Vodafone offers free laptop Down Under

DELL AND VODAFONE will offer the computer maker's compact netbook computer for nothing as part of a mobile broadband plan in Australia and New Zealand.

The Dell Mini 9 weighs just over 1kg and, with a small 8.9-inch screen. It is part laptop, part smartphone and we think a badger might have been involved in the conception. It has a built in 3G modem under the bonnet.

Basically it is a machine to look at Facebook and email when you are on the road. It is not the sort of machine to plot how light would travel between two black holes.

Such tie ins between hardware outfits and mobile phone companies are a new thing Down Under. We wonder what the coverage is like outside of the main cities.

Unless the Kiwis and the Aussies have worked out a way of strapping 3G base stations to sheep, or in Australia's case rabbits, we would have thought that there will be huge holes in coverage.

That has not stopped Dell claiming that the partnership will open up freedom to consumers to get out there and roam, be anywhere and be connected with a relatively large screen ... and do all those things they like doing on the internet.

From early next month, Vodafone will sell the Mini 9 on a $70 a month plan with a 5GB monthly data allowance and no upfront cost. µ

L'INQ
AP