Should I get phone connectivity option on my tablet?

[Paul Miller]

Sorry if this is a repeat question. I find the search function/process overwhelming.

Anyway, I'm probably going to get a Samsung tablet to read with, but don't know whether I should spend the extra bucks to get G4 connectivity, or if I should rely on wi-fi and the fact that my books are on the device itself.

Have the readers of this group found that they missed having the phone connection option if they passed it up?

I'm aware that, although I'm thinking of the table primarily for reading at this point, knowing me, I'll want to use it for other things as well. However, I also know that I could certainly get by if I weren't able to do all sorts of things with tablet.

Thanks for your help. Hope my question is clear. Let me know if it's not.

Paul

[JimMcLaren]

I like being able to connect with my tablet but I don't do it via another subscription. I have phone software that turns my Android smartphone into a wifi hotspot. Then I can use my current phone data plan.

Doing this can be complicated though. Some carriers don't care if you do it, others want you to pay a fee to them to do so. I've had to root my phone and install software that AT&T has since convinced Google to remove from the Play Store.

If I couldn't tether my phone I would depend on wifi. I'm finding I need to turn tethering on less than I used to because almost every place I frequent has free wifi. I have a friend who paid extra for his iPad to have the ability to connect via 3G and only activates it when he's going to be away from wifi, e.g. on vacation. He has to activate it for a month at a time.

[VeggieCat]

I use my Kindle Fire very much like how you describe you would use your tablet, primarily for reading. It's wifi only and it goes everywhere with me. I have never felt the need for the optional 4G capability that's available for the Fires. As I only connect the wifi to download new books I hardly ever need to get on the internet while I'm away from my home, and on the very rare occasion I do I use my phone as a wifi hot spot like Jim described above, and again that's only to download new books.

An added bonus this gives me is that I'm less likely to be distracted by the internet and I get a lot more reading done.

Since you describe that your primary use for your tablet would be for reading, I would suggest skipping the 4G and saving your money.

[WT Sharpe]

At home, your tablet will access the Internet with all the speed your home network can muster. If the vast majority of your Internet use is going to be at home, I wouldn't bother with the extra expense. I have a 4G Hotspot from Verizon that I bought for using my tablet at work. The thing worked flawlessly and is blazingly fast, but now I'm retired, have very little need for it, and have 9 months left on a $50/month contract.

[susan_cassidy]

I bought the 3G version of the iPad, because I wanted the option of using 3G while on vacation. I turned off the data plan after the first month (to test it), and haven't had it on since, but haven't been on a vacation where I needed iPad 3G connectivity, either.

[meeera]

I have only wanted it rarely, so when I do I just use the Personal Hotspot function on my iPhone. It works perfectly, though it does chew through battery life a little.

[Paul Miller]

Your responses have been very helpful. Thanks!