AT&T Offering $79 Subsidized Netbook > pfft

pfft

How is this a rip off? You say it like everyone is in the same boat with the same situation and needs. If you're going to buy a netbook, and you're going to buy connectivity for it, then it seems pretty clear that it's a good deal.

If you're going to buy a netbook alone AND you're trying to reduce the cost by signing up for a plan to say a couple hundred, then no.. it's likely not a good deal for you.

These blanket statements are silly.

Well put...

reply to fiberguy
"How is this a rip off?"

I agree with your example about folks who need a hardware / connection plan, but charging the end user $500 for each gig over the five gig limit strikes me as redefining the word "rip-off". As I see it, either they're losing $420 a month with each customer or they're overcharging "abusers".

Yes, I understand that it's their service and no one is forced to get it, but rip-off is still a rip-off whether you get victimized by it or not.

I suspect that AT&T is hoping folks will be ignorant of the cap and how small it truly is and will rack up more modest overage fees. But if they can afford to sell you five gigs for $80 (actually less if you factor in the cost of the netbook), then why can't they bill overages at $16 a gig (the breakdown price) instead of $500? Other than rampant greed, I mean.

reply to fiberguy
Can't agree more, If you plan to buy a netbook and want access this is a fantastic deal. You were going to pay the 60 a month anyways and use your shiny new net book why not get it almost free? 5GB? The crying over 5GB amazes me.
You can email and surf at will and never reach that. The ones complaining want to use wireless for downloading movies and such. Not possible but normal people surfing and emailing at will this is a fantastic deal.

There is already one person who has just been handed a $5,000 bill for overage charges.

This is a ripoff plain and simple. Stay away from these creeps.

reply to ditka_b
The only reason I would not buy off on the AT&T combo is that the card is built in to the netbook and I could not share the card between laptops.

The 5GB cap means nothing to me. I've got DSL at home and a DS3 at the office. I currently have a Verizon card and I am a very heavy downloader. I don't think I have hit even 1GB on the verizon in a months time.

reply to Desdinova

reply to battleop
I agree with you in your post on all accounts.

I have a sprint connection card and love it. It saves me a lot of money when I travel over the (as some would call it) "criminal" $10 a day internet fees for a heavily shared, under powered WiFi connection that barely pushes 256k.

I get 5gb, loose, on Sprint. (actually, I'm still not yet affected by the caps they imposed on people) I surf pretty heavily when I'm gone.. I do typical email, surfing, PcAnywhere, even watch youtube and stream my sling box.. still don't come close to the 5gb.

And, like you, I prefer having a card to insert instead of it being built in. I can use my card on any computer, and do, and have a portable router for sharing. At home, I have Cable and DSL both for redundancy. I'm killing the DSL since cable has been pretty stable for me. However, IF the cable goes out, I still have a back up that I'm already paying for.

Personally, for me, THIS set up works. The way we all use the internet is totally customized to our own needs.. there is no one way it works for everyone when it comes to connection.

reply to TACSPEED
I guess they should read the contract?