AT&T offering subsidised netbooks starting at $49.99

AT&T already sells subsidised Acer Aspire One netbooks for an upfront cost of $99 plus a data contract. It has now adding the Dell Inspiron Mini 9 & 12 and a LG Zenia (maybe a rebadged X110?) to its offering across outlets in Atlanta and Philadelphia.

Packages start at an upfront cost of between $49.99 to $249.99 depending on which data contract is purchased. The AT&T Internet at Home and On the Go plans start at $59.95 for a two-year contract. Without the AT&T contract, these mini laptops range in price from $449.99 to $599.99.

The promotion is available at eight AT&T retail locations in the Atlanta area. AT&T is offering similar netbook promotional rates with the purchase of DataConnect plans in eight retail locations in the Philadelphia area. DataConnect includes a 200MB plan for $40 per month which seems quite pricey for a measly 200MB. There is also a 5GB plan for $60 for heavier data users.

Whilst it is obvious that these netbooks are not cheap, with the $60 plan costing $1,440 over the two-year period (excluding the upfront fee). However, if you were planning to take out a contract anyway then it makes sense to pick up a very cheap netbook while you’re at it.

MSI Wind U123 netbook to see May US launch

MSI has officially announced the launch of the Wind U123 netbook at CTIA in Las Vegas. The U123 appeared on MSI’s website last week when we broke the full official specifications.

Comparing the US spec list to that of the global site there seem to be few differences. The US SKU of the U123 Wind seems to suggest that it will come with a TV tuner and 6-cell battery as standard (with optional 9-cell battery). The unit will weigh 1.4kg (2.98lbs) with the 6-cell battery. This highlights that the 6-cell battery is 400g heavier than with the 3-cell battery which has a combined weight of 1kg (2.2lbs).

The MSI Wind U123 has a 10-inch (1024 x 600) display powered by a 1.66Ghz N280 Intel Atom CPU and 945GSE chipset. It is a shame that MSI decided not to pair the N280 with the GN40 chipset which would have been much more powerful over the 945GSE. Graphics will be served by Intel’s GMA950. It will come with 1GB RAM although 2GB will be supported. Other features include WiFi (b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.0, 1.3MP webcam and a 4-in-1 card reader. The unit is expected to launch in May in the US. There is no confirmation on pricing or availability in other regions. Full US spec-list after the break. Read more

No UK/US launch for Asus Eee PC 1004DN netbook

The Asus Eee PC 1004DN is the company’s first netbook with an in-built optical disk drive. Some sites have bemoaned the fact that this can’t be a netbook as it has an optical drive, it’s not a view I share. As long as technology miniaturisation doesn’t end up being counter-productive then I’m all for it.

We revealed the full specifications last weekend, however we have since learned that the 1004DN is unlikely to make it to western shores. Asus PR reps in both the US and UK are saying that there are currently no plans for a 1004DN launch. This may change at some point, but until then, this is likely to remain an Asian release only. For those that are interested you had better speak to your local importer.

ASUS Eee-Easter Mystery Giveaway

ASUS is giving away four Eee PC products over the next few weeks to celebrate Easter. To be in with a chance of winning you’ll need to visit the ASUS Facebook page and also follow Asus on YouTube. As far as I’m aware if you leave a comment you’ll be entered into the draw, although more details are likely to be forthcoming.

No details on exact prizes so far, I suppose that’s why it’s called a ‘mystery’ giveaway! The competition is only open to those in the US and Canada. Check out the Asus competition video after the break. Read more

Acer Aspire One 751 netbook previewed

Whilst we are still waiting for official confirmation of the 11-6 inch Acer Aspire One 751, the elder sibling of the 10.1-inch 531 announced yesterday, PC World Norway has already previewed a pre-production model. Overall they were impressed with the stylish slim design, good-sized keyboard and great display. The main niggle they had was the fan noise, although this may be rectified from retail models. Read more

Slimline Acer Aspire One 531 netbook gets official

Following on from Acer’s 10.1-inch Aspire One D250 netbook announced yesterday, another 10-inch from its stable has also been unveiled, the Aspire One 531. The Aspire One D250 appeared on both the Acer UK and Germany sites yesterday but was then removed later in the day. However, the Aspire One 531 is still listed on the Germany site for all to see. Looking through the specifications we are struggling to tell the difference between the two, it looks almost identical to the D250. Read more

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