Chicken bald back

[jennym]

I have an HTC Wildfire, which although I'm not impressed with certain functions one thing I do love is that I can turn it into my own personal wifi hotspot. I just turn on internet sharing and I can get my laptop, tablet etc onto the internet. Because of this I'm quite happy with my wifi-only iPad, and I don't worry about 3G card slots in my gadgets/laptop - I just share internet with everything via wifi. Make sure you have a good data plan though or you may end up paying a lot more than you should.

 

The iPhone will do this too but my understanding is that you have to pay for 'tethering' - a monthly charge. I love my Apple gear but still find the iPhone contracts (& extras like tethering) to be too expensive, considering I don't use the phone (talk/text) very much.

[The Dogmother]

That's interesting... is the wifi connection secure?

[Geoid]

Yes, WPA2 with passcode.

[The Dogmother]

That's really good.

 

Is it true that the tab doesn't yet support Skype video calling, or has that been resolved now?

[The Dogmother]

So when I can't get a signal, I should whip the sim from my phone out? Would it register with the tablet? Sorry for the questions (& hijacking another persons thread!)

I have a tablet, the Samsung Galaxy Tab, and you can use it as a phone too (I have a bluetooth headset and use that, you look a bit silly holding a tablet up to your ear!), but it is unlocked, so you can take your sim from your phone and put it in the tablet, and it will work. But, make sure you have a internet plan on your contract, otherwise it can be quite expensive.

 

Just been chatting about this at work, I am told that some bigger downloads or video calling can push you over your free download allowance and rack up big bills

[Geoid]

Yes, thats why my data plan has unlimited internet.

[snowberry]

Thanks for that info; there's nothing worse than racking up a humungous phone bill is there

[Sam]

Some "unlimited internet" has a fair usage policy though. With my phone I have unlimited but its really 1gb. It's highly unlikely you'd go over that, but I guess you still could

[The Dogmother]

A lot of contracts seem to have a limited usage tucked away somewhere. As you say, hard to go over with normal use, but if you're downloading films or games, it's easily done.

[jennym]

I believe Skype video calling is working on the iPad2, but I've got a version 1 so I can't confirm.

[mollyripkim]

Hubby has iPad 2 and is just on the process of setting up skype to talk to his brother in USA but can't do it on iPad 1.

[The Dogmother]

I believe Skype video calling is working on the iPad2, but I've got a version 1 so I can't confirm.

 

I have heard that too. There have been problems with Skype on the galaxy tab though; it used to work on the android system (not with video though) but the new downloads don't... the rumour is that Skype have concentrated on producing new versions for windows and mac products but not yet for android. But that's just what my techie friend tells me..... I think that Skype are waiting to bring out something new now that they are a mircosoft company.

[The Dogmother]

Just to confuse the issue, there's now a Blackberry tab out, although I think that it is designed to be used in conjunction with the blackberry phone (quelle surprise )so is of limited attraction to a non-b'berry person. From what I have read today it has bluetooth and wifi but requires a connection via bluetooth (hardly reliable as connections go and notoriously unsecure) to your b'berry mobile in order to gain 3G access.

 

Bit short sighted if you ask me

[Redwing]

Thank you all for your help

 

As we have Office and Photoshop on discs we decided to go for a laptop

 

we bought this one today, the one we bought had a tiny mark on the screen we got it for £275 including a three year warranty/insurance and antivirus so are very pleased http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/HP_G62-A30SA_Laptop_WQ275EA/version.asp

[Sheilaz]

That looks really good, and a bargain , I'm glad you went for the laptop.

I think a netbook would have been frustrating for your use, that laptop looks ideal, let us know how you get along with it.

[The Dogmother]

Looks like you got a good deal Tasha!

[Geoid]

For the spec that laptop has, I would say you have got an excellent deal. Looks perfect for you needs too.

[The Dogmother]

Just to resurrect this thread...

 

A thought occurred to me this morning as I listened to a debate at work about the new Acer Iconia Pad - what sort (if any) of virus protection/firewall do they have? Presumably as they are connecting to the internet, these pads/tabs are prime targets. I haven't come across any info on this.

 

Fred...?

[majorbloodnock]

Not so much an issue of it being a tablet so much as which operating system it uses. The tab you've mentioned uses a version of Android, and, so far as I know, comes with no antivirus or firewall functionality. However, there are third party apps for both functions (AVG, for instance, provide an android AV app).

 

I'm not sure whether android devices are yet a prime target, partly since there are still far fewer of them than Windows PCs, but nonetheless as they grow in prevalence, they'll be targeted more and more. You're right to be cautious and now, whilst the threat is still in the relatively early stages, is the right time to be thinking about security.

[The Dogmother]

Thanks for the clarification Major; I'm a belt and braces gal in that respect and it amazed me that none of the tablets yet seem to have an in-built anti-virus - an oversight in my eyes. I am glad to hear that there is an Android version of AVG - I rate this highly and have AVG (free) on both my home desk top machine and my nettie. my nettie may be heavier than a tab/pad when travelling but at least it's safe with AVG and SpyBot on it.

 

I haven't yet chatted about this to my techie friend, but we were talking t'other week about these new mobiles which create their own wifi hotspot; he said that they are 'ripe for takeover'. He's very anti Bluetooth as well as it's so easily hijacked.

[majorbloodnock]

....He's very anti Bluetooth as well as it's so easily hijacked.

And he's quite right.

[The Dogmother]

We had a discussion about this one evening when he and his missus were round. I always make sure that it is turned off on my phone etc, but he made sure that Rosie keeps it turned off too as apparently teens use it on their phones to exchange music and stuff

 

He's a 'friendly hacker' who advises companies on their online security, he says that it's amazing how you can be going down a motorway (as a passenger of course) and listen in to people's phone conversations- on your laptop - if they are using Bluetooth headsets. I understand that even any vaguely IT-savvy 15 year old could then easily hijack a phone via this method and use it for calls and an internet connection.