Buyers’ guide: how to get free notebook
When it comes to mobile broadband then you’re never far from plenty of deals and offers, with many network providers also offering the added incentive of a free notebook to get you up and running. The free notebook, in contrast to the humble laptop, is a good option to think about if you’re after freedom and convenience.
Although notebook deals are commonplace and cheap too, one of the cheapest ways to get both mobile internet and a new bit of kit is to sign up for one of the 3G broadband offers from the likes of 3 Mobile, Vodafone, T-Mobile, O2 and Orange. In fact, you’ll find that nearly all of the networks offer this option alongside their dongles, laptops and Wi-Fi enabled gadgets.
The key to finding the right free notebooks that will be ideal for your own requirements is to head for the comparison table above, which will give you an overview on everything from the cheapest free notebook through to the higher-specification models. You’ll probably want to compare these, as well as read up on some of the reviews about free notebook offers in the UK, before you buy.
How do I get a free notebook?
Free laptop deals and offers have been around for a while now, although the marketplace has become a little more interesting of late thanks to the advent of the notebook. Free notebook deals are now often as popular with people as the original concept, because the device is that little bit smaller, allowing a little more freedom when you’re on the move.
With a mobile broadband and netbook combination setup and running it’s likely that you’ll be able to stay much more productive while you’re travelling around, although the great thing is that these devices are just as useful when you get back home too.
Our comparison table above will outline all of the deals and offers that are currently available, and you’ll be able to quickly compare and contrast all of the options for free mobile broadband and mobile internet notebook deals in the space of one location.
What are free notebooks?
Free notebook deals involve the same sort of package options as laptop internet, in that you’ll generally get yourself 3G broadband or wireless broadband as it’s also known, plus a free notebook.
This will probably involve you having to sign up for a 3G internet contract deal or offer, but thanks to healthy competition between mobile providers, there has never been a better time to buy yourself a package here in the UK. Essentially, you’ll find that these mobile broadband and notebook deals are based around subsidised offers.
As a result, you’ll probably be asked to sign up for a longer contract, which in many mobile broadband and notebook scenarios could be around 18-months or two years. That can seem like quite a long time at the outset, so make sure that you’re happy about going for notebook deals, or any other kind of deal for that matter, if it’s hooking you in for quite a long period of time.
However, on the flipside, the prospect of signing up for notebook deals is very appealing to a lot of people as it means that they are able to spread the cost of a decent new bit of kit over a longer period of time. With money tight that can prove very useful, and hence the free notebook market is proving healthier than ever.
Is a free notebook really free?
You’ll find that mobile broadband providers will often flag up their free notebook deals as it can be a great way of getting the interest of consumers who are probably feeling a little bamboozled by the sheer amount of range on offer. In a bid to gain more subscribers to the mobile broadband and notebook deals, providers are certainly able to price their deals and offers very keenly indeed.
Having said that, you will of course be signing up for a contract when you opt to get yourself a free notebook, although once you’ve done that you do basically get given the computer for nothing. If you use our comparison table above to compare the deals and offers, you’ll find that there is a reasonable amount to pay for most contracts over the course of an 18-month or two year offer, but it can work out to your advantage.
After all, you may be paying for the device in the way of a contract deal, but it’s spreading the cost for a start and at the end of the contract period the machine will be yours to keep. Alternatively, when you get to the end of one of your mobile 3G broadband and notebook deals, it is possible to move to another one and do the same thing all over again. At least that’ll mean you’ve always got a free notebook that is reasonably up to date when it comes to specification.
Are notebook deals worth it?
Deciding whether or not a free notebook is going to be the right bit of hardware for your needs is something of a personal preference choice. However, if you use our comparison tables and also read the reviews pages from users here in the UK, it’s possible to get an idea about which bit of wirless broadband kit will be best suited to your needs.
Remember that a free notebook will probably have a slightly less powerful specification than a full-on laptop computer. This is because the free notebook deals generally feature machines that are lightweight, small and easier to use on the go. As a result of the smaller package, and often-lower price tag too, they can also be a little bit less powerful.
The other thing to remember with notebook deals is that these are small computers that often have even smaller screens and keyboards. So, as a result, they’re not going to be for everyone. If you’re the sort of person who simply wants mobile broadband connectivity while you’re on the move and don’t want the hassle of taking a large laptop then a free notebook deal will really fit the bill, but if you’re a business professional who needs to get a lot of things done on the go then you may need a deal or offer that features a more powerful option.
What do I look for in a free notebook?
The best way to get started in your search for the mobile broadband and notebook deals that will best suit your needs is to have a look at the comparison tables above. These allow you to quickly compare essential aspects of any deal, such as contract setup fee, contract duration along with the possible speed of service and also any download allowances.
If you’re keeping a firm eye on prices then lookout for any mobile broadband provider who might have special deals or offers on their packages. These come and go all the time, but can be the best way of getting a free notebook deal as they often come with everything thrown into one cheap and convenient package.
As for specification, then consider things like the processor power of the machine that you’re interested in, the amount of space on the hard drive, and also the RAM. When it comes to overall usability then take a look at the screen size and bear in mind that this will invariably be much smaller than a conventional computer screen. You might also have a preference on what kind of operating system the free netbook might use too.
The pros and cons of a free notebook
When it comes to choosing mobile broadband and notebook deals above any of the other 3G internet or wireless broadband options open to you here in the UK, it’s a good idea to weigh up what you want to do with it over time. The chances are that it will prove appealing because a free notebook will be lightweight, is ideal for computing on the move and is designed specifically for lighter online tasks such as web browsing and emailing.
Some free notebook deals actually offer machines with pretty good specifications too, and they’re also getting better all the time. Combine that with the ever improving 3G internet network and better coverage across many areas of the UK and you could be looking at the perfect package for your needs. Just remember that most free notebook models will have the smaller screen area and keyboard too.
A mobile broadband and notebook combination can be a great way to go if you want a cheap and convenient way of staying online while you’re away on your travels. However, the free notebook and 3G broadband avenue isn’t really a replacement for traditional home-based broadband. It does make a good supplement to that, so it’s often very convenient to download larger files at home then put them on your free notebook for when you’re away.
If it all seems a little bit confusing then head back up to the comparison table at the top and start comparing some of the free notebook deals and offers that are available. By honing your search and sort criteria, depending on what you want to do and how much you want to spend, you’ll soon be able to pin down the right free notebook deal for your needs.
