The team formed from Radio Shack and laptop maker Acer seems to be pretty good, as they will offer more affordable laptops this holiday season. The Acer Aspire One laptop costs just $99.

However, customers are forced to purchase a built-in 3G card from AT&T and pony up for the data plan as well, to the tune of $60 a month for two years. This can only mean that, at the end of the two-year agreement with AT&T, customers will have actually thrown down $1,539. If anyone wonders why, it's simple: $99 for the Acer Aspire One notebook and $1,440 for AT&T's 3G capabilities and data plan over the course of the contract.

Anyway, Radio Shack and Acer are doing something really exciting. The two companies are offering a solid product for a low price, in a time when the tough economic conditions reduce the percentage of potential customers for a notebook.

However, it's a problem that the two-year contract is hanging around the neck of the Acer Aspire One, as a notebook with nearly $1,500 in hidden costs seems suspicious. Of course, there are a few options for those who don't want to go with AT&T $60-a-month-contract. Customers could pay more up front for a Dell, HP, Apple or other laptop, and then pay for an Internet connection at home.

Anyway, it looks like whatever way you choose, there are still going to be hidden costs attached to purchasing a laptop and getting it connected to the Web. It really looks like getting a brand-new notebook for $99 isn't such a terrible proposition after all.