Reader/tablet for international travel

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jonesy

15 posts

Geek

#94302 7-Dec-2011 20:43

Hi guys and girls! This is my first posting so bear with me on this one...Normally I wouldnt be in the market for one of these little machines, but from early next year I'm gonna be commuting to/from Perth on a 2-weekly basis, and as a result will spend some time sitting in airports waiting for connecting flights.

Now I'm an avid reader, so an E-reader would be ideal, but I've wondered about being able to use wireless in the airports to check emails/facebook etc. Nothing heavy duty.

Anyone here in the same situation? Not to keen on spending $$$$ but up to around $600 I'm budgeting on. Interested to hear how you guys get on in airports using wifi?

Any replies welcome and appreciated!

Cheers, Nelson

tigercorp

668 posts

Ultimate Geek

#555220 7-Dec-2011 21:14

I've got a 7" Samsung Galaxy Tab - http://pricespy.co.nz/product.php?p=698397 - which spends a decent amount of time in airport lounges.

For me its primary use is as a phone and calendar, but then it would be a ereader, music player, wireless hotspot, gps in that order.

The screen is fantastic. When people talk up a Kindle type device by saying your eyes won't get tired, I think exactly the same thing.
Its the perfect size, fits in all of my pockets or at the very least will fit in one pocket comfortably. Has a nice solid feel to hold and read from, big enough to enjoy a movie and browse the internet.

I never really use airport wifi - have my NZ sim and an Aussie prepay sim so decent 3G speeds are always accessible. In saying that though, I always sort my content out before trips. And being an Android device you've got your choice of the type of content - kindle, epub, pdfs, whatever.

For around the $650 mark you can't go wrong.

tigercorp

668 posts

Ultimate Geek

#555221 7-Dec-2011 21:17

Oh, and if you're going to spend a large amount of time in airports/airplanes - get yourself a decent and comfy pair of noise cancelling headphones.
Blocking out that background noise and chatter keeps you so much more refreshed and relaxed.

jonesy

15 posts

Geek

#555239 7-Dec-2011 21:58

Thanks for that info, yeah that is probably the way I'm gonna lean towards. So using wifi in various areas is OK for just casual browsing tho? I'm not needeing to download masses of info, and I probably wont have an account with a plan either. Will this work?

I've heard those noise cancelling headphones are the go. Might just have to starve the wife and kids a bit more to get some!

Hows the Samsung (or any similar) for a non-technophile like myself to run?

tigercorp

668 posts

Ultimate Geek

#555263 7-Dec-2011 23:56

jonesy: Thanks for that info, yeah that is probably the way I'm gonna lean towards. So using wifi in various areas is OK for just casual browsing tho? I'm not needeing to download masses of info, and I probably wont have an account with a plan either. Will this work?

Yep, wifi on the Tab is fine. I use it mostly when I'm at home or in the office and on occasion at McDonalds.

The wifi only version is also obviously cheaper - http://pricespy.co.nz/product.php?p=860195 - if thats how you really want to use it.

Hows the Samsung (or any similar) for a non-technophile like myself to run?

There's always a learning curve with new toys but there's more than enough info on the web to give you the help you need.
The great thing with an Android device is that if you really want to tinker with it the option is there, so any limits are the ones you impose yourself.

lissie

495 posts

Ultimate Geek

#559850 20-Dec-2011 09:40

the key question is do you want to read on a tablet of do you want a dedicated ereader?

ereader examples: Amazon kindle, kobo, sony ereader
ereader advantages:
can be read in bright sunlight
will run for a month on one charge

ereader disadvantages
black and white only
won't run video etc

reader comes in 2 flavours:
wifi only or 3G (ie connects to a mobile network)

The 3G is very limited use to you- you probably won't have phone access in camp (or are you actually in Exmouth - when I was there the mobile coverage was poor)

WIFI - not free in Perth airport (domestic terminal)

tablet examples iPad, Galaxy tab, any other android tablet

Works like a touch screen computer, use wifi or a local SIM card (you'll want to have both an australian and NZ sim) , full colour, watch movies etc

Problem - limited battery life.

If you are flying ex Auckland its a 7 hour flight to Perth (direct) - plus up to Exmouth is at least another couple of hours.

particularly in camp you will probably have very limited mobile access (check with your employer) - I'd say buy a ereader - load it up with books before you go - enough for 2 weeks.

The ereader is very, very small - will go in your pocket (but buy it a decent rigid case for travelling)

Also ereaders are dirt cheap - I bought my partner the new kindle for Xmas - $169 landed from Amazon or $189 in Dick Smith - go to a shop and have a look at them.

For my money the Kindle is the best for a beginner - because its so easy to download books and they have by far the largest online store.

Yes people here will say they lock you into just reading books in Amazon (they don't but thats a different issue) - but really go to Amazon and see if they have the books you want (look under "kindle" for the ebooks)

I help authors publish their books - DIYPublishing.co.nz

Jaxson

8041 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#559852 20-Dec-2011 09:45

lissie: If you are flying ex Auckland its a 7 hour flight to Perth (direct) - plus up to Exmouth is at least another couple of hours.

particularly in camp you will probably have very limited mobile access (check with your employer)

If you don't mind me asking, what's in Perth/Exmouth?

lissie

495 posts

Ultimate Geek

#559854 20-Dec-2011 09:58

If you don't mind me asking, what's in Perth/Exmouth?

Well I assume from the OP - that he his working in the mines outside of Exmouth - 14 days in 7 days out or somesuch shift. Because of the flight schedules he has to fly via Perth.

I lived in Perth and visited Exmouth twice - it has some of the best beaches I've ever been too and I also swam with the whale sharks which was just incredible - but its a 1200km north - long drive.

Perth 1.5million people, hundreds of km beach - swimming from Nov-Oct, perfect weather except for 2 months in winter and 2 weeks of over 40C in summer.

Yes I miss it even though they don't have daylight saving or sunday shopping LOL

I help authors publish their books - DIYPublishing.co.nz

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Jaxson

8041 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#559860 20-Dec-2011 10:12

Cool, thanks for the great reply.

jonesy

15 posts

Geek

#561889 27-Dec-2011 16:51

Jaxson:
lissie: If you are flying ex Auckland its a 7 hour flight to Perth (direct) - plus up to Exmouth is at least another couple of hours.

particularly in camp you will probably have very limited mobile access (check with your employer)

If you don't mind me asking, what's in Perth/Exmouth?

I'll be living in Perth but FIFO to the region of Port Hedland/Pilbara for work, on a 2/2 roster. Initially I'll be commuting back to NZ for the rest of '12 whilst setting up home for the family, hence the need for reasonable wifi.
I have noticed a lot of comment on using Android based gear which sounds great, now I'm only needing a limited use of applications initially, when you compare with iPad how will they stack up? I'm not needing to follow market trends, or want something that looks cool etc, just to do the job, not confuse the hell outa me, and not really need to change apps once I've got them. A simple man with simple needs, thats me!

crackrdbycracku

1168 posts

Uber Geek

#567110 10-Jan-2012 21:23

Hi,

Considering your needs I would probably suggest an ereader.

The Sony ereader, and I think the Kindle ones, do basic web browsing. But, yeah, it is very basic. Probably enough to check the mail but that is about it. Having said that an ereaders battery life is measured in weeks, not hours.

The tablet ins and outs are well covered by other posters but you may consider something like the Galaxy Note (five inch screen) or other phones with over a four inch screen. This is what I'll probably eventually upgrade to when my trusty Motorola Defy dies. I really don't like the idea of carrying a phone and a tablet.

Do things somewhere between a smartphone and a tablet, such as the Galaxy Note, constitute a new product class and need a new name? Mega-Phones?

Didn't anybody tell you I was a hacker?