopped producing them due to upwards of 75% returns on the devices. A new, XP netbook will run you $350 and up. You can get an older model for less online, but we are talking about new devices here.
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When you can't make them see the light, make them feel the heat.
-Ronald Reagan-
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jp10558Premium
join:2005-06-24
Willseyville, NY | said by wifi4milez:said by Ark:Nobody buys the Linux versions of netbooks (the $240 one you referenced), they have been returned in droves due to confusion over what they are. In fact, some manufactures have stopped producing them due to upwards of 75% returns on the devices. A new, XP netbook will run you $350 and up. You can get an older model for less online, but we are talking about new devices here. OT, but really, I don't get the point of the Windows based netbooks. How is $400-$600 an attractive price point? Heck, I'm not sure how $350 at the bottom end is an attractive price point. I can often get a full laptop (on a semi regular sale) for $400, with beter specs.
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Opera 9.62(Build 10467); Windows XP Pro SP3;Intel C2Q6600; 3GB DDR2 1066; 1M/128k DSL; Antivir Personal; Comodo Firewall Pro 3;Proxomitron 4.5j Sidki 2008beta,GPG ID:0x0A1C6EE3 | | |
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wifi4milezBig Russ, 1918 to 2008. Rest in Peace
join:2004-08-07
New York, NY | said by jp10558:said by wifi4milez:said by Ark:Nobody buys the Linux versions of netbooks (the $240 one you referenced), they have been returned in droves due to confusion over what they are. In fact, some manufactures have stopped producing them due to upwards of 75% returns on the devices. A new, XP netbook will run you $350 and up. You can get an older model for less online, but we are talking about new devices here. OT, but really, I don't get the point of the Windows based netbooks. How is $400-$600 an attractive price point? Heck, I'm not sure how $350 at the bottom end is an attractive price point. I can often get a full laptop (on a semi regular sale) for $400, with beter specs. You raise a good point, which is why the 'sweet spot' for netbooks is just around the $400 mark. As for XP, the reasons are obvious. The overwhelming majority of software is made to work with XP. Any programs you might have (Outlook, Word, etc.) will all work if you buy an XP device. Dont get me wrong, I have a number of Linux machines at home myself but they simply arent mainstream enough for 99% of users. People simply want all their 'stuff' to work when they buy a new computer, and with Linux that just not the case.
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When you can't make them see the light, make them feel the heat.
-Ronald Reagan-
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 pfakBow before me for I am rootPremium
join:2002-12-29
Vancouver, BC
 ·TELUS
 ·Shaw
| Not to mention, the Acer Linux distribution that is included on their netbooks is worthless.
I bought one of the Acer Aspire One's for my girlfriend for Christmas, the first thing she did was install Windows XP on it.
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Xenophase - British Columbia's premier online gaming community. | |
 Ark
join:2002-06-08
Ada, MI
·Comcast
| reply to wifi4milez
The ones I've linked to are all Windows XP ones. I personally bought the one from Amazon, since it was $240 with no tax and free shipping. The same exact one, with XP, is at Best Buy, but not at my local store. I'd have to order it online and pay 6% MI sales tax and $12.99 shipping.
And I'd agree that people who are stupid and buy these on 2-year contracts, if they don't want the data plan, are going to get what they deserve. The quote I saw about "back to school" made it sound like they are going to put them for $100 at a retail store like Best Buy (who does sell mobile service plans as an agent at least). I would agree that people looking for a back-to-school computer aren't going to be looking at a Verizon store, but if this $100 thing is at Best Buy, they may pick it up. | |
Ark
join:2002-06-08
Ada, MI Reviews:
·Comcast
| reply to jp10558
$400+ is not an attractive price point. You could get a low-end 14" laptop for that.
I bought mine for $240 from Amazon with 1.6GHz Atom, 8GB SSD, 1GB RAM, and Windows XP Home, for $240, no tax, free shipping. That was about the most an ultra-portable 9" 2lb device should cost.
Maybe it's just a recent thing with the Windows XP Home Edition ULCPC program, but I think Acer can pay a lot less for ULCPC licenses than regular XP Home licenses, even though it is the same product. Microsoft just limits the computers OEMs can put that on, such as 1GB max ram and stuff. Maybe a few months ago these weren't available with Windows XP at $240 and the cheap ones did only have Linux. That seems to have changed if it was the case, since you can find plenty of sub-$300 netbooks with XP Home now. | |
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