Samsung Galaxy Tablet fit our needs

[Lesherp]

We bought a 7” Samsung Galaxy Tablet last summer so that we could be reached on the road. We may be the only couple left that don’t have a cell phone but never seemed to have needed one. Anyway my mother is “older” (I am in my 60”s) and we needed a way for family to reach us just in case.

This tablet has been great. It is a hot spot so we can use it to connect our computer to the internet. If we just want to look something up quickly we can just use the tab. The phone we can live without but the computer we can’t. I also figured out how to set it up so it can be used as a phone. Why not; I have used it a couple of times now. I had been looking for a GPS but never was able to find one people seemed to be pleased with. Well the tab has built in GPS that I use all the time around here for finding garage sales, and it works super. I have not done it yet but you can also store your music on it and listen like an I-pod. I can download books form my library or buy them and read them on the tab. It is also a camera. There are lost of great apps for it that I have found useful or just fun.

It is small enough to fit into a coat pocket, but the screen is large enough to be comfortable to use. I found a little carrying case that holds it and all accessories (AC and DC chargers etc.)

We got it through Verizon and pay $30 a month but believe it is worth it for us. We have never come close to using all the time we get. You get a large discount on the Tab when yo buy it with a plan. If you have WIFI available you can connect using it and not even use you plan time.

I just thought I would share this as it has met our needs so well and someone else might find it useful.

 

[Brifla]

Sounds like a great, versatile addition! My DROID phone has the WIFI hotspot capability also and we find it invaluable when travelling. We were in a fairly remote campground last weekend and still managed to have internet access (no 4G though). It's a great combination with a laptop (which I can't leave home without). I also recently ordered a USB TV tuner which I plan on using with the laptop instead of buying a television for the camper.

 

[T and C]

Sounds like a great, versatile addition! My DROID phone has the WIFI hotspot capability also and we find it invaluable when travelling. We were in a fairly remote campground last weekend and still managed to have internet access (no 4G though). It's a great combination with a laptop (which I can't leave home without). I also recently ordered a USB TV tuner which I plan on using with the laptop instead of buying a television for the camper.

Could you tell us some more about that USB tuner? I had never heard of one until you mentioned it. I have been seriously considering buying a tv for the TM, but since I always take my laptop with me, I could just use my computer if that would work.

Tom

 

[Brifla]

Sure. There are bunch of them out there. They are like the TV tuner cards that people have in their desktop computers but instead these just plug in to the USB port on a computer (good with laptop). They have a coax connector on the other end of the USB stick that you connect to either an antenna or your cable coaxial feed. They are very versatile and allow you to not only watch live tv anywhere there is tv air signal or cable feed, but also allow your laptop to act as a DVR for recording and watching stuff later. They also can be used to convert VCR/DVD/etc to a digital copy kept on your computer. Search USB TV Tuner on a site such as Amazon or Buy.com. They range in price from $25-$150. I bought the Diamond TVW750USB ATI Theater HD 750 USB TV Tuner which is only $39.99 and has a $10 rebate right now. I'm hoping this will eliminate the need to purchase and carry a TV with me when camping. The only thing I will add that your laptop needs to have a little muscle (RAM and processor) if you are processing HD signals (which many local TV stations broadcast).

 

[scrubjaysnest-TMO]

We bought a 7” Samsung Galaxy Tablet last summer so that we could be reached on the road. We may be the only couple left that don’t have a cell phone but never seemed to have needed one. Anyway my mother is “older” (I am in my 60”s) and we needed a way for family to reach us just in case.

This tablet has been great. It is a hot spot so we can use it to connect our computer to the internet. If we just want to look something up quickly we can just use the tab. The phone we can live without but the computer we can’t. I also figured out how to set it up so it can be used as a phone. Why not; I have used it a couple of times now. I had been looking for a GPS but never was able to find one people seemed to be pleased with. Well the tab has built in GPS that I use all the time around here for finding garage sales, and it works super. I have not done it yet but you can also store your music on it and listen like an I-pod. I can download books form my library or buy them and read them on the tab. It is also a camera. There are lost of great apps for it that I have found useful or just fun.

It is small enough to fit into a coat pocket, but the screen is large enough to be comfortable to use. I found a little carrying case that holds it and all accessories (AC and DC chargers etc.)

We got it through Verizon and pay $30 a month but believe it is worth it for us. We have never come close to using all the time we get. You get a large discount on the Tab when yo buy it with a plan. If you have WIFI available you can connect using it and not even use you plan time.

I just thought I would share this as it has met our needs so well and someone else might find it useful.

How is the screen size, we can see DW's net book fine but my daughter's droid is almost impossible for us to see text. We have been looking for something to fill the gap where we can't get WIFI or cell coverage. We were looking into Verizon but backed off when we found out there was no apparent way track your usage.

 

[brulaz]

Same in Canada

Agree totally about the 7" Galaxy Tab, though ours is on Rogers in Canada.

With the hotspot, it's our internet access point.

I too am reading library books (and free classic books from Gutenberg) using the Overdrive App. The Tab a little heavy but ok. The text is very clear and screen size is good.

Skype is available for phone calls (but we use our cell phone mostly)

Some games are addictive (like Tower Raiders) and very playable on the 7" screen.

Some people think the screen is too small, but they're more into movies. We avoid downloading video over the air as it can really eat into your data download limits.

The Google Maps and directions app works great with the built in GPS, but you need to be connected to the internet at the same time for the maps to download.


In the States we are currently using Verizon's Mifi, but when that contract expires I will try to get a another 7" Tab with the $30 for 2GB/month Version contract ... or maybe just a Verizon SIM card to plug into my Canadian Tab (but it would be nice to have 2 Tabs as already my wife and I are fighting over it to read books).

With the Mifi, you can monitor your usage on Verizon's website. Presumably you can do the same with the Tab. Another option though is Verizon Pre-Paid data, no-contract; but there I think you have to pay the full cost of the Tab.

 

[Bob&Karen]

We have...

... an iPad which has almost completely replaced our Macbook Pro. We have the wifi only version, but our iPhones will act as a hotspot on the road when needed. Used to have to get the MacBook out, connect the USB modem, and connect to the internet to find campgrounds, routes, etc. Now just use the iPhone hotspot and the iPad and have access to almost anything we need while travelling. Tablets are great devices, no matter the brand, when on the go.

Regards,

Bob

 

[Lesherp]

I wasn't going to say anything about the addictive games but now that you have brought it up.

a few I found fun:

angry bird was fun for a few weeks

cut the rope I liked a lot better and still play it some

shoot the apple I got about 2 moths ago and still love it

Ok so now I did a little research on the tower games I actually paid for a game; all the others were free. I will let you know how it goes.

 

[wtbrian]

They are highly portable, especially the 7" prefer the 10" screensize though! Use it with Skype as a phone when there is internet access around.

 

[Pitbull]

Check out the Galaxy Note!

http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/cell-phones/SGH-I717ZBAATT#

Koz

 

[scrubjaysnest-TMO]

We have narrowed all this down to Sprint MIFI, the price is the same for either Verizion or Sprint but you get an extra GB per month from sprint and the overage charges are $.05 MB rather to $10 per GB where 1 byte over hits with the $10 fee. Coverage is about the same for both companies. Prices for the MIFI box are 20 to 50 bucks depending on where you get it. All the reviews complain about the battery life but that is expected for such a small battery. We decided against the Tabs because the prices are so high right now...$360 to $660 and we already have both a laptop and netbook.
Our daughter wanted us to go family plan with her but all that did was raise our monthly cost to about $130/month with hotspot activation. And no idea that cell coverage would be any better then what we currently use.

 

[rumbleweed]

The Google Maps and directions app works great with the built in GPS, but you need to be connected to the internet at the same time for the maps to download.


.

Check out CoPilot Live uSA permium in Android market.. Uses the built in GPS but has maps loaded into tablet. This means it works when you have no cell access and also does not use up costly data allocation. I use it on my 10" droid table and love it.

 

[brulaz]

We have narrowed all this down to Sprint MIFI, the price is the same for either Verizion or Sprint but you get an extra GB per month from sprint and the overage charges are $.05 MB rather to $10 per GB where 1 byte over hits with the $10 fee. Coverage is about the same for both companies. Prices for the MIFI box are 20 to 50 bucks depending on where you get it. All the reviews complain about the battery life but that is expected for such a small battery. We decided against the Tabs because the prices are so high right now...$360 to $660 and we already have both a laptop and netbook.
Our daughter wanted us to go family plan with her but all that did was raise our monthly cost to about $130/month with hotspot activation. And no idea that cell coverage would be any better then what we currently use.

We killed (melted) our Verizon Mifi last week on the way home (after 3 good years), so we got a tab from Verizon for $230 with a 2 year plan, 2GB/mo at $30/mo. (and, yes, $10/GB if over).

As with the Mifi, we can easily suspend service when not in the States, a must for Canadians. Pre-paid data plans would also work if you already own a tab. But if you don't, buying a tab alone is really expensive.

 

[brulaz]

Check out CoPilot Live uSA permium in Android market.. Uses the built in GPS but has maps loaded into tablet. This means it works when you have no cell access and also does not use up costly data allocation. I use it on my 10" droid table and love it.

Thanks. I see on their web site that they're coming out with a free version with just the basic maps and routes, not the turn-by-turn and fancy stuff. So you can evaluate it before upgrading. We'll give that a try when it comes on the market.

 

[scrubjaysnest-TMO]

.........................................snip........................

As with the Mifi, we can easily suspend service when not in the States, a must for Canadians. Pre-paid data plans would also work if you already own a tab. But if you don't, buying a tab alone is really expensive.

We are thinking about dropping the DSL at the fish camp if the MIFI is adequate. That will make the monthly fee a wash. Our primary use is weather reports at the fish camp. We spend 4 months there and 7 to 8 on the road.

For traveling I use a Garmin NUVI 550, Do up the routes in Mapsource the verify in Google Earth as needed. Also carry a box of paper makes with the routes high lighted. Check this post for how I do this:http://www.trailmanorowners.com/forum/showpost.php?p=78810&postcount=1

 

[brulaz]

We are thinking about dropping the DSL at the fish camp if the MIFI is adequate. That will make the monthly fee a wash...

That's what we've done. Between our Canadian and US 3G data plans, we can't really afford DSL anymore. Wireless 3G is certainly slower than DSL, but it's good enough for what we do, and much more flexible for when we're on the road (which seems like a lot of the time).

Our children, though, complain when they come to visit. They seem to be addicted to high-speed internet.

And mapping software is interesting. I sort of enjoy taking the suggested routes even if they're not what I would have picked of the paper map. Even once when we ended up in the wrong town, it WAS a beautiful and charming place.

 

[scrubjaysnest-TMO]

sprint MIFI update

Well so much for the Sprint MIFI or mobile hot spot. Tried it at the fish camp and no signal, it won't connect to Verizon tower. Tried it at Three Rivers SP, near Sneads, Fl. Had between 0 and 2 bars but to erratic to use. Also had to wonder around in the CG just to get it to connect. The CG hosts had full bars on their Verizon hotspot inside the camper. We had to return home because per Sprint policy the only place that could de-activate the hotspot so we could cancel the contract was the place we bought it at. Something to do with 3rd party even though all they handled was Sprint. Oh, well a 500 mile test!

 

[B&T2]

Yes, unfortunately there will be dead spots with any mobile carrier as we experienced in WV last year with Verizon.

Thanks for the heads up on that idiotic Sprint policy. They are very creative in coming up with ways to make contract cancellation difficult.

Tim

 

[Brifla]

USB TV Tuner + Laptop

Sure. There are bunch of them out there. They are like the TV tuner cards that people have in their desktop computers but instead these just plug in to the USB port on a computer (good with laptop). They have a coax connector on the other end of the USB stick that you connect to either an antenna or your cable coaxial feed. They are very versatile and allow you to not only watch live tv anywhere there is tv air signal or cable feed, but also allow your laptop to act as a DVR for recording and watching stuff later. They also can be used to convert VCR/DVD/etc to a digital copy kept on your computer. Search USB TV Tuner on a site such as Amazon or Buy.com. They range in price from $25-$150. I bought the Diamond TVW750USB ATI Theater HD 750 USB TV Tuner which is only $39.99 and has a $10 rebate right now. I'm hoping this will eliminate the need to purchase and carry a TV with me when camping. The only thing I will add that your laptop needs to have a little muscle (RAM and processor) if you are processing HD signals (which many local TV stations broadcast).

I just wanted to provide an update on the use of a USB tuner and laptop for television in the TM. We put it to the test recently on a camping trip and it passed with flying colors. Surprisingly, the TM TV antenna was able to receive more than a dozen channels in a fairly remote area of North Florida and using the USB tuner/laptop combo, we got great picture and reception. We even received two music video channels (1 Pop, 1 Country) on the TV so used this as a substitute for a radio. The laptop TV picture did freeze up a couple of times (likely a Vista or processing overload issue) but it was simple enough to just restart it. We believe this will allow us to avoid buying and carrying a TV with us in the camper (saving $$ and weight), since we usually take a laptop everywhere we go and don't really plan on watching much TV while camping. The laptop DVD player also plays movies.

 

[brulaz]

I like the USB tuner idea. Currently the TV that came with our Elkmont sits in a box somewhere in the Trailer. Next time we probably won't even take it along.

Getting back to the Samsung Galaxy Tab.

One issue we ran into was that it would only Fast charge when using the wall adapter that came with it. If you unplugged the usb cable from that adapter and stuck into your computer port, or into our truck's usb port, it would Trickle charge. And when using GPS and Wifi/3G, that wasn't good enough.

Turns out there's some black magic needed, and not any old usb port will allow you to Fast charge. Special 12V to USB Samsung Galaxy Tab adapters are available. Ours came from our Canadian provider (Rogers), is made by Capdase, cost $30 and included another usb cable.

Irritating, but at least now Fast charge works in the truck and trailer when no 120VAC is available.