Just bought the Samsung Galaxy

[=X=]

Originally Posted by HarryT

How much does that sort of contract cost? For comparison, a 1GB/month month-by-month contract (and I've never used more than about 300MB in a month, so 1GB is all I need) contract for my iPad here in the UK costs me £10/month - that's about $16. Are the prices comparable?

Harry,
We have 4 major carriers here in the states it goes like this. Where AT&T and Verizon) hold most of the subscribers
1) AT&T
2) Verizon
3) Sprint
4) Tmobile

Of the 4 only AT&T has a similar package.

The other charge a lot more for their plans, they are treating it like a business computer and are charging a lot more for data access.

=X=

[boswd]

Originally Posted by =X=

Harry,
We have 4 major carriers here in the states it goes like this. Where AT&T and Verizon) hold most of the subscribers
1) AT&T
2) Verizon
3) Sprint
4) Tmobile

Of the 4 only AT&T has a similar package.

The other charge a lot more for their plans, they are treating it like a business computer and are charging a lot more for data access.

=X=

yeah it's too bad, if they offered a $399 wifi only right off the bat, this would have been huge here in the states, the carriers crippled it initially but they seem to be getting the message.

I'm going to hold out for the Honeycomb Tablets and see what they offer.
The Motorola Xoom has me drooling and the Vizio 8 incher has raised an eyebrow.

[Care]

Here in Canada it is about $25 for 500mb and $35 for 5gb a month.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by boswd

I'm keeping my eye on what Vizio is going to offer. They could shake up the tablet industry as they did the HDTV industry.

If they offer a nice solid performing tablet at a great "Vizio type of Price" and with an 8 inch form factor? This could be something.

Prices definitely need to come down. Tablets should be treated like netbooks, and not smart phones. Forced contracts and/or data plans coupled with high prices are a deal breaker for me.

I'm watching the show to see how things shake out, but in the meantime, I'm very much enjoying my $250 Nook Color with free unlimited data.

[boswd]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Prices definitely need to come down. Tablets should be treated like netbooks, and not smart phones. Forced contracts and/or data plans coupled with high prices are a deal breaker for me.

I'm watching the show to see how things shake out, but in the meantime, I'm very much enjoying my $250 Nook Color with free unlimited data.

they will, that's why being a first time adopter can be a tough pill to swallow. I bought my nook eink at $269. Grrrrr.

So I have my nook color to hold me over until these prices settle themselves out. the Galaxy Tab is just too pricey right now and with Honeycomb right around the corner, that is too hefty of a price to pay right now.

[boswd]

Originally Posted by Care

Here in Canada it is about $25 for 500mb and $35 for 5gb a month.

So you tacking on an extra $300 to $420 a YEAR for the Galaxy Tab, that's insane. It just is.

[jocampo]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Prices definitely need to come down. Tablets should be treated like netbooks, and not smart phones. Forced contracts and/or data plans coupled with high prices are a deal breaker for me.

I'm watching the show to see how things shake out, but in the meantime, I'm very much enjoying my $250 Nook Color with free unlimited data.

Even though I would be more than happy with lower prices like you, I will have to disagree.

Tablets are not netbooks, not in a technical way. You do not have 3G access with a Netbook. However, what I can see and maybe predict, is that PC companoes will change the way they do business and integrate cellphone characteristics on their products soon, like 3G or 4G access. Or, tablet products will kill and alter the netbook/laptop paradigm for ever and people will stop buying netbooks and start buying tablets.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by jocampo

Even though I would be more than happy with lower prices like you, I will have to disagree.

Tablets are not netbooks, not in a technical way. You do not have 3G access with a Netbook. However, what I can see and maybe predict, is that PC companoes will change the way they do business and integrate cellphone characteristics on their products soon, like 3G or 4G access. Or, tablet products will kill and alter the netbook/laptop paradigm for ever and people will stop buying netbooks and start buying tablets.

I don't need 3G access and neither do a lot of other people. I see tablets as netbooks without keyboards. Great devices for traveling.

[bbusybookworm]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Sounds as though prices are pretty similar - that's more or less what we'd pay for a comparable plan here.

The thing is that in the UK, you can also get a Pay as you go plan from any of the carriers and switch to a new one when a better offer comes about as long as you buy an unlocked version.

From what I understand, even if you buy a unsubsidised model you have to choose one carrier and are stuck to that carrier for the life of the device. Personally if I'm paying full price I like the flexibility to switch, or use a local SIM when travelling

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Prices definitely need to come down. Tablets should be treated like netbooks, and not smart phones. Forced contracts and/or data plans coupled with high prices are a deal breaker for me.

I'm watching the show to see how things shake out, but in the meantime, I'm very much enjoying my $250 Nook Color with free unlimited data.

I guess I'm biased, but always having bought unsubsidised phones, the ticket price while high is not a complete shock to me. I do however agree that if you pay full price for a device, you should not have to get a contract, something US carriers seem loath to do.

As for comparison to netbooks and smartphones, I think it would be difficult to do so as most tablets in the market are running Mobile OS's and have 3G connection, so the comparison to smart phones is going to happen. In case of the Tab, The Internals are virtually identical to the Galaxy S series of Smartphones except for screen size and battery life so it does make sense.

Also, if youve ever bought a Laptop or Netbook with built in 3G, you'll see that requiring contracts is pretty common. While I believe that has not been too popular in the US, I remember seeing a lot of such offers in the UK.

[jocampo]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

I don't need 3G access and neither do a lot of other people. I see tablets as netbooks without keyboards. Great devices for traveling.

Opinion. But you can't browse Internet without Wifi which limits accessibility on a computer.

By the way, you can use a keyboard with a tablet

[HarryT]

We all have different needs, though. For me personally, having access to the internet no matter where I am is an extremely valuable thing, so 3G is something that's well worth paying for. I choose to do that via an iPhone and an iPad (I'm typing this message on my iPad); I know that many other people are equally happy with Android phones and tablets. I pay £20 a month ($30) for my iPhone and £10 ($15) a month for my iPad and regard it as money well spent - boswd probably thinks I'm insane. We all have to make our own decisions in these things.

[jocampo]

Originally Posted by bbusybookworm

From what I understand, even if you buy a unsubsidised model you have to choose one carrier and are stuck to that carrier for the life of the device.

Why? just ask for unlock the device ... say that you need it for business and travel, end of story. All my cellphones are unlocked, same day of purchase! ;-) .... what is happening here in USA is that some sales representatives want to make your life difficult or they just don't know it is possible to unlock a cellphone.

Not sure if has something to do with the company I work for, but my wife's cellphones I did the same and they are on their account, not mine.

[jocampo]

Originally Posted by HarryT

boswd probably thinks I'm insane.

boswd thinks we all are in insane but him... oh, and NC owners ... lol ...

sorry, I was not able to contain myself!

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by jocampo

Opinion. But you can't browse Internet without Wifi which limits accessibility on a computer.

By the way, you can use a keyboard with a tablet

The assumption there is that I need 24/7 net access. Maybe you do, but I don't. I never had it with my netbook and never felt deprived.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

The assumption there is that I need 24/7 net access. Maybe you do, but I don't. I never had it with my netbook and never felt deprived.

I never used to see the point in having air-conditioning in cars - you can always open the windows, after all. Then, for some reason or other I happened to get a car which had air-conditioning. Now, I'd never buy a car without it.

For me, mobile internet was a similar revelation. Now I've got it on my iPhone, I'd never want to be without it again.