Netbooks are all the rage recently, and I was even contemplating purchasing one recently, so I would not have to lug around my laptop everywhere. However, I decided to sideline my netbook purchase for the new BlackBerry Curve 8900, which will be available at AT&T in June. If you want a netbook, Verizon Wireless will be selling HP Mini 1151NR netbooks for $199.99 with a 2-year wireless broadband services contract. The only caveat to this is that the wireless broadband service costs $40 a month for 250 MB of data or $60 a month for 5 GB of data.

According to CNET News, this is not a good deal, considering that most netbooks are retailing at a cost of about $300. Over time, the Verizon netbook plan will cost anywhere between $1000-$1600/year, which is not a bargain considering that most places have wi-fi access.

At this cost, it would be more cost effective to purchase a netbook at a retailer, like Micro Center, and utilize the free wi-fi access at places like Panera Bread, the library, or even pay the minimal costs at Starbucks to get online. Verizon’s offer is probably not worth its weight in gold.