Mmmmh. Okay?

The original 7″ Asus EEE currently sells for $249 at target … a $50 price drop in the next 3 months would not be surprising.

This is not exactly big news …

Did I see the words FREE NETBOOK??? Let’s work that out.

At $399 the mini 1000 would break down to about $16.62 per month over 24 months.

On the other hand, you could also pay full price for that netbook and get a $15 plan discount off the $60/month for 2 years. Your savings are about the same.

The first option doesn’t get me anything, since I am paying full price every month, I’m locked in for 2 years, and after that time the netbook would have minimal value and already be replaced by newer/better models. That free netbook is now worth nothing, and I’ve been paying full price all the time.

The second option would work better if I choose to keep the service past 2 years and extend my savings, assuming that the discount is retained. However, if the discount is only for a 2 year term, and I am reverted back to paying full monthly prices after 2 years, then it’s not much of an incentive, since I must now pay more per month and be stuck with an old netbook (all the while newer customers get the discount with newer netbooks).

Capitalism is wonderful isn’t it?

I don’t think Celio has a chance anyway.

I’d guess we’ll be talking about the Redfly in the past tense before too long.

If they release a $200 netbook then Celio will/should feel the pressure to keep selling the Redfly at $199. Just my opinion.

If they’re going to hit 200, who cares about subsidies.

At that point, you’d be nuts to lock yourself into a contract.

It might make me hold off from jumping into the fray. I was tempted to see what shakes out of Black Friday, but I can just as well wait until the new year.