Wireless connection and iPad or other tablets

bobcf · 31-03-2011, 18:01

Hi, I currently have Virgin Broadband wired connection to my computer. I'm thinking of getting an ipad and want to know what I have to do to get internet connections with it.

I assume I need to buy a router. Do I also need to speak with Virgin regarding getting it connected? Ideally I would like to keep my existing internet connection to my old computer, so is that possible?

Finally, I've seen the ipad and like it's functionality etc but can anyone recommend any alternative products.

Thanks.

**Chris** · 31-03-2011, 18:25

If you like websites with a lot of Flash content on them, save your money for a few months and then look for a tablet running google's Android Honeycomb operating system. I've had an iPad on long term loan and it is a major, major pain in the anus constantly being told by websites that I can't view this or that because I don't have Flash.

As for the wireless, yes, go and get a router - but NOT a gateway or modem/router designed for ADSL. Just a simple, standalone wireless router. You don't need VM's help to set it up, you just connect it to the modem instead of having the PC connected to the modem. The router's own use manual should help you choose the appropriate security settings for wireless. Once you have it set up, an iPad will connect painlessly ... I assume an Android tablet would do likewise.

Scrubbs · 31-03-2011, 20:48

I have several archos toys and they seem to quite robust and well made BUT the support is supposed to be not so good, so this might be an alternative if , like me you hate apple. It's what I would buy.

**Chris** · 31-03-2011, 21:07

Irony is, I'm not an Apple-hater. I've had Macs for almost 10 years now and that's all I'll buy. But I find iOS incredibly disappointing.

bobcf · 01-04-2011, 18:14

Thanks for responses.

Now you mention it, I recall lack of access to Flash sites was a mark against the ipad when I used it a while back.

The Andros pctablet 9 looks good. I note you say the support has not been good on their toys products (is that a previous range), so would that not still apply to this 9 version?

Are there other tablets recommended - what is the view on Motorola Xoom or Toshiba Android?

Re Honeycomb, I would ideally like to buy a machine now and in any case presumably the 1st tablets with this system will be quite pricey?

Finally, can anyone recommend a make/model of a router, and should there be any difference in my router choice depending on what tablet I end up with? Thanks.

Tezcatlipoca · 01-04-2011, 18:56

We've got a couple of threads running for the iPad & for other tablets, which you may find an interesting read:

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/19...ad-thread.html

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/19...e-devices.html

For non-Apple tablets...

The Motorola Xoom is currently considered to be the best of the Android tablets, and is the first to run Android 3.0 (Honeycomb). It's due out some time this month, and is expected to be priced at Â£499 for the 32GB WiFi version and Â£599 for the 32GB WiFi+3G version.

Samsung has a range of successors to last year's Galaxy Tab due out later this year, running Android 3.0 (Honeycomb).

HP and RIM (Blackberry) are supposed to be releasing their own tablets this year, the TouchPad & Playbook respectively. Not dates or prices yet though.

Which tablet you get won't affect which router you should get, however I would make sure that whichever router you do get, you get one with Wireless "N". I've not had cable in five years now, so can't really recommend any particular cable router.

**Chris** · 01-04-2011, 18:56

The reviews of the Moto and the Tosh are good, although neither is out yet ... the Moto is comparable in price to the iPad. They are both made for Android Honeycomb. Prior versions of Android are not opimized for tablets, so I would be wary of having a pre-Honeycomb tablet unless the OS was easily upgradeable.

Scrubbs · 01-04-2011, 19:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobcf

Thanks for responses.

Now you mention it, I recall lack of access to Flash sites was a mark against the ipad when I used it a while back.

The Andros pctablet 9 looks good. I note you say the support has not been good on their toys products (is that a previous range), so would that not still apply to this 9 version?

Are there other tablets recommended - what is the view on Motorola Xoom or Toshiba Android?

Re Honeycomb, I would ideally like to buy a machine now and in any case presumably the 1st tablets with this system will be quite pricey?

Finally, can anyone recommend a make/model of a router, and should there be any difference in my router choice depending on what tablet I end up with? Thanks.

When I said toys I meant archos units one is an mp3 player a" 3 vision"and the other 2 are portable video players an "AV400" and a "705 wifi" It seems to be that the support is always for the new units and very little for the older or discontinued units. judging by an archos forum I frequent