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Cheapest way to access the Internet via wi-fi?
John259
24-10-2010
We have a wireless router and a desktop computer downstairs. I'm interested in buying something for my father who is bed-ridden upstairs to access web sites. I've investigated various smartphones and tablets but anything worthwhile and reliable seems to be quite costly at around £500. The Orange San Francisco mobile phone at £100 is tempting but the screen is small and there appear to be doubts about its wi-fi reliability. A laptop or netbook with a folding screen would be a bit awkward to use in bed I suspect so I've ruled them out. For a touchscreen device it really needs the screen to be around 10" and definitely capacitive, and Android seems the best choice of OS. I've ruled out mobile phones on contracts as the phone features would never be used and the ongoing monthly cost would be prohibitive, but a mobile on PAYG or sim-free might be viable. The router has 802.11n and I think the other device would need that too for a reliable connection. I haven't explored other options such as games consoles. There's no need for the device to have a camera or music player, just to access web sites via wi-fi.

Any ideas from you experts?
Gogfumble
24-10-2010
laptop or netbook and a tilting overbed table like this: http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...EBED+TABLE.htm

My dad is bed bound most of the time and he would go stir crazy if it wasn't for his laptop on one of these.

On wheels too so can be easily moved away when needed.
cpdave
25-10-2010
This might suit your needs. But won't be out for a few weeks.

Advent Vega
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYtWxTGevO8
http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/3607...lets-announced

CPDave
John259
25-10-2010
Originally Posted by cpdave:
“This might suit your needs.”

Thanks - certainly of potential interest.
You_mo
25-10-2010
Have seen this? This kind of thing is good for using a laptop in bed. It's underside is a beanbag type thing....

http://www.safield.co.uk/lapdesk-lap...ght-p-912.html
LostFool
25-10-2010
I would just go for a cheap laptop. It would so everything a tablet does (apart from being touch screen) and can be used for lots of other things.
Gogfumble
25-10-2010
Originally Posted by LostFool:
“I would just go for a cheap laptop. It would so everything a tablet does (apart from being touch screen) and can be used for lots of other things.”

Me too.

Any tablets will need to be held all the time which can get annoying/tiring. Either that or propped on something, which isn't too easy when in bed.

To me, a laptop on a tilting table sounds much more practical for the father in laws situation.
John259
25-10-2010
I think a laptop would be tricky for him to use with the folding screen, but I agree that it would be a better choice as regards computing power per pound spent.

So there are no easy obvious answers. I'll have a think and continue to hunt around. If a decent tablet appears at a reasonable price in the next few months then that's probably the way we'll go.

Thanks to all who have contributed.
Gogfumble
25-10-2010
If you have a mobility shop near you they will sell the tables, that's where my dad got his from.

Is your FIL in a profiling/hospital bed or just an ordinary bed? If just an ordinary, these are great cheap way for aiding sitting up, we have one which we take away with us when we can't get a profiling bed:

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...er/8650407.htm
PrinceGaz
25-10-2010
Originally Posted by John259:
“I think a laptop would be tricky for him to use with the folding screen, but I agree that it would be a better choice as regards computing power per pound spent.

So there are no easy obvious answers. I'll have a think and continue to hunt around. If a decent tablet appears at a reasonable price in the next few months then that's probably the way we'll go.

Thanks to all who have contributed.”

A laptop is almost certainly the better choice not because of the increased computing power, but because it will be far more comfortable to use in bed for more than a few minutes. Having to hold a tablet computer all the time is likely to become a major annoyance, whereas a laptop on a tilted table would allow videos to be watched, or webpages read totally hands-free (except when scrolling down the page). Tablet format devices are intended for specific purposes, and those purposes most certainly do not include extended use when in bed.

A laptop with a folding screen is not a problem, it is a big plus when in bed with a suitable table as it allows the screen to be positioned at the optimal angle and then it no longer needs any further adjustment until he is finished using it. Far from being tricky to use, a laptop is probably the easiest to use option when you think of how you would prefer to use a computer if you had to do so for an extended period in bed. Would you really want to have to hold a tablet up all the time you use it, when instead a laptop screen would support itself at the best angle and all you need to do to operate it is use a finger on the touchpad when needed?

The only exception to the above would be if you can find a bedside mount for a tablet computer which effectively provides a secure hands-free support for it over the bed. Any such device is likely to be proprietary to the tablet computer in question, and probably not cheap.
John259
26-10-2010
Originally Posted by Gogfumble:
“these are great cheap way for aiding sitting up
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...er/8650407.htm”

Thanks for that, looks very useful.
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