If you take a netbook, an already portable computing device, and add Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) access to allow for wireless internet regardless of your vicinity to a WiFi hotspot, you’ve got the ultimate portable computing solution whether you’re at the park or in the back of a taxi cab.

It’s an interesting trend for the carriers to offer subsidized netbooks with their integrated wireless data networks. Economically, going through Verizon to get an HP Mini netbook saves you $200. If you had planned on getting a USB wireless modem anyway so that you can get access anywhere, the economics make sense. Plus, not having an unsightly wireless dongle protrude for your computer is good.

Let’s talk specs. The Verizon HP Mini 1151NR has a 1.6GHz Atom processor, 1GB RAM, and an 80GB hard drive. It also has Bluetooth, WiFi, and EVDO Rev A. Powering all of this is a 3 cell battery. It’s selling right now at Verizon’s website for $199. For a data plan, you’re going to need to add $40 for 250MB of data, or $60 for 5GB of data. Since you’ll only be using the EVDO when you have no WiFi, you use less cellular data than you’d think.

In the next series of videos, we’re going to take a look at how the HP Mini handles Verizon’s EVDO Rev A network in terms of speed and ease of use, and we’re also going to compare the HP Mini with the Celio REDFLY C8N to finally help determine if you should get a REDFLY, or just spring for a netbook.