Tablet/Laptop Questions

JDieseljoe69

JDieseljoe69

Full Throttle Tools
Joined
Mar 16, 2010
Messages
3,686
Not sure if this would be the correct area but here we go...

I am looking into a tablet or new laptop that I can use with Wi-Fi and use a 3 or 4G network. Of course I am thing of a iPad, but do they come 3 or 4G network built in or do I need to get one direct from a carrier(ie AT&T, Verizon, etc)? What about other tablets, are they compatible with the 3G and 4G networks? What are the advantages in tablets versus laptop? Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
 
Apple, Samsung, Asus, and Acer all make tablets with 3G modems built in. They can be purchased anywhere and then activated on a carrier's network (AT&T/Verizon only for the iPads). Best Buy does activation in-store for purchased units with compatible modems.

You can also get laptops with built in 3G modems.

What I usually tell people on a laptop vs tablets is that it depends on how you will be using the device.
1- How large a screen would you be happy with?
2- what applications do you use regularly, If you only do web browsing, games available via app stores (Android or iOS), and music/photos, a tablet could work for you. If you want to do real gaming, CAD software, etc, go laptop.
3- How large of a keyboard do you want? If you do a tablet, you can use an external bluetooth keyboard, but that is an additional thing to carry, or you are confined to the small tablet on-screen keyboard or case bluetooth keyboard, which will be small
 
The only thing I prefer in a tablet verses a laptop is the quick startup with tablets.

A laptop is still better in just about everything imo. Size really isn't even a big issue with some of the small netbooks.


When do i use my tablet? When im in bed.
When do i use my laptop? Throughout the day.
 
I have an ipad and I have a laptop. The ipad is good for what they call "consuming information". This is things like watching videos, surving the net, playing games, reading books, etc. If you are "creating data" which means typing or interacting with programs then you probably would prefer a laptop.

The ipad is more expensive than a laptop, but it is also smaller and more convenient than a laptop. You can get a keyboard to add to an ipad for easier data entry which sort of makes it a small but expensive laptop. The biggest drawback I see to an ipad is that it is hard to use it to manage files. I have a lot of files stored on my computers, and it is easy to copy them back and forth, etc. The ipad does this all differently and makes it hard to manage files. I work with a dozen or less files on my ipad at any given time, but I work with hundreds of files on my PC.

For me, one doesn't replace the other. I use the ipad for certain things and use my PC for other things. If I could have only one or the other, I would have to have a good PC.
 
Guys, Thanks for the info!!
Odd question, do the iPads have a camera built in like the iPhone's? If it does how is the camera, good or could be better?
The main reason I am looking at the iPads/Tablets is that my eye's sometimes have a hard time looking at my iPhone screen for to long.
So to my understanding if I buy a iPad I can have it activated by a 3 or 4G carrier? Or does it need to have a special modem inside?
Can a iPad/tablet be hooked up and managed by a PC?
 
JDieseljoe69 said:
Guys, Thanks for the info!!
Odd question, do the iPads have a camera built in like the iPhone's? If it does how is the camera, good or could be better?
The main reason I am looking at the iPads/Tablets is that my eye's sometimes have a hard time looking at my iPhone screen for to long.
So to my understanding if I buy a iPad I can have it activated by a 3 or 4G carrier? Or does it need to have a special modem inside?
Can a iPad/tablet be hooked up and managed by a PC?
Click to expand...

I won't speak of devices other than the iPad, I only own iOS devices. In the tablet market there are iPads, and there are other devices...

My answers to your questions:

Yes, the iPad2 and new iPad have cameras. Not the best, but good enough for most snapshots. It is a tablet, not a DSLR camera.

The screen of the new iPad is noticeably better than anything else on the market, noticeably better than the iPad2 which was arguably the best.

If you already have an iPhone (and data plan?), why not get a wifi iPad and tether to your iPhone when you need to? You will save money on the purchase and over time.

iPads can be managed exactly like iPhones and all other iOS devices, through iTunes. That said, a computer is NOT required, for anything. iOS 5 has eliminated that requirement. You can also install all your existing iOS apps at no additional cost.

HTH,
Dave
 
16VGTIDave said:
If you already have an iPhone (and data plan?), why not get a wifi iPad and tether to your iPhone when you need to? You will save money on the purchase and over time.
Click to expand...

Dave,
So I could tether a iPad to my iPhone and run the wireless internet on both? Can you explain how to do this?
Thanks Joe
 
To tether your iPad to your iPhone you need...

(from apple.com support forums)
You can tether the iPad to an iPhone providing that you are running OS 4.3.2 on both devices, with the exception of iPhone 3G and must be

an iPhone 3G, 3GS and 4. Only iPhone 4 provides WIFI hotspot, whereas the other 2 only via Bluetooth. Your iPad can be either a 3G or WIFI model, but if this is what you want it done, then getting the WIFI model would be the best choice.

You must also have a tethering plan with your carrier. No tethering plan, no hotspot.

As for your previous question, iPads come in both 4/3g/WiFi and WiFi only models. You will pay about $130 more for an equivalent 3/4g/WiFi iPad 3 than you would for the WiFi only model (http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_ipad/family/ipad/select_ipad). 4g LTE is only available on the newest iPad (3).

Personally if I was in your situation I would probably go for the iPad 3 3g/4g/WiFi model (if 4G LTE is worth it to you, else go for the now discounted iPad 2), and add it to your current phone plan. Then you don't have to worry about a data plan that supports tethering, and you don't run the battery on your phone down faster than normal by using it as a hotspot.
 
I have an ipad 2 that I received as a Christmas gift. It works very well for internet surfing and reading books. I don't do much typing on it. It has a camera but I have not tried it. It has built in 3G and I intend to use that for travel but I have not activated it yet. To me the ipad is a really neat toy, I couldn't justify its high price based on use alone. I've wanted one for a long time but could not justify buying it with my own money.

My understanding is that ATT will allow you to pay month by month for the ipad plan but if you have a tethering plan on your cellphone it will cost more. OTOH a tethering plan for your cellphone would work with any WiFi device that you have.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top