Don’t Go with 3G/4G on Your Tablet!
Image courtesy of Flickr user cogdogblog
With the new iPad coming out, just a suggestion: If you crave Internet anywhere, save your money and get the wi-fi version of the tablet. Then go to your wireless provider and get a mobile wi-fi hotspot (like AT&T’s Mobile Hotspot Elevate 4G, Verizon’s Jetpack™ 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot or Sprint’s MiFi 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot). This goes for Android tablets too.
That way, you can share your hotspot with others and be device-independent, just in case you want to revert to the trusty laptop. The mobile hotspot feature on your smart phone may also be a solution… That would save some money on a separate data account but may pose limitations on some smart phones.
Check out all your options, even if you’re currently in a contract. I wanted the mobile hotspot to use with my Asus Transformer, and Verizon allowed me to trade up from my USB device to a MiFi hotspot for pocket change. Also consider Wirefly and Ebay for compatible hotspots, but make sure you know you can use the device on your network.
A quick sidebar… One evening, our Cox Internet went dark at home right before a critical Skype date with friends in Australia. My wi-fi hotspot saved the day!