Basic laptop or tablet with data for charity run community pool

justkeepgoing

I'm looking at getting a basic laptop or tablet for use at a charity run community pool.  We simply need it to access google drive and an online membership system.  There is no telephone line so we would also need data access.  Due to no income last year and potentially limited income this year we need to do this as cheap as possible.  Does anyone have any suggestions?  My first thought was to see whether we could find someone to donate an old tablet or laptop and get a dongle but I'm now wondering whether there is a better alternative e.g. network deal

glennevis

No need for a mifi device if you tether the tablet/laptop to your mobile phone, which involves creating a wifi hotspot for the tablet using the phone's data plan. A lot of mobile service providers allow tethering.
That would work if you had more than one volunteer who used the laptop, provided mobile reception at the pool is good and they were all happy to tether the laptop to their mobiles.
You might find a volunteer who is willing to donate a suitable device if they are upgrading. Google Drive and a membership system don't need the latest hardware.