LG X110 3G netbook

The MSI Wind U110 has been a big hit for both buyers and sellers alike, and both Advent and Medion offer the same netbook under their own brand. And now here’s another manufacturer with its own rebadged Wind, but the LG X110 has more than just a new name on the lid…

Yes, it’s pink, but the most notable thing about the LG X110 netbook isn’t its colour – it’s the built-in 3G modem.

Other netbook manufacturers have been mumbling about onboard 3G since day one, but only Dell has come good so far. Its Inspiron Mini 9 has more than its fair share of quirks though, while the LG X110 is an altogether more straightforward netbook.

We won’t go into great detail about the LG X110’s chassis and you can just read our MSI Wind review if you want to know more about its general design, and the quality of its screen and keyboard. The X110 isn’t a complete clone of the Wind, though – LG has used a subtly different profile to its lid, plus a slightly different arrangement of ports on its right-hand side.

Of course the MSI Wind wasn’t without weaknesses of its own and the LG X110 suffers from the same thin-hinged screen wobble (as you can see in our hands-on video) and the same inadequate battery – a mere 2200mAh three-cell unit that runs for a couple of hours of light use, with Wi-Fi and 3G disabled. MSI has recently started to ship six-cell Wind with much better battery life though, so you can add a bigger battery to the LG X110 if you want to.

Getting the LG X110’s Ericsson F3507g 3G modem up and running means you’ll need to slip a SIM card in a slot just behind the battery before starting the Wireless Manager application. And, of course, you’ll need a contract with a mobile broadband provider.

Dell, in its wisdom, ties you to Vodafone if you want to buy its 3G-enabled Inspiron Mini 9 (it only sells the non-3G model directly), but LG at least gives you a choice. The X110 is only available from Phones4U, but there is a choice of three mobile broadband providers – Vodafone, Orange and 3. The netbook is free on each provider’s tariff, but you are stuck with a 24 month, £35-a-month contract, so you’ll end up paying £840 over the full two years. This is a problem.

How come? Well, go to any of the same three mobile broadband providers’ websites and you’ll find the same mobile broadband deals (with shorter contracts) for £15 a month – or less, if you don’t need 3Gb of downloads a month. You’ll have to put up with a USB 3G modem, but at least it’s thrown in for nothing.

Given that eBuyer is currently selling the near-identical MSI Wind (it has a slightly smaller hard disk) for £288, sorting out your own netbook and mobile broadband deal will save you at least £200 over the course of two years (you’ll pay £648, in other words) – which makes the Phones4U LG X110 deal a rip-off.

Of course "free laptop" is a tempting proposition and a total fib – the cost of any "free" laptop or mobile phone that's offered as part of a tariff is recouped over the term of the contract. But recouping the cost is one thing – charging an additional £200 is something else. Vodafone's best tariff charges £430 over 12 months – £250 up-front and £15 a month thereafer. Since Dell charges £269 for the 3G-free model (with a higher spec), this is a much fairer deal.

By making the X110 available only from Phones4U, LG has foolishly priced it out of the market. So, if you want a netbook with mobile broadband access, give the LG X110 a wide berth and buy another netbook instead. You’ll need to sort out your own mobile broadband contract, but you’ll save a packet in the process.