French tempted with €199 Eee PC HSDPA bundle

Internet 'partout, pour tous', apparently

French ordinateuristes can now buy Asus' elfin Eee PC with integrated HSDPA 3G, courtesy of local carrier SFR.

The package bundles an white Eee PC 4G with a similarly hued USB HSDPA modem capable of download speeds of up to 3.6Mb/s.

SFR wants €299 (£223/$435) for the lot, but it's pledging to give €100 of it back after buyers have signed up. The deal also requires purchasers to take out a connectivity subscription: €29.90 per month for 24 months, or €34.90 a month for 12 months.

Since the whole things is a special deal, SFR's only offering 1000 of these Eee plus 3G packages in total. The offer ends on Wednesday, according to the SFR website.

Asus Eee PC and friend: au bord de la mer

Ironically, the Eee PC should be able to have a 3G modem mounted inside it's diminutive casing - or would if Asus hadn't cheekily stopped fitting a secondary Mini PCI port within the Eee's expansion bay. First-generation Eee PCs had such a slot, but recent versions of the laptop - include this reporter's own unit, bought just before Christmas - do not.

Thanks to reader Steve for the tip.

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