Subsidized netbooks- who will pay to play?

Netbooks have tackled the world by storm due to their low price, often just $300-$500.  Small useful little laptops that can hit the web running.  Word has been trickling out this week that major carriers are planning on introducing netbooks at super cheap subsidized pricing to get customers to pony up for 3G data contracts.  These would be enabled either by integrated WWAN when available or by USB modems.  You sign the 2 or 3 year contract for the 3G and get a useful little netbook for $100 or less. 

This sounds like a very compelling business model but it leaves me wondering if many will find this a good deal or not.  Data plans here in the US cost from $50 – $60 with a 2 year contract so that cheap netbook suddenly gets a bit expensive.  Especially when you consider that for only $200-$300 more you can buy the netbook outright with no obligation.  So will folks pay to play?

This subsidized model has already been happening in the UK for a little while so maybe we can learn from them.  How about it, have you picked up a subsidized netbook?  How much did it cost you and how much will the data plan cost you over the life of the contract?

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