Question about Android-based tablets

[WA3LKN]

See advertisement from a local mailbox stuffer.

My question: if you wanted to use this device to check e-mail, for example, you would need a data plan from a telecommunications provider, right?

If you were sitting in a WiFi site, like in your favorite coffee shop that has freebie WiFi, you wouldn't be able to use this; you'd still need a data plan from some provider that you pay for, right?

tablet 001.jpg

[N1KPW]

No, not necessarily. I have a WiFi only Motorola Xoom, as long as there is a usable WiFi network, all is fine, from eMail to NetFlix.. In fact, I was connected to the hospital WiFi watching NetFlix movies yesterday in the waiting room as my mother underwent surgery. No data plan. Many of the major carriers offer tablets and netbooks with cellphone data radios built in, but you don't need to have one of those to enjoy the benefits of having a tablet and all that they offer. These WiFi only units are a viable alternative that work well.

[KD5SPX]

iPads rule ... once u get one u would never even consider another talet!

[KLONDIKEMIKE]

N1KPW is correct. All you need is your WI-FI connection to get to the Internet and your email and everything else. It will be a gamble with the device you are looking at. Its only a single core processor running @ 1Ghz. Running simple apps like email may be OK but anything else demanding more horsepower (YouTube, NetFlix) may be a problem. Surprised that it has ICS, a good thing. And of course its Android and not Apple. That means you have choice and options. Something the Apple fanboys have no clue about.

[K6ABZ]

See advertisement from a local mailbox stuffer.

My question: if you wanted to use this device to check e-mail, for example, you would need a data plan from a telecommunications provider, right?

If you were sitting in a WiFi site, like in your favorite coffee shop that has freebie WiFi, you wouldn't be able to use this; you'd still need a data plan from some provider that you pay for, right?

No, you do NOT need to buy a data plan to use ANY tablet on WiFi. Some tablets include 3G or 4G radios, which do let you use them with a data plan, but I have yet to see a tablet that will not work on just WiFi. (Some need to be activated for the first time on cellular, but there are usually workarounds for that, as well.)

[KK4AMP]

See advertisement from a local mailbox stuffer.

My question: if you wanted to use this device to check e-mail, for example, you would need a data plan from a telecommunications provider, right?
tablet 001.jpg

As others have said, no, you don't need a data plan to surf, check email, etc, as long as you're in range of a wi-fi hotspot that you're allowed to connect to.

One thing I would watch for though... many of the lower end tablets have resistive touch screens. Most are single-touch sensitive, a few are multi-touch, but resistive screens don't perform as well as capacitave ones. The low end price I've seen on capacitive screen units are around 100-130 bucks, and well worth the difference in price. If it's a capacitive screen unit, the box will say so.