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More and more broadband providers are offering free laptops with both their home and mobile internet packages.
The laptops they offer are not actually ‘free’, as you’re paying more per month for the broadband deal to cover what it costs them to give you the laptop.
However, some broadband laptop deals can be reasonable. Their main advantage is that they enable you to spread the cost of buying a laptop over a lengthy period of time (typically between 18 and 24 months, depending on the contract).
Be warned that some of these packages are expensive rip-offs. It is often cheaper to take out a standalone broadband contract and buy a laptop separately. For example, telecommunications company 3 currently offer a 5GB mobile broadband deal that comes with a ‘free’ Acer 751 laptop – all for £35 a month over 18 months. This comes to a grand total of £630.
But you can get a standalone 5GB mobile broadband deal from 3 for £15 a month over 18 months, while you can get the same Acer laptop from independent retailers for £299. So you can get exactly the same internet service and laptop for £570, just by buying them separately. That’s a saving of £60, and we didn’t even shop around other internet providers who offer the same speed and download limit for a cheaper price. Still, a broadband package with a free laptop could be worth considering if you tick the following boxes:
• You could do with a new computer, but don’t need anything too flash
• You don’t have several hundred pounds burning a hole in your pocket, and would prefer to spread your costs over a period of time
• You're looking to get broadband (or change to a better deal)
If this is you, read on…
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