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Help a confused guy spend £400
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alanwarwic
06-07-2013
Originally Posted by Joel's dad:
“You will have a much tablet friendly experience with an iPad.”

I hope that means that they also let you set Safari to 'Desktop View Mode'.
Joel's dad
06-07-2013
Originally Posted by alanwarwic:
“I hope that means that they also let you set Safari to 'Desktop View Mode'.”

Whats a desktop? Oh that thing rotting in my spare bedroom. I never use it anymore, iPad does everything I need
Mystic Eddy
06-07-2013
Originally Posted by alanwarwic:
“it is like any PC.

It does takes 10 or 15 minutes to spot the changes.
The new coming updated tegra 4 based Asus Infinity is like the tegra 3 based version, about the only one with great outdoor brightness. For now.

It is also worth noting that the Retina iPad supposedly has a chunk of metal cut out of the chassis to lessen problems with the GPS.
I think it is at the Apple emblem but am unsure if the cut out is in the non 3G version that omits the GPS.”

All Wifi iPads have a cutout at the Apple logo for the wifi signals to propagate. The 3/4G models have a window at the top of the device for the mobile radios. I don't see why that is worth noting...
alanwarwic
06-07-2013
Originally Posted by Mystic Eddy:
“All Wifi iPads have a cutout at the Apple logo for the wifi signals to propagate. The 3/4G models have a window at the top of the device for the mobile radios. I don't see why that is worth noting...”

It really does help alleviate metal encasement problems.

Well worth noting if you are worried about the GPS/3G version.
For my bike GPS is almost essential, though don't carry a big tablet.
Gormond
06-07-2013
Originally Posted by alanwarwic:
“It really does help alleviate metal encasement problems.

Well worth noting if you are worried about the GPS/3G version.
For my bike GPS is almost essential, though don't carry a big tablet.”

There are ways around it with the use of actively tuned antennas as used by the HTC One and iPhone 5.
alanwarwic
06-07-2013
Originally Posted by Gormond:
“There are ways around it with the use of actively tuned antennas”

Methinks OK, as long as that gain is on a weak but of good quality signal.
Soundbox
07-07-2013
Update. I went into John Lewis and had a play. To be honest none of them were that 'great' and the Samsung 10.1 did not have a premium feel to it nor did the screen stand out as better than the budget models. The iPads were very nice but in the end I went for the 32GB Nook HD. Not the apex but it has dealt with all the tests I have thrown at it. To sum up as bullet points:

Three Watford store was great and showed me the £15 plan with tethering and were enthusiastic unlike T Mobile who told me 'no tethering at all' and were grumpy.
The Nook HD was a bit of a fiddle to set up and I still cannot link the Nook to the HTC via bluetooth - I was going to use it instead of WiFi. The devices see each other then stop co-operating.
Tethered WiFi works great on the HTC and I am using it now on my laptop as it is faster connection than the TalkTalk landline!

All in all good and got it working apart from the internet via Bluetooth. I may well upgrade my tablet in the future if needed but so far it is working well.

Thanks for the help and I am understanding it all a bit better now.
Gormond
07-07-2013
Originally Posted by Soundbox:
“Update. I went into John Lewis and had a play. To be honest none of them were that 'great' and the Samsung 10.1 did not have a premium feel to it nor did the screen stand out as better than the budget models. The iPads were very nice but in the end I went for the 32GB Nook HD. Not the apex but it has dealt with all the tests I have thrown at it. To sum up as bullet points:

Three Watford store was great and showed me the £15 plan with tethering and were enthusiastic unlike T Mobile who told me 'no tethering at all' and were grumpy.
The Nook HD was a bit of a fiddle to set up and I still cannot link the Nook to the HTC via bluetooth - I was going to use it instead of WiFi. The devices see each other then stop co-operating.
Tethered WiFi works great on the HTC and I am using it now on my laptop as it is faster connection than the TalkTalk landline!

All in all good and got it working apart from the internet via Bluetooth. I may well upgrade my tablet in the future if needed but so far it is working well.

Thanks for the help and I am understanding it all a bit better now.”

You can get a Tmobile SIM on ebay that gives you 500MB per month for 6 month for £15. I have been using it and it works great, also after you go over the 500MB Web browsing still works fine, it's things like streaming that are blocked.
sancheeez
08-07-2013
Originally Posted by Soundbox:
“Three Watford store was great and showed me the £15 plan with tethering and were enthusiastic”

I'm curious if caps were mentioned for tethered data?

Three have always been All You Can Eat data - I have a Three SIM only rolling contract and I'm fine with that.

But tethering always had usage caps, whether through the One Plan or as a bolt on to their standard plans. Hence why I never bothered with it up to now.

I'm just wondering if they've removed those caps with the revised One Plans. It's not obvious on the website either way ....
TheBigM
08-07-2013
Originally Posted by sancheeez:
“I'm curious if caps were mentioned for tethered data?

Three have always been All You Can Eat data - I have a Three SIM only rolling contract and I'm fine with that.

But tethering always had usage caps, whether through the One Plan or as a bolt on to their standard plans. Hence why I never bothered with it up to now.

I'm just wondering if they've removed those caps with the revised One Plans. It's not obvious on the website either way ....”

No, the "proper" £25/month one plan never had usage caps for tethered data. It's that £25 plan that is now £15. Three's twitter team confirmed no caps on the tethering.
sancheeez
08-07-2013
Think you're right.

There were some initial limits/differences with the 30 day rolling version but looks like they're all the same now.

Still in two minds whether it's worth upgrading from my current £12.90 plan to the £18 One plan. (I'd want the 30 day roller rather than the 12 month one) Only real advantage for me would be tethering. I wouldn't use the additional minutes and text and data are much the same. Hmmm. I don't tether all that often but maybe I would if I knew it wouldn't keep cutting me off ....
neo_wales
08-07-2013
I've a Surface Pro but the RT version is within your budget
http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/1339...aQ#srcid=11270
Ultraman1966
10-07-2013
I don't think Windows rt is taking off, probably for the best as MS doesn't need three ecosystems....
JeffG1
10-07-2013
Is an ecosystem what ordinary people call an operating system?
grumpyoldbat
10-07-2013
Originally Posted by JeffG1:
“Is an ecosystem what ordinary people call an operating system?”

No, the eco system is the peripherals that go along with a device - so a cloud storage system, app store, accessory types, that kind of thing.

Microsoft already have an ecosystem around Windows which supports Surface Pro, and then another around Windows Phone. By having Surface RT, which doesn't run full Windows applications or Phone apps, they have created a "third way" which doesn't really satisfy peoples needs and potentially only causes confusion for less technical people.

The only people I know who bought one are a couple of techie Microsoft fans, and both of them have since traded up to a Surface Pro!
alanwarwic
10-07-2013
Originally Posted by JeffG1:
“Is an ecosystem what ordinary people call an operating system?”

If it was/is, it would then be a fluffy way to say that there is only limited user access to it.

I think words are created to differentiate.
grumpyoldbat
12-07-2013
Originally Posted by grumpyoldbat:
“No, the eco system is the peripherals that go along with a device - so a cloud storage system, app store, accessory types, that kind of thing.

Microsoft already have an ecosystem around Windows which supports Surface Pro, and then another around Windows Phone. By having Surface RT, which doesn't run full Windows applications or Phone apps, they have created a "third way" which doesn't really satisfy peoples needs and potentially only causes confusion for less technical people.

The only people I know who bought one are a couple of techie Microsoft fans, and both of them have since traded up to a Surface Pro!”

As a follow up to this, I note that retailers in the US are starting to drop the price of the Surface RT. That pretty much confirms it's not selling.
TheBigM
12-07-2013
Originally Posted by grumpyoldbat:
“As a follow up to this, I note that retailers in the US are starting to drop the price of the Surface RT. That pretty much confirms it's not selling.”

No, it's because Microsoft announced a price cut yesterday. In general though RTs haven't sold amazingly well and MS overestimated the demand. Annoyingly, they also underestimated demand for the Pros and lower supply meant they lost a number of sales they could have made.

But, this channel clearout is expected to be a precursor to announcement of new Surfaces.
Brolac
14-07-2013
Is it right you can't sideload, so it's just streaming with wifi with the Nook HD?
Bit of a downer if wanting to download to watch later if you can't.

I see there also appear to be issue with a missing mains charging lead with NOOK too:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R23QQ...tore=computers
Soundbox
15-07-2013
Originally Posted by Brolac:
“Is it right you can't sideload, so it's just streaming with wifi with the Nook HD?
Bit of a downer if wanting to download to watch later if you can't.

I see there also appear to be issue with a missing mains charging lead with NOOK too:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R23QQ...tore=computers”

I got my Nook from John Lewis and the charger was in with it. Any problems and I can always take it back in person.

So far I have been quite happy with it. The main limitation over a laptop is not being able to use ITV player and also some YouTube videos are banned to mobile/tablets. The TuneIn radio also is not very good at times as it stops plaing and reverts back to the start of a catch-up show. There is no way of fast forwarding either.

As to downloading films to watch later I have not tried - but it has a 32 GB memory so it should be able to in theory.

I got the screen protactor and Nook case to set it off - they were worth the money.

Good points:

Easy to set up and use
Google Play store
Keyboard works well
No hangups or glitches
Decent sound from single rear speaker
Touch response is good

Bad points:

Screen washes out bright footage on YouTube
Fitted case blocks card slot


Final verdict 7/10
grumpyoldbat
15-07-2013
Did you get the free TuneIn app or the Pro (paid for) version. If it's the free one, check the paid for one as it has extra features and may serve your needs better. The extra features will be detailed in the app description.
Soundbox
15-07-2013
Originally Posted by grumpyoldbat:
“Did you get the free TuneIn app or the Pro (paid for) version. If it's the free one, check the paid for one as it has extra features and may serve your needs better. The extra features will be detailed in the app description.”

I have the free one. Seemingly all the paid version does extra is allow you to record shows and one person reported it made the replay of catch-up shows more glitchy - not sure if this is true. The problem with TuneIn is there both with my HTC ONE and the tablet - the sound freezes followed by reverting to the start again. On my laptop this does not happen so it must be an Android mismatch. Shame really as online radio is something I value.
alr837
20-07-2013
Originally Posted by Soundbox:
“I got my Nook from John Lewis and the charger was in with it. Any problems and I can always take it back in person.

So far I have been quite happy with it. The main limitation over a laptop is not being able to use ITV player and also some YouTube videos are banned to mobile/tablets. The TuneIn radio also is not very good at times as it stops plaing and reverts back to the start of a catch-up show. There is no way of fast forwarding either.

As to downloading films to watch later I have not tried - but it has a 32 GB memory so it should be able to in theory.

I got the screen protactor and Nook case to set it off - they were worth the money.

Good points:

Easy to set up and use
Google Play store
Keyboard works well
No hangups or glitches
Decent sound from single rear speaker
Touch response is good

Bad points:

Screen washes out bright footage on YouTube
Fitted case blocks card slot


Final verdict 7/10”

Try downloading the STV player app, although it doesn't have exactly the same content as iplayer, it does have a lot of it. I used that for a while, until the ITV player app was updated to work on my tablet
alanwarwic
20-07-2013
I think the 'eco system' thing got defined by the prescence of the solitary app store.
You could refer to RT's as having a similar ecosystem.

Obviously with it being a quite general word, a non closed system has one too, suffering the benefits and hindrance of 'weeds from outside'.
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