I was eventually going to write fully about this issue (I have mentioned it quickly in a previous article that I cannot locate) but now I don’t have to because the very nice people at Life Hacker Australia did a splendid job 
“Dell and Vodafone have joined forces to sell the Inspiron Mini netbook like a phone, allowing you to purchase a 3G broadband-equipped device for a fixed monthly fee over 24 months. Is the future of computer purchasing, or just a good way of wasting money?”
Read more on: Is Paying On A Contract The Best Way To Get A 3G Netbook?
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
ehhh a contract… not so into that idea
I am not going to lie about it. I would never take a contract on a netbook. These machines get out dated within months and you find yourself stuck for three years. I learned that lesson with mobile phones. Even Blackberries give up after 18 months. If you’re on a three year contract, you end up paying for a new handset from your pocket while still on the contract ;(