EXPIRED Samsung 16GB Galaxy Tablet for £149 on HMV.com

amus

bowlhead99 wrote: »

The 3G+wifi versions of these tablets have a sim card slot so you can get a data-only contract for it, separate from your phone contract. Then it can just connect itself to the net whenever it wants (if you let it).
Yes, if you don't want to get it its own SIM you could do this, depending on your phone type. I have a Galaxy S2 phone which has a standard feature "tethering" where the phone creates a network for one or more devices to connect to and share its 3G internet connection - either USB or as a wifi hotspot. An iphone (assuming its not an old model un-upgraded) can do it too (brief description here). So basically your phone can create a wifi hotspot sharing the internet, and your tablet can connect to a wifi hotspot: you're in business. It doesn't matter if your tablet is a '3G' model or not, because you are using the phone's 3G and the phone's billing plan to do this, the tablet is just using its wifi connection.
You can put movies onto it by plugging its USB cable into a PC, then your PC will see it as a hard drive and you can just drag and drop movies, photos, music etc. All android tablets let you do this.

The out-of the box player app on the tablet will play most filetypes just fine - although better player software plus most codecs you can think of will be available on the app store, either free and ad-supported, or at a cost of a pound or two. If the movies and music you want to put onto it is all DRM encoded copy protected stuff you bought off the apple store for example, you will have a harder time of it than if it's music you ripped off a CD yourself or a regular mpg/avi/mkv etc.

As you seem very knowledgable on these things, if I have managed to get a Tab 2 10.1 for around £190 after discounts and cashback would you go for this one or stick with the Tab 2 (no 3G)?

mumby3

Thanks ordered one for my DD. Fingers crossed

bowlhead99

amus wrote: »

As you seem very knowledgable on these things, if I have managed to get a Tab 2 10.1 for around £190 after discounts and cashback would you go for this one or stick with the Tab 2 (no 3G)?

The Tab 2 gives you more screen space which is nice when browsing the web, using apps, watching movies etc. Once you get a tablet over 7", you definitely won't be carrying it in a large pocket or using it one-handed for any length of time, you'll have it in a bag or something and get it out when sitting down. So the 10.1" isn't really any more cumbersome or awkward to handle than the 8.9". Also if you're going to be loading it up with several movies at 800mb a piece, it's handy to have the Tab 2's built in microSD slot rather than a small adapter hanging off the bottom as mentioned by jeglet above.

For 40 quid I would just get the newer model. Though to be honest I might be tempted to pass on both and look further up the tablet range to something like the more powerful Asus Transformer, but that's quite a lot more cash unless you're somewhere like the US, and off-topic for this thread!

This said, some might prefer the slightly smaller model, and not be bothered about lack of a built in expansion slot - because if you're in a situation where you need to take more than ten full-length movies to watch, you are probably going to be able to take a one inch dongle with you and not mind connecting it to watch some of your stuff. Or simply use cloud storage to access more of your collection.

The bigger question is whether you are going to want the 3G connection without the hassle of messing with your smartphone.

- Given the size of the tablet, you're not going to be pulling it out of your pocket to quickly check something online like an email or to resolve a pub argument about who was in that film about that thing with that guy in it (like you might with a smaller tablet like the Nexus 7 or Galaxy Note) - you'd use your smartphone.
- If you're doing something more productive like updating a word document or spreadsheet or sitting down to do some research on the internet: you have time to spend 30 seconds setting up your smartphone for tethering.
- If you buy a separate contract with monthly data allowance you will inevitably buy more or less than you need because it's very tricky to judge both total data needed and how that will be split between your phone and your pad and how much will be 3G vs wifi.

All of the above leads me to not want a 3G tablet, and simply get the on-the-road data that I need via my smartphone. Unless you are a business user who needs a hassle free, close to 'always-on' as possible connection, you can generally live without it.

But if you don't have a smartphone, or you're sharing the tablet with someone who doesn't, there's clearly some value in getting a 3G subscription. Otherwise how will you get email while in a pub or hotel room that doesn't have free wifi, or get driving directions when lost on the motorway? So others would say "why turn down a device with 3G capability for less money than the one without".

Bottom line, I can tell you I'd personally prefer the 10.1 tab 2 for an extra forty quid. But the forty quid price point is probably not available to everyone at the moment and I can't answer the question as for you or anyone else as I don't know what features you value, how much cash you have, how tech savvy you are etc etc.
:beer:

sallysaver

Hi,
As I said earlier, I know nothing about these tabs but am willing to learn.;). As I will only need mine to catch up on emails and browse the net, am I right in assuming I will just go into the likes of Costa, Macs etc and get onto the net without buying any additional sim cards, smart phones (or the likes). Thanks - sally

TERMIN8TOR

sallysaver wrote: »

Hi,
As I said earlier, I know nothing about these tabs but am willing to learn.;). As I will only need mine to catch up on emails and browse the net, am I right in assuming I will just go into the likes of Costa, Macs etc and get onto the net without buying any additional sim cards, smart phones (or the likes). Thanks - sally

You don't need 3g for that. Normal WiFi is fine for that (comes as standard on many tablets now). However, 3g gives you the option to get net access if you are not in one of those places (assuming you put a compatible SIM in device). HTH.

sallysaver

Thank you, it helps me a lot. Someone posted earlier that the 3G sim will cost about £10 per month. If I get the hang of it, it is something I could look into in the future. Thanks again - it is much appreciated. Sally

maureen59

Thank You Op
Ordered and confirmed. Paid on my credit card just in case. As i don't know a thing about these apart from what I have read. Do I need to get anything else. e.g cables, usb? I am still living in the dark ages I think. Any help would be appreciated.

Many thanks
Maureen

janeroser_2

maureen59 wrote: »

Thank You Op
Ordered and confirmed. Paid on my credit card just in case. As i don't know a thing about these apart from what I have read. Do I need to get anything else. e.g cables, usb? I am still living in the dark ages I think. Any help would be appreciated.

Many thanks
Maureen

See previous messages loads of suggestions.

omkteds

I have purchased 2 i have had en email from hmv confirming i have ordered2 but upon checking my bank i cant see them holding the £300 for them both? has anyone else managed t get one or have a dispatch confirmation etc? thanks

on-the-count-of-three

Total geriatric ignoramus here, wondered if anyone could offer some advice. I just rely on my laptop, I have a kindle & my 'phone is just basic for calls & texts. Hubby has expressed an interest in a kindle but I know the screen will be a bit small for him with his failing eyesight. I know he'd also love to download newspapers & surf the net a little so was looking at getting him a tablet for his upcoming birthday & the 3g is tempting as he's out & about more than me. Not sure how necessary it is though?
Before this thread appeared I was looking at these from Amazon.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/A1CS-FUSION5-Tablet-PC-Capacitive/dp/B007SHWKFQ/ref=pd_cp_computers_3

http://www.amazon.co.uk/A1CS-FUSION5-XTRA-Tablet-Capacitive/dp/B008DQSL7W/ref=cm_rdp_product

Any thoughts on these? Any good?
Thanks.