3 Mobile Free Compaq CQ61 Laptop + Mobile Broadband 5GB

• Free laptop! (Compaq CQ61)
• Ultra lightweight & portable laptop
• Free mobile broadband modem
• 5GB monthly usage included (extra data 10p per MB)
• Fastest mobile broadband speeds in tests
• 24 month contract
• Get cut-price MS Office 2007 when you sign up and a free upgrade to Office 2010

3 mobile broadband review: Compaq CQ61 Laptop & Mobile

Like a free lunch, a free laptop might be a pipe dream but it can still be good value as this deal from 3 mobile broadband proves.

What's the free Compaq CQ61 laptop like?

The Compaq CQ61 Presario laptop is a high-quality budget laptop.

If that sounds like a contradiction then consider this: you'll get 2GB of RAM and a fairly high quality, bright LED screen but it's still lightweight - just 2.96kg - and comes with a netbook-sized 160GB hard drive.

Battery-life also gets a thumbs up from our review team, as a six-cell battery should hold out for at least four hours of light use away from the mains.

You will also get Windows 7 installed on the Compaq CQ61 laptop, a good extra, especially since 7 has been getting better reviews than the much-griped-about Windows Vista.

You'll also be able to get Microsoft Office Home & Student 2007 with an upgrade in 2010 at a discounted price when you sign up (£59.99 - formally £110) which is nice extra if not exactly a red-hot offer.

MS 2007 is available for a few pounds more in many other places and Microsoft are offering the upgrade to everyone.

What's 3's mobile broadband like?

3 continue to bring innovation to the mobile broadband market, despite the fact that they've been at it longer than anyone else.

They have the best coverage of any mobile broadband provider, with around 90% of the UK covered it shouldn't matter where you live - or travel to.

3's mobile broadband should offer speeds of up to 3.6Mbps which is a pretty average advertised speed. However, actual speeds will depend on your location and 3 admit on their website that likely speeds will be "up to 2.8mbps".

Still, this is still an adequate speed for mobile broadband.

Even with the decent 5GB allowance it's worth noting that you'll pay 10p for each MB of data that you exceed but luckily, the 3connect software that you get free with your dongle will help you to keep an eye on your usage.

Is the free Compaq CQ61 laptop deal worth it?

To find out whether this deal is worth it we'll compare the free Compaq CQ61 laptop with mobile broadband deal to buying the Compaq CQ61 laptop separately.

You can buy the Compaq Presario CQ61 at compaq.co.uk for £479. You can buy 5GB mobile broadband from 3 on a 24 month contract for £15 a month: £360 over the length of the contract. So that's £839.

Over the whole length of this 3 mobile broadband with free Compaq CQ61 laptop contract you'll pay £720. So that's £119 saved: a good deal in anyone's book.

Of course, it's worth pointing out that you may be able to buy the laptop separately for less (we just use the price from the most reliable site we can find for our review) but at the very least you're not overpaying: extremely rare for a 'free' laptop with mobile broadband deal.

A little more detail...

Mobile Broadband		Special Note...	Any good?
Package:	Free Compaq CQ61 Laptop + Mobile Broadband 5GB	-
Usage Limit:	5GB
Extra Data Charge:	10p per Mb
Max Speed:	Up to 3.6Mb

Laptop Included			Specifications	Cost
Laptop:		Compaq CQ61	AMD Sempron™ Processor SI-42 2.10GHz 2GB RAM, 15.6" high def screen 160GB SATA Hard Disk Drive Vista home basic	Free

USB Modem Options			Supported Speeds	Cost
Option #1:		Huawei E1750	Down: 7.2 Mbps	Free

Payment & Contract
Monthly Price:	£30
Modem Cost:	from Free
Contract Terms:	24 months

Your chosen 3 Mobile Compaq CQ61 Laptop & Mobile Broadband package option...

Free Compaq CQ61 Laptop + Mobile Broadband 5GB		Up to 3.6Mb 5GB usage		Compaq CQ61 Included free		24 months		£30		Free