Considering mobile int access - wifi

[some bloke]

I'm 62 in a few days and a bit of a Mr. Magoo at the best of times. I'm also crap at texting and hate it too, and still use a Nokia 6310i mobile.
I've put the above to show I don't want a mobile phone with int access.

So, I'm thinking I want something to occupy myself with while sat in my car or the cab office between fares. I am with BT internet and have joined their WIFI network, if I understand that correctly I can get int access in quite a few places without needing someone's password. I'm thinking something just a tad smaller than say a school excercise book, perhaps about the size of a journalists note book.

I need to be able to see the screen in the dark and be able to dim it if it's too bright for my photosensitive eyes.

Lastly, it needs to be a budget priced one because I'm a tight git and probably won't use it very much. I'll probably sit on it till January sales to get the price down further. I understand several budget ones have recently joined the market place. A sat nav app? would be useful.

Suggestions please gents.

[phoenix]

Dave,
I guess you need one of dem tablet computers. Can't help you on which to buy, but +1 on the Nokia 6310i - best mobile phone ever made (and I also agree with you about texting - absolutely the worst form of communication ever invented)

Cheers

Bruce

[Gloop]

Yup have a look at the tablets. Just steer clear of the iPad cos it is loads more expensive.

[22-250jock]

Dave
teaco have recently released a 7'' tablet called the Hudl or something like that, it gets very good reviews from which magazine..............may be worth a look, think its around the £100 mark

cheers john

[sunndog]

tablets rule
i use mine all the time on here. theres nothing i cant do with it for forums and general browsing
i'm well overdue for an upgrade. but atm i use an original galaxy tab which i'v had for about three years

i don't know much about the current lower end models but as long as they have a decent screen and have/can run a good qwerty keyboard app. i imagine they would be more than good enough for general browsing, ebooks, sat navs...etc

co-pilot is a great sat nav app btw

[silent shooter]

Hi Dave i like Adam love my tablets i use an asus that can be used purely as a tab or you can attach the keyboard to make it a full computer,i think you will struggle to pick up wifi while out and about though most wifis are security locked mate.

You can buy tablets that take a sim card so you get internet access through the sim providers internet, some sim providers do a monthly rolling contact that is not over expensive,.

If you fancy trying one to see if you do get on with it i have a spare that you are more than welcome to lend mate,that way you don't have to spend money on something you aren't going to like,let me know mate and i will get it in the post to you

Geoff
ps I'm nearly 63 so your never to old to learn

[some bloke]

Thanks all, and Geoff in particular for that above and beyond offer.

I live near Tesco's, Asda and Saainsbury's superstores and will nip in to lose some time between jobs after midnight ish, I finish about 4 now i know it's a definitely tablet that I'm looking at.

[sunndog]

your never to old to learn

you say that geoff but an android tab is so much easier to use than a pc. apart from the odd app that will cause it to lock up they are virtually hassle free. none of the software/hardware conflicts and messing about you get with desktops

have a look at the 7" tabs dave. i think they are the best balance between portability and screen size....i think i remember reading aboit that BT internet thing. iirc it lets you use other peoples BT access points not just hotspots

i know you said you didn't want to go down the internet phone route. but just FYI
i have a smart phone that can be a wifi hotspot for up to five devices. on the three network i get 300 minutes, 3000 texts and unlimited internet for 15 quid a month, works out pretty good for me.

[some bloke]

Cheers Adam, yes the BT wifi thing: I 'donate' a small amount of my bandwidth to a sort of cooperative club type wifi thing is how I understand it. There might be 50 wifi members near me for example. dunno for sure.

So are all tablets androids?

[silent shooter]

Your so right Adam I've been using android tabs for about the same time the forum has been running and i think there bloody great,the great advantage i love is bluetooth were you can just swap things from phone to tab in seconds
Dave the offer was a serious one mate and your more than welcome to my spare,ill wipe it and even put the forum and a few programs on it for you,just drop me a pm if you do want it mate no rush at all to return it,

Geoff