Comments on: Sprint Offers a Netbook for Under a Buck. Will AT&T & Verizon follow?

By: Kevin C. Tofel

Kevin C. Tofel — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:52:13 +0000

@CzechM8: This deal doesn’t come with a USB 3G adapter. The embedded solution is the HP un2400 EV-DO/HSDPA Mobile Broadband Module, which is a Qualcomm Gobi chip on a Mini-PCIe module. In theory, you could remove the module from inside the netbook and install it in another device that supports Mini-PCIe and offers driver support.

By: TateJ

TateJ — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:43:30 +0000

If Sprint was to give away a netbook and a usb modem, that would be the best of both worlds. I’d drop my AT&T mobile broadband account and go to sprint in a heart beat.

Alas, the Best Buy Website says that the 3g modem is embedded in the netbook. I like having the flexibilty to us one 3g modem between all of my computers.

By: CzechM8

CzechM8 — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:25:52 +0000

@tom; @TateJ – One of the main difference between CDMA carriers and GSM carriers is how provisioning is handled. GSM (AT&T, T-Mob) use SIM cards that are provisioned to your acct. CDMA (Sprint, Verizon, Leap, Alltel, et al) do not. There is no SIM card to remove/swap.

I *THINK* the 3G EvDO chipset is built into the netbook like the 802.x WiFi chipset. But *MAYBE* the deal is a netbook that comes with a USB EvDO modem. There’s not enough details here to tell. If so you could just keep the USB modem (since its CDMA chipset is waht’s provisioned to your name) and sell the netbook.

By: TateJ

TateJ — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:57:41 +0000

You’re right. It looks like an email to sprint customer service is needed

By: tom

tom — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:41:41 +0000

whether or not sim cards are used is not really the issue; it would have to do with company policy. there is nothing difficult about programing a CDMA device with a new account.

By: TateJ

TateJ — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 04:32:53 +0000

I just went and checked the Sprint mobile broadband plan prices for my area. The monthly prices are the same if I get the free netbook or a free 3g usb modem.

By: TateJ

TateJ — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 04:29:04 +0000

I do not know the answer to that question. I have no idea how Sprint works or even if they have removable sim cards that can be transferred to another device.

By: tom

tom — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 03:30:19 +0000

@TateJ

but some of us want to take the netbook; but than immiediatly sell it and use the plan with a modem. will the carrier’s let us do that? or does the deal come with some special plan for use with the netbook only?

By: DGarkie

DGarkie — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 22:04:56 +0000

if they offered this with their usb aircards i would get it, internal broadband receivers have their downfalls you have to use the netbook to use the connection and the only way you could share the connection is through lan or ad-hoc

By: TateJ

TateJ — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 19:00:55 +0000

There is something else that is being overlooked in this conversation.

You do not have to take the netbook if you don’t want to. Every wireless carrier will happily sell you a data plan and a cheap modem and not give you the netbook. They would probably prefer to do it that way. The netbook is an incentive that you can turn down. And with most plans, at least here in the US, you are locked into a multi year commitment with or without the netbook as part of the deal.