Free laptop deals are getting a much closer look as the competitive nature of United Kingdom mobile broadband providers has come to the forefront. Recent announcements by 3Mobile and O2 Mobile cutting the prices for their dongles and MiFi air cards have prompted examination by consumer news and advice, relative to broadband, websites such as Broadband Choices. Long noted and praised for their skillful analysis of UK home broadband options, Broadband Choices has taken their investigative prowess into the realm of mobile broadband.
A recent examination of free laptop deals is case in point. At the present time, several leading United Kingdom mobile broadband providers offer deals that, in theory, reward us for committing to a long-term contract with the gift of a free laptop computer. But the monthly cost for such contracts without the “free” computer is approximately half the price. And this same price reduction applies even for pay as you go mobile broadband.
This leads one to immediately ask the question, where is the bargain? The short and simple answer is that there is no bargain and the only advantage gained by signing up for a free laptop deal is that provided the laptop in question is of good value, you may have found a way to finance that laptop at zero interest. A mobile broadband pricing comparison recommendation is that you calculate the differential and pricing over the term of a contract between that including a free laptop and that without and then weigh that price differential against the average cost of the same laptop in stores.