Engadget is reporting that when the HP Mini 1000 comes out on Verizon it will retail for $199.  To get to the $199 price, it goes from $249 and includes a $50 mail in rebate with a two year service commitment.

This is great if you’re looking to score a netbook on the cheap, but there are a lot of things which don’t smell too good here.  No problem against Verizon, or HP.  These are both great companies but the combined deal seems a little off.

First, AT&T is running a similar promotion where you can get an Acer Aspire One for only $99 with the same opportunity to get 5GB of access for $59.99.  One advantage is that AT&T also gives you access to their WiFi network which Verizon hasn’t said anything about.

Also, cell phones and netbooks are different.  GSM and CDMA don’t work together.  You won’t be able to take an iPhone and activate it on Sprint no matter how hard you try.  By taking a netbook with a specific company’s 3G card built into it you make it really difficult to switch later on.

The alternative would be to purchase your netbook on your own and pick the service you want base on your own preference.  Companies like Cricket allow you to use a USB wireless card as a prepaid service so you don’t have to worry about any contract cancellation fees.  Also, if you don’t like the service you sign up with, you’re free to just move onto the next service provider without any worry.

Of course, all of these points don’t matter if you live and breathe Verizon.  In which case, two years on Verizon will fly by just as the past however many years you’ve been using them.  For everyone else, just think before you sign – 24 months is longer than you think.

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