6 ms·

No 3G though? I guess when you're only willing to spend $200, it's not worth it?

shimon_e 14y ago
I am thinking of a small USB 3G dongle and tethering with my phone at other times. The perfect device for me would be a 5" Nexus Note. I'm really glad it comes with GPS. If I do get it, it is because they decided to include the GPS chip. I travel a lot and having GPS on a larger screen can help when talking to taxi drivers.
kayoone 14y ago
ill just use my phone as a hotspot, shouldnt be too much of an issue if you dont need it all the time.
ConstantineXVI 14y ago
Cell modem would easily add $100 to the price; not to mention having to pair it with a carrier (which Google doesn't seem willing to do just yet). They could do unlocked, but contract-free, tablet only SIMs aren't very common in the US yet. Plus, don't believe Asus has shipped many cell-equipped tablets yet. Am a bit surprised they didn't do some sort of "instant tethering" feature: tap your phone and tablet, they pick up over NFC and negotiate the config automatically.
- sachingulaya 14y ago
  I would have gladly paid the $100. The portability of the tablet is its biggest appeal to me. Not having a cell modem kills a lot of my potential use cases.
  - potatolicious 14y ago
    I suspect the lack of a 3G/LTE option is a power play on Google's part. One of the biggest failings of Android thus far is the poor distribution of updates, and carriers do not help the situation. Without a modem Google controls 100% of the user's experience, with a modem they're subject to the whims of AT&T, Verizon, et al. I'd be very, very happy if Google wrested some control back, it might mean sane support and updates for future Android devices.
    - mgkimsal 14y ago
      Which... I don't get. Just because my PC came with a modem 15 years ago didn't mean I was tied to AOL, Compuserve or the local ISP. I gasp bought my service from whoever I wanted. Yes, a cell modem would add more to the cost, but a contract free 7" google-updated android tablet with 3g that I could use on multiple carriers, unlocked... what's not to like about that?
      - stcredzero 14y ago
        Just because my PC came with a modem 15 years ago didn't mean I was tied to AOL, Compuserve or the local ISP. I gasp bought my service from whoever I wanted. You do realize that there were laws protecting your right and ability to do that? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_System_divestiture http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_System_divestiture
        wickedchicken 14y ago
        Hell, there were laws that had to be passed just to let you hook a modem in: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carterfone#Landmark_regulatory_decision http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carterfone#Landmark_regulatory_... Before this, you could only hook in an AT&T phone into the jack, and you had to rent that from AT&T.
        Karunamon 14y ago
        They don't work too well on anything aside from GSM networks. some CDMA carriers (coughverizoncough) have this nasty habit of refusing to activate anything they don't sell. A practice I'm not exactly sure how it isn't against the law.
      - bmelton 14y ago
        Your old modem-based ISPs all used the same plug. Cell carriers each have slightly differing radio frequencies. They would have to sell "Works with AT&T", "Works with Sprint", "Works with T-Mobile" versions all separately, as they all use different radio frequencies. The alternative is to build a mega-radio (or perhaps cluster of radios) to support all the carriers, but that adds weight and significant cost, and won't work with whatever new carrier comes out tomorrow anyway.
  - king_jester 14y ago
    I don't doubt that SD card slots and 3G radios would have made this a must buy for people, but the biggest issue from Google's perspective is the lack of Android tablet penetration. Android tablets fighting the iPad front have failed to get traction, so Google is going to Kindle Fire route: cheaper cost, quality hardware missing a few bells and whistles. Except in this case the OS running on the device is far superior the Amazon experience.
- MichaelGG 14y ago
  Not sure about T-Mobile, but with AT&T, you can walk into a store, buy a SIM in cash, pay-as-you-go, and pick what data options you want. They aren't great offerings (I think $15 for 1GB?) but it's certainly not hard or uncommon.
- moe 14y ago
  I think many people are still not aware of MiFi[1] and the ilk. If you are amongst those who miss 3G in $device then check them out now, you might be in for a pleasant surprise. (personally I have a huawei 585 and can recommend it wholeheartedly, it's even smaller than the MiFis!) [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MiFi http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MiFi
  - Ecio78 14y ago
    You dont need a standalone device, a mobile phone with hotspot mode will be enough (my Nexus S with ICS has it, and my wife's HTC with Gingerbread too, dont know about which versions of BlackBerry, Windows Phone and iPhone have this feature) edit: you need to check if your mobile carrier allows you to do it
mtgx 14y ago
Check out how much Apple is adding for the 3G versions of their iPads - $100. That's half the price of the tablet already. And it's not even in the $500 iPad as default! And you want 3G as default in a $200 one?

I am thinking of a small USB 3G dongle and tethering with my phone at other times. The perfect device for me would be a 5" Nexus Note. I'm really glad it comes with GPS. If I do get it, it is because they decided to include the GPS chip. I travel a lot and having GPS on a larger screen can help when talking to taxi drivers.

kayoone 14y ago

ill just use my phone as a hotspot, shouldnt be too much of an issue if you dont need it all the time.

ConstantineXVI 14y ago

Cell modem would easily add $100 to the price; not to mention having to pair it with a carrier (which Google doesn't seem willing to do just yet). They could do unlocked, but contract-free, tablet only SIMs aren't very common in the US yet. Plus, don't believe Asus has shipped many cell-equipped tablets yet. Am a bit surprised they didn't do some sort of "instant tethering" feature: tap your phone and tablet, they pick up over NFC and negotiate the config automatically.

sachingulaya 14y ago
I would have gladly paid the $100. The portability of the tablet is its biggest appeal to me. Not having a cell modem kills a lot of my potential use cases.
- potatolicious 14y ago
  I suspect the lack of a 3G/LTE option is a power play on Google's part. One of the biggest failings of Android thus far is the poor distribution of updates, and carriers do not help the situation. Without a modem Google controls 100% of the user's experience, with a modem they're subject to the whims of AT&T, Verizon, et al. I'd be very, very happy if Google wrested some control back, it might mean sane support and updates for future Android devices.
  - mgkimsal 14y ago
    Which... I don't get. Just because my PC came with a modem 15 years ago didn't mean I was tied to AOL, Compuserve or the local ISP. I gasp bought my service from whoever I wanted. Yes, a cell modem would add more to the cost, but a contract free 7" google-updated android tablet with 3g that I could use on multiple carriers, unlocked... what's not to like about that?
    - stcredzero 14y ago
      Just because my PC came with a modem 15 years ago didn't mean I was tied to AOL, Compuserve or the local ISP. I gasp bought my service from whoever I wanted. You do realize that there were laws protecting your right and ability to do that? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_System_divestiture http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_System_divestiture
      - wickedchicken 14y ago
        Hell, there were laws that had to be passed just to let you hook a modem in: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carterfone#Landmark_regulatory_decision http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carterfone#Landmark_regulatory_... Before this, you could only hook in an AT&T phone into the jack, and you had to rent that from AT&T.
      - Karunamon 14y ago
        They don't work too well on anything aside from GSM networks. some CDMA carriers (coughverizoncough) have this nasty habit of refusing to activate anything they don't sell. A practice I'm not exactly sure how it isn't against the law.
    - bmelton 14y ago
      Your old modem-based ISPs all used the same plug. Cell carriers each have slightly differing radio frequencies. They would have to sell "Works with AT&T", "Works with Sprint", "Works with T-Mobile" versions all separately, as they all use different radio frequencies. The alternative is to build a mega-radio (or perhaps cluster of radios) to support all the carriers, but that adds weight and significant cost, and won't work with whatever new carrier comes out tomorrow anyway.
- king_jester 14y ago
  I don't doubt that SD card slots and 3G radios would have made this a must buy for people, but the biggest issue from Google's perspective is the lack of Android tablet penetration. Android tablets fighting the iPad front have failed to get traction, so Google is going to Kindle Fire route: cheaper cost, quality hardware missing a few bells and whistles. Except in this case the OS running on the device is far superior the Amazon experience.
MichaelGG 14y ago
Not sure about T-Mobile, but with AT&T, you can walk into a store, buy a SIM in cash, pay-as-you-go, and pick what data options you want. They aren't great offerings (I think $15 for 1GB?) but it's certainly not hard or uncommon.
moe 14y ago
I think many people are still not aware of MiFi[1] and the ilk. If you are amongst those who miss 3G in $device then check them out now, you might be in for a pleasant surprise. (personally I have a huawei 585 and can recommend it wholeheartedly, it's even smaller than the MiFis!) [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MiFi http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MiFi
- Ecio78 14y ago
  You dont need a standalone device, a mobile phone with hotspot mode will be enough (my Nexus S with ICS has it, and my wife's HTC with Gingerbread too, dont know about which versions of BlackBerry, Windows Phone and iPhone have this feature) edit: you need to check if your mobile carrier allows you to do it

mtgx 14y ago

Check out how much Apple is adding for the 3G versions of their iPads - $100. That's half the price of the tablet already. And it's not even in the $500 iPad as default! And you want 3G as default in a $200 one?