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Nov-02-2009Sprint launches first netbook(topic overview)
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Customers purchasing Dell Inspiron Mini 10 will also sign up for Sprint's Mobile Broadband Connection Plan offering 5GB of data for $59.99 per month with a two-year service agreement. 'It offers an affordable way to stay in touch and stay connected,' said Sprint's senior vice president of product development, Kevin Packingham. [1] Dell jumps into the carrier-subsidized netbook game with the Dell Inspiron Mini 10 netbook. Following moves by AT&T in April and Verizon in May to offer netbooks for as low as $49.99 with the purchase of their monthly mobile broadband plans, network operator Sprint unveiled its first netbook: the Dell Inspiron Mini 10.[1]
Sprint's offer appears similar to the plans offered by competitors AT&T and Verizon: In order to buy the HP 1151NR netbook with the Verizon plan, customers must sign a two-year contract and buy Verizon's Mobile Broadband plan, which starts at $39.99 per month, although Verizon does offer a $59.99-per-month plan with faster downloading speeds. Verizon also offers a global service plan with the HP netbook.[1]
The netbook is currently available at select Sprint stores throughout the Twin Cities for just $199.99 with activation on a Sprint Mobile Broadband plan and a two-year service agreement, after a $100 mail-in rebate.[1] Sprint said the Dell netbook is now available at select Sprint stores in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, and will cost $199.99 with a two-year mobile broadband contract and after a $100 mail-in rebate.[2]
The Sprint version drops to $200 in price versus the usual $300, but only when joined to a two-year contract for a $60 monthly data plan and a $100 mail-in rebate. Both online and retail stores should already have the PC in stock.[3] Sprint will offer the Dell Mini 10 for $200, where it will also come with a 2-year agreement with a $60 monthly data plan and after a $100 mail-in rebate.[4] Offering up 'blazing-fast' online access in a convenient and affordable package, a purchase through Sprint will see consumers securing a slice of trendy Web-centric portability in return for $199.99 USD when coupled with a two-year service agreement and a $100 USD mail-in rebate.[5]
To get that $199 price, you'll have to sign up for a two-year service agreemeent. 5GB per month costs $59.99, which is pretty standard. That's $1,439.76 for broadband service, $1,638.76 once you add in the cost of the netbook itself. That doesn't take into account taxes, which vary by state. Oh, and let's not forget that the Mini 10 starts at $299 at Dell.com, so by entering into this costly agreement you're only saving $100 up front.[6] The laptop will run $199.99 with a 2 year service contract. That's about $100 off the base price of the Dell Inspiron Mini 10, but this mdoel also has an internal EV-DO modem, which probably adds a few bucks to the cost.[7] As expected, U.S. wireless carrier Sprint announced today that it will begin selling the Dell Inspiron Mini 10 at a subsidized price to customers that sign up for a 2-year Sprint Mobile Broadband service plan.[7] Dell Inspiron Mini 10 features embedded EV-DO Rev. A wireless service from Sprint that supports faster data rates and higher system capacity.[1]
Today, Sprint announced it will sell the Dell Inspiron Mini 10 for $199 with a two-year contract. This is Sprint's first subsidized netbook; AT&T and Verizon already have a handful on the market.[6] Sprint will be offering a subsidized version of the Dell Mini 10 today, where this little netbook will boast an internal EVDO Revision A modem for 3G access wherever you are, freeing you from being overly reliant on the availability of Wi-Fi networks wherever you are. Otherwise, everything else within ought to remain the same including an Intel Atom 1.33GHz processor, 1GB RAM, a 160GB hard drive and Windows XP Home.[4] Sprint today confirmed a late rumor by launching a subsidized version of the Dell Mini 10. Its version has an internal EVDO Revision A modem for 3G access and should usually pull between 600Kbps and 1.4Mbps downloads in real-world conditions. It also appears to be the original Mini 10 reviewed here with a 1.33GHz Atom, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive and Windows XP Home.[3]
The Dell Inspiron Mini 10 weighs 2.6 pounds and measures 10.3 inches long, 7.2 inches wide and just over an inch thick. It also boasts a 10.1-inch LED, 1,024-by-600 WSGVA screen, an Intel Atom processor Z520, Microsoft Windows Home XP SP3 Edition, a built-in 1.3MP Webcam, 160GB hard drive, integrated Intel 500 Media Accelerator Graphics, five-in-one media reader, Bluetooth connectivity and Wi-Fi 802.11g capability.[1] Features and functions attributed to the little 2.6-pound Mini 10 include a 10.1-inch WSGVA screen (1024 x 600), an Intel Atom Processor Z520, Microsoft's Windows Home XP (SP3), a built-in 1.3 mega pixel Web camera, a 160GB hard drive, Integrated Intel 500 Media Accelerator Graphics, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi 802.11g.[5]
To recap from our review : the Mini 10 has all the specs you'd expect in a netbook: a 10-inch display, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB The storage device that holds your OS, programs, and data. Learn More hard drive, Windows XP. Its Atom X530 CPU, however, is slower than other Atom processors we tested.[6]
The Dell Mini 10 still launched today on Sprint's 3G network. Their press release makes this bog standard 10.1' Windows XP netbook sound much more exciting than it really is.[8] Pushing the consumer appeal and market presence of recession-friendly Netbook computers, American telecommunications heavyweight Sprint has today announced the availability of Dell's slinky little Inspiron Mini 10 on its high-speed 3G network.[5] 'Dell Inspiron Mini 10 is a fun way to easily access the speeds of Sprint's network to catch-up on email, surf the Web and more,' commented Kevin Packingham, senior vice president of Product Development at Sprint. 'We are excited to add this great Dell product to our industry-leading portfolio of devices available from Sprint that work on America's most dependable 3G network,' it added.[5]
Sprint is offering the Inspiron Mini 10 at select stores in Minneapolis and St. Paul right now, although I suspect Sprint will begin rolling the offer out in other areas of the country soon.[7]
Equipped with EV-DO Rev. A wireless capabilities for faster data transfer rates and higher system capacity, the Mini 10 on Sprint allows users to take advantage of robust applications and services, such as wireless voice-over-IP (VoIP), high-speed video telephony, music on-demand and video messaging.[5] Peak download data rates increase to 3.1M bps (from 2.4M bps), and peak upload data rates increase to 1.8M bps (from 153K bps). Sprint said these faster speeds enable customers to take advantage of more bandwidth-heavy applications and services, such as wireless voice-over-IP (VOIP), high-speed video telephony, music on-demand and video messaging.[1]
Sprint is pushing a mobile broadband plan with the netbook, giving users 5 GB of data for $59.99 per month. [2] With the purchase of the AT&T Internet at Home and On the Go plan'which includes an AT&T DataConnect plan and AT&T Fast Access DSL, and starts at $59.95 per month'the netbooks are being offered for between $49.99 and $249.99.[1]
AT&T's offer is held in combination with the company's 'Internet at Home and On the Go' broadband services plan, as part of a limited trial offer in select company-owned stores.[1]
The device has an EV-Do Rev. A connection, a 10.1-inch LED screen, a built-in 1.3-megapixel webcam and a 160 GB hard drive. AT&T kicked off the focus on netbooks earlier this spring, and launched devices in a nationwide rollout earlier this summer. Verizon Wireless launched its first netbook earlier this spring as well, and recently announced the launch of another. [2] Sprint Nextel launched its first netbook, joining Tier 1 rivals AT&T Mobility and Verizon Wireless in the netbook craze.[2]
In our review, we were disappointed by the sub-three-hour battery life, one of several reasons our verdict was only 3 out of 5 stars. As for broadband, Sprint claims its Rev. A network can deliver upload speeds of 300-500 kbps and download speeds between 600 kbps and 1.4 mbps. The problem, though, as always, is the real cost of owning a netbook like this. [6] There's nothing wrong with that, as long as the price is low. Sprint's only charging $199.99 for this little 3G netbook.[8]
The Mini 10 features an Atom Z520 processor, 160 GB HD, WiFi and 1.3 MP camera. That's about as 'run of the mill' as a netbook gets. [8]
SOURCES
1. Sprint Offers Dell Inspiron Mini 10 Netbook for $199
2. Sprint launches first netbook - FierceWireless
3. Dell Mini 10 with 3G official for Sprint | Electronista
4. Sprint teams up with Dell
5. Sprint and Dell offer Inspiron Mini 10 for $200 - Hardware
6. Sprint to Sell Dell Inspiron Mini 10 for $199 With Two-Year Contract
7. Sprint begins selling 3G-enabled Dell Inspiron Mini 10
8. Sprint Launches The Dell Mini 10 Netbook
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