Tablets will not be so useful for working, but they are certainly comfortable, fun and also very useful for surfing the internet and using applications from the sofa, from the bed and around. For a tablet, whether it is a Nexus 7, Kindle Fire or Samsung Galaxy with Android or an iPad, the internet connection is important because many apps need it to work.
My advice, in this opinion article, is to save a lot of money by always buying the Wifi only version, without 3G data connectivity .
The ability to be online almost anywhere using Wifi + 3G is certainly very attractive, but, in my view, not so important.
You can absolutely survive with an iPad or an Android Tablet without a 3G connection, only with Wifi for the following advantages.
First of all, no matter what brand it is, a wifi only Tablet costs less .
Not only is the price lower, but you also avoid having to sign another subscription contract with the telephone company that will take a minimum of 10 Euros per month for limited traffic (see post on the costs of internet subscriptions with mobile telephony) .
The only expense to do would be, if not already there, that of a wifi router (about 60 Euros) so that you can connect to the Internet in Wifi from home.
Even if you don't have a router, you can create a wifi hotspot from your computer with Windows 7.
It must be taken into account that the tablet is not a mobile phone so it is hardly carried around outside the home or office.
Most of the time it is used in home walls which, if covered with wifi, will be able to connect to the internet at any time, without paying any extra.
The spontaneous question then would be: If I travel, how can I connect to the internet with the iPad "> find public hotspots and free wireless networks)
Generally they are present in bars and restaurants, especially of large chains such as McDonalds, Star Bucks or others.
In hotels there is always or almost a free wireless connection and the same is true for airports.
I don't think there is anyone who needs an iPad when he goes to the beach or on the ski slopes and, in any case, even if the tablet had 3G, it would not be sure that there is a field to find the line and navigate (as they want instead make TV advertisements believe).
However, if you need an internet connection and there is no wifi hotspot nearby, you can easily create a hotspot for the occasion.
In fact, just having an Android smartphone or an iPhone that has the ability to connect to the internet with 3G and you can share the connection by connecting the tablet .
Almost all Android, iPhone, Windows Phone smartphones have the function of hotspot or tethering to extend the 3G connection wirelessly, transforming the phone into a real modem.
The only disadvantage of this is that the cell phone battery will run out much earlier because the hotspot function is quite energy-hungry, but if you can connect your cell phone to a power outlet the problem does not arise.
Obviously there will be a need for a mobile internet subscription which, if you have a smartphone, you should already have it.
READ ALSO: How to stay connected to the internet and online wherever you go
A tablet can then be used, for many things, even without internet connection, for example to play, to read a book or read emails.
You can also surf the internet without a connection if you intend to review a web page you have already visited before.
There are several applications that allow you to read articles and open websites without a connection, such as Pocket.
If you are watching a video on YouTube, after it has been uploaded, it can be viewed without internet thanks to the cache.
So who needs an iPad 3G?
After showing that you can live even without a data connection, there may be people who really need a 3G connection.
For example, those who use the iPad for work and need to quickly connect from outside the office.
Even those who use the tablet as if it were a computer, as a main internet access point, may prefer to have a 3G connection.
For everyone else, my advice is to save money and buy a tablet only Wifi because there is no need for anything else.
In other articles, I remember:
- Best free apps for Android tablets
- Better a Netbook or a tablet as a laptop?
- What is a tablet for?
