Early Look at Virgin Media’s Freedom Netbook
The most unexpected companies are joining the netbook race. The latest one is Virgin Media, a major UK-based telecommunications company. Typically involved with television, broadband and mobile phones, Virgin Media will be making its first venture into computing devices with its Freedom netbook. While the name is impressive (and fun to say), the netbook itself… not so much.
Available for free! with a 2 year contract, Virgin Media is also selling Freedom for £300 – about the same price the Asus Eee PC 1000HE is selling at on Amazon UK. Makes you believe the Freedom has good specs doesn’t it? It doesn’t. The netbook looks great, but it comes with standard specs for a 10″ netbook and a sad 2.5 hour battery life. It’s nice that Virgin Media wants to play the netbook game, but someone needs to tell them it’s 2009 not 2007 anymore. Netbooks need to have at least something that stands out to survive.
Here’s a list of the specs:
Specs
- Processor – 1.60 GHz Intel Atom N270
- OS – Windows XP (not Vista, no free upgrade to Windows 7)
- Memory – 1 GB RAM
- Storage – 120 GB HDD (not bad, but below average)
- Display –10.2″
- Connectivity – 802.11 b/g/n and Virgin broadband
- Ports – 2-in-1 card reader
- Battery – 3 cell/2.5 hour
- Weight – 1.1kg or 2.4 lbs.
Free Freedom with Virgin Media Bundles
I found the bundles quite interesting and very different from US ones. Below is an example of one – I’m amused that it includes unlimited weekend minutes. I haven’t come across a netbook-broadband bundle that offers minutes. However, if you read the fine print as you always should, you’ll notice unlimited stands for 1 hour. (Yes, I’m quite confused by this too.) Also note that the 2 year contract isn’t for 3G internet, but for a phone line. It’s so different and British! 
Note: I’m not too familiar with UK bundles, I just posted this because I found it interesting. I don’t know if it’s a good deal or not, and I recommend you err on the side of caution: buy an Asus 1000HE for £290 and live happily ever after.
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Filed under: Netbooks