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.

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.

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?

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.

all this started with the consumer demands not any sort of different attitude from the companies or governments. we need to stop felling like we need to be nice to the clerks at the phone shops and instead start demanding they buy back the phones we do not care about.

i am wondering a bit about how locked these net books are both the carriers and perhaps individual accounts. can i sign up for the sprint deal and than immediately switch it over to a regular 3G dongle and sell the netbook to some else who will be able to use the built in 3G on a generic plan? that is the kind of flexibility i definitely want.

To address your question though would mean each carrier would have to have different rate plans depending on how much subsidy you accepted from $0 (you) to as much as $400 (something like an iPhone or BB Storm). Does it seem fair that someone has to pay the same rates for their free flip-phone contract as the guy who gets $400 discounted off his BlackBerry Storm + extra FREE BB Storm? No, but there has to be limits.

I’m on AT&T and have never had a subsidized phone (unlocked my T-Mo branded Sony T610 when I ported in, bought a J220a when I washed the T610, bought a CU500 when I could afford to not carry a shitty phone, then bought a K850i when I needed faster 3G), so why should I pay the same as the person who’s received a $400 rebate in exchange for signing a contract?

TateJ has it absolutely correct. You’re paying for $1440 worth of awesome 3G data service and getting a FREE netbook. As opposed to paying for $1440 worth of 3G data and having to pay $200-$400 for your own netbook (and deal with some breakable dongle hanging off the side).

Given the netbook is Windows equipped just turn on Internet sharing and hook to a home router.

This isn’t ideal for everyone. But it makes sense for so many; people looking for quick, light access to their “world” away from home broadband. With smartphones and netbooks on the rise the industry is reacting to what the consumers are demanding.

Tom: If there were no subsidizing I’d bet my next paycheck that you’d either NOT have a cellphone today or you’d have a crappy, cheap, featureless cellphone that just makes calls…and flips shut. That device would have cost you $400 out of pocket instead of being free. And guess what? You’d STILL be paying $60-$100/mo for your service ANYWAY.