WI-FI/Galaxy Tab QUESTION FROM A TOTAL NOOB

[ButterflyXXX]

Hi guys

Bear with me I don't know about intrawebs 'n such, I'm a bookkeeper m'kay...

I'm thinking of getting a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 p7500 on contract from Vodacom. The ad says "fast HSPA+ 21 capable, Wi-fi". What is HSPA and what is wi-fi. I know Wi-fi is wireless internet and you can get the intrawebs at wi-fi hotspots 'n such, but how does it work - in layman's terms. Do I need to get anything special like routers or aerials? I currently use iburst (with the thingy that goes into the card slot on my laptop and a wire connects to the thingy to the aerial on my roof). But it's time for a change. I want a fast internet connection, but with a new "device" and since tabs are the way to go it seems, I thought the GT was an option.

Will Wi-fi be the only way to use the internet on the tab? Or is HSPA something else in case the Wi-fi doesn't work in my area (told yas I was a noob) *sigh*

I don't want to got the Ipad2 route as I do torrenting (another thing, will the TAB and Wi-fi whatsis make that go faster? Can you do torrenting on a GT P7500) and Apple doesn't allow that or whatever unless you jailbreak it and I don't have the patience for that.

If there's anything else you think I need to know, please fill me in.

Thanks
B3X

 

[NeonNinja]

No you don't need any fancy things, just your tablet. You connect to the WiFi internet at work or KFC, or sniff around and steal you neighbour's internet.

HSPA (high speed packet access or something and is 21.1Mbps, 21Mbps x 20 mins is 3GB, that's how fast it is in a perfect world, beware though at R2MB you pay R6000 for less than half hour usage lol) devices are GSM so you'd be able to access internet most parts of the country, and you need a sim card with data obviously.

There are couple applications for the Android device which will let you download torrents.

You're a female?

 

[ButterflyXXX]

Hi Khanya

Thanks a mil for your help! But I still don't get it. What's the point of having the wi-fi option if you can't use to browse at home then? I've heard of peeps logging on to other peeps wi-fi thingies and stealing there data or whatever, but that's not an option for me. I'm not going to take the tab to work to use. And I'm glad you like KFC, I work for them, in a way

Yep, I'm a chick.

The subs are R469pm (R320 for the Tab and R149 for the data) for a standard mygig2...er...data thingy. So it'll work the same as my iburst package right? I use it like a normal internet package and once that's finito, it's finito (unless I purchase more bandwidth)?

So what do you mean by the R2/mb? Is that 'cos you didn't know about the data included (sorry, I didn't mention, I thought all the computer fundis would know it was implied) or are those some other charges I don't know about on top of this 2Gs data pm? Or wait, I think I get it, what I'll pay once my 2gigs are finished?

I'm just looking around, obviously it's cheaper to buy it cash and then buy a seperate 3G sim card subscription or usb modem for browsing etc (I know I know there's not usb port, that's when I'll buy the Samsung USB connector kit).

 

[NeonNinja]

I did know that you'd be receiving 500MB-2GB data, was just showing how downloading OOB would dearly cost you, also got a contract (R299 for the HTC flyer and 2GB data).

Yes, you are going to use 2GB data just like iBurst. But don't know with Vodacom, but I think the same as my contract, you'll be billed at R2MB after you deplete your 2GB data. If you do buy it cash, and get a modem, the only thing you now need in Connectify, to share you modems internet over WiFi. But cash over contract wins. Ex, you can buy it cash, and get 10GB for R199 from 8ta. These tablets gobble data with uncompressed browsers and Youtube.

 

[Lupus]

Okay to answer your questions, the contract is 2 gigs of data per month, so they will supply you with a simcard that you slot into the top of the tablet, it has built in 3G modem for this, this is what is technically capable of doing 21mbps. So you can then take the tablet with you all over and use it as long as there is signal and you will get 2gigs of that. If you want to you could hook it up to someone elses wifi router and download from there, but you don't have to.

 

[ButterflyXXX]

thanks guys/gals. that helps a bit more, esp. Lupus' answer. @Khanya, I was thinking of going 8ta when they first came out with their 10 gigs, but I thought, "what the h3ll am I going to do with 10 gigs?", 'cos before I started torrenting I was barely using up 500mb a month on iburst and the other 1.5G was going to waste 'cos whatever I wasn't using within the 1G or whatever it was they carry over was going down the drain. But now that I'm using my internet more, I'm having to buy more bandwidth, not by much, but I'm going to need more 'cos I'm going to want to d/l more stuff. 10G may still be too much, but it's not bad considering I'm paying R149pm for I think 2gigs with iburst. What's R50 more for 8G