At $80, what else could you expect, but to have a data plan as part of the discounted price. I still think that many people will take advantage of this as it's inexpensive in it's upfront cost.

@Kevin1a:

Since that one is being sold by the carrier it probably requires a contract and an expensive plan. They won't just sell you the device at that price. Netbooks are more affordable everyday, but this is different. I hope computers don't end up like mobile phones: sold by carriers at "discounted" prices in exchange for signing away your soul for two years.

The image posted showed the unactivated price was almost $400.

I also doubt that netbooks will be sold exclusively by carriers. What advantage would the OEM find in doing that? Laptops aren't sold that way.

I do think it's a useful option to consider if you're looking for an "almost-always-connected" PC, though. If you don't want to sign a two-year contract, buy it elsewhere.

And if somebody's soul is in their phone, something went very wrong in their life. :D

@Robert:

But even if you need a data plan for say your phone, that data plan may be of a lower price than the netbook data plan since Verizon would expect you to use the netbook for more downloads, web use like video conferencing etc..

That's definitely true. When I got my original Motorola Q, the data plan was $45 per month; laptop plans were $60 per month. If you wanted to tether the phone, that was another $15 per month, presumably to bring it up to the same price as the laptop plan on the assumption that you'd be downloading just as much as with a dedicated laptop modem.

Verizon has since come out with a smart phone Web and E-mail plan for $30 per month (but I don't think that allows tethering).

Steve

For sure a data plan is required. But even if you need a data plan for say your phone, that data plan may be of a lower price than the netbook data plan since Verizon would expect you to use the netbook for more downloads, web use like video conferencing etc..

I aggree that a 2 year contract would be hard to swallow. But if you need a data plan anyway this is a good way to get a discounted laptop or netbook in the process. They also offer dell and lenovo laptops as well.

I don't think this means war just yet. Since that one is being sold by the carrier it probably requires a contract and an expensive plan. They won't just sell you the device at that price. Netbooks are more affordable everyday, but this is different. I hope computers don't end up like mobile phones: sold by carriers at "discounted" prices in exchange for signing away your soul for two years. I bought a nice Eeepc one of the new ones with the 160 gig drive and the 1.6GHz processor for school and I am completely happy having paid ~370USD for it. Hopefully they will come down in price, but not at the cost of having to sign contracts.