I've had my Asus eeePad for over a year now. The spousal unit has had her iPad for about the same period of time. We are both addicted to our tablets. Actually the basic reasons we like our tablets are the same. We love the size, the form, the ease of use and the touch screen interface. What we do on the tablets is a bit different. The spousal unit's iPad has several very significant work related apps that make her job easier. Other then checking the Internet and email, I don't really use my tablet for work.
Tablets don't do hard core office activities very well. Word Processing, Spreadsheets and Presentations are very hard to edit on a tablet. They can be seen, just not changed. Surprisingly the Android tablets (like the eeepad) do a much better job of viewing and attempting changes on those type of files then the ipad. iPads also still don't do Adobe Flash software (legacy Steve Jobs war with Adobe still keeps running!) so many Internet sites don't work right on the iPad. Now those sites using Flash are decreasing every day, but they still are out there.
So here are the functions I use every day on my tablet: 1. Keep up with my calendar. It's easy to change, add, delete appointments. Since I use Google Calendar (Android!) any changes I make are immediately changed on all my devices (phone and several PCs, even my Mac mini). 2. Email. I check my email from multiple sources (AOL, GMAIL, Customer email). I can respond, forward and delete emails. 3. Reading books. I check out library books and enjoy reading them everywhere on my eeePad. The back lighting is very good so I can read on the beach as well as in bed at night. Biggest disadvantages is the time lag to get popular titles ( you have to get in line and wait). 4. Information: Weather, News, Stocke Market info, Maps, Directions - Normal Internet stuff that are very convenient on the tablet size. 5. Last and least I do play a few games on the eeePad. Better yet, I have games that our neighbor kids and my great nieces think are cool (and entertaining!)
I have over 50 apps on my eeePad and haven't paid for any of them. I follow the Amazon Free Android app of the day site and every now and then pick up something that looks interesting. Keeping up with updates on these 50 apps takes some time. I have recently pruned about 10 apps from my tablet that I downloaded, but never used. I still keep a few apps that show off what the tablet can do. The Scanner App and the Camera App are great to show people, but I never use them for my self. Most useful apps? WDBJ7 Weather app, USATODAY app, Overdrive library app, aCalendar app.
Thinking about a tablet? PCSS can help in your decision making.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Saturday, June 16, 2012
#212 - Cell phones & the Internet
Sprint is the only provider left providing unlimited Internet plans for Cell phone users. The two big boys, AT&T and Verizon have moved to plans that limit the amount of Internet to a download amount. Usually the download limit is measured in Gigabytes(GB).
So how much do you use? Right now I have an unlimited grandfathered plan from Verizion. Looking at my usage over the last year sees I've never gone over 0.5 GB in any given month. I don't stream anything on my phone since the screen is so small. I look up the weather, a sports score and keep track of the stock market. The new limit from both AT&T and Verizon is 2GB download per month for $30.00 (the same cost as the unlimited plan I have now). That shouldn't be a problem for me if I keep a small screen phone. However if you stream a Netflix movie you will use 1GB per hour of stream. One movie essentially wipes out your month.
Now not many people are streaming movies on their phones. However these $30 plans are the same that the phone companies are selling with tablet pcs. A tablet user is much more likely to use lots of data download then a phone. Verizion understands this and has begun bundling phone & tablet plans. A 2GB plan shared between a phone & tablet will also not last long. Verizon also has 5GB & 10GB plans for $50 and $80 per month respectfully. Those are the plans that Verizon wants you to buy.
I looked closely at my PCSS Verizon cell phone bill this past month and it was an incredible $142.00. That includes 2 phones, 700 minutes, 1 unlimited Internet data package and unlimited texts. Who would have thought 5 years ago that we would spend that much on cell phones? Close scrutiny of the bill finds a very confusing listing of charges. I believe the phone companies intentionally make the bills confusing to get away with extra charges. Yes you signed the 2 year agreement, but it should be easier to understand your bill.
If you have a young person in your life, you better have unlimited text messaging. Its the ONLY way they communicate. All around you see young people texting their lives on their phones. Young girls in particular are very adept at putting every angst filled moment into multiple texts. Heaven forbid if they don't have unlimited texting. There is another $30 per month. The model for phone companies to make money is very good. Also a reason I own Verizon stock.
So how much do you use? Right now I have an unlimited grandfathered plan from Verizion. Looking at my usage over the last year sees I've never gone over 0.5 GB in any given month. I don't stream anything on my phone since the screen is so small. I look up the weather, a sports score and keep track of the stock market. The new limit from both AT&T and Verizon is 2GB download per month for $30.00 (the same cost as the unlimited plan I have now). That shouldn't be a problem for me if I keep a small screen phone. However if you stream a Netflix movie you will use 1GB per hour of stream. One movie essentially wipes out your month.
Now not many people are streaming movies on their phones. However these $30 plans are the same that the phone companies are selling with tablet pcs. A tablet user is much more likely to use lots of data download then a phone. Verizion understands this and has begun bundling phone & tablet plans. A 2GB plan shared between a phone & tablet will also not last long. Verizon also has 5GB & 10GB plans for $50 and $80 per month respectfully. Those are the plans that Verizon wants you to buy.
I looked closely at my PCSS Verizon cell phone bill this past month and it was an incredible $142.00. That includes 2 phones, 700 minutes, 1 unlimited Internet data package and unlimited texts. Who would have thought 5 years ago that we would spend that much on cell phones? Close scrutiny of the bill finds a very confusing listing of charges. I believe the phone companies intentionally make the bills confusing to get away with extra charges. Yes you signed the 2 year agreement, but it should be easier to understand your bill.
If you have a young person in your life, you better have unlimited text messaging. Its the ONLY way they communicate. All around you see young people texting their lives on their phones. Young girls in particular are very adept at putting every angst filled moment into multiple texts. Heaven forbid if they don't have unlimited texting. There is another $30 per month. The model for phone companies to make money is very good. Also a reason I own Verizon stock.
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