Orange to Offer Subsidized MacBooks With Mobile Broadband Contracts in UK?

This would fit in with the apple 'netbook' rumours.

If they are 99$ then it makes since, but if the macbook is 600$ with a 60$ a month 2 year closed in contract, than you are just renting it. What happens if it breaks during that time? I just don't understand why having cell service in your laptop is that important. Especially considering people will be able to tether soon (some are tethering now)

Although I'm located in the US and not in the market for laptop at the moment, I'm interested to see how much of price difference there will be for those who sign up for the contract.

I still don't see Apple getting into the netbook market, but this deal may have some bearing on the rumored $99 netbook due this summer (although I still think it's more likely to be powered by a Linux OS).

I don't like having a product subsidized if it means monthly payments. I'd rather pay a higher upfront cost than payments over a period of time.

Cool. I'm not in need of another laptop, but my dad is. This would be an awesome deal-well, contigent upon what AT&T would charge...:o

What's significant here is that Orange is not the mobile operator in the UK with the exclusive iPhone agreement (that accolade goes to its rival, O2).

This poises two interesting scenarios:

Either:

1) the target market for this product is not those with iPhones. In fact, it would be unlikely that iPhone customers would have any need or want to pay for both free mobile internet access on iPhone via O2 and sign up to Orange mobile broadband for the free Macbook.

or

2) O2 is shortly going to lose exclusivity on the iPhone and Apple will open its flagship mobile device up to other mobile operators, including Orange.

Either way, if true, it looks like Apple is broadening its horizons in the mobile internet space. A revelation perhaps then? Or evidence that this rumour is false?

It would be interesting to see how this might sell in the UK. I think most ordinary folks here are happy to take up this kind of deal, because they don't think about the long term price.

I have a brand new Macbook on my desk today and some colleagues were asking how much they were... when I said around £900 they all gasped. Early last year there would not have been this kind of reaction!

That said, I happily paid just under £800 for my refurb Macbook and feel it is very much worth the money compared to a cheaply made PC laptop. I did recently get an e-mail from Apple with a long survey about my purchase, and there was a lot of questions relating to perception of value etc. Hmmmm

Why is there so-much steam behind this $99 netbook from Apple rumour? If Apple were to release a netbook it's not very likely to be $99! It'd be more of a lower-budget-Macbook if anything.

I mean heck, an iPhone isn't $99 except when you get it with a silly contract.

I mean heck, an iPhone isn't $99 except when you get it with a silly contract.

This is with a contract.

I don't like having a product subsidized if it means monthly payments. I'd rather pay a higher upfront cost than payments over a period of time.

It would be interesting to see how this might sell in the UK. I think most ordinary folks here are happy to take up this kind of deal, because they don't think about the long term price.

It amazes me how many people pay extortionate amounts for some mobile contracts. If you get a contract with a laptop/latest phone/console/etc, you'll pay a fair bit more than buying the two separate products up front.

These 'offers' are to get as much money out of you as possible while keeping the initial payment low/free - to attract the millions of people that for some reason have no interest in looking at the tco or getting any value from their purchases.