What's your favorite Tablet?

I have the New iPad (3), but I also have the first generation Kindle Fire (which I didn't see in the list until after I voted).

 

I'm with Fred Langa:

 

Have an iPad 2. Only got it because I had hotel points I had to use up. It is ok and sometimes handy. Can't say I have a favorite as that is the only one I have tried.
I do have an old Nokia N800 which is a very small older type of tablet. Size is about 5 3/4 by 3 1/2 total. No apps but can take decent photos and even videos, read documents, get/send email, can access browsers and use Skype. and is a small sort of handy device. Is old, Probably had since 2002, if not earlier. Works nicely, bu is comparatively slow vs today's tablets. battery last a very long time, and is handy for trips. Original cost was a little more expensive then the current most expensive Kindle, but it has done a very nice job for me. I feel that I have gotten my moneys worth for it. Got it before I even had a PC notebook to carry around.

I use it in the gym when I am on the bike in the morning to read my emails. And as a small handy device when we travel. Also, don't have to put it through security separately.
It also has some games on it, which keeps my grandson happy when I need to keep him busy for a short time.

 

My Droid phone does what I need.

 

With it's 5.5" (140.9 mm) screen, my Samsung Galaxy Note II is turning out to be real handy. Big smartphone, small tablet ( "phablet ") rolled into a single 4G/WiFi device ... in your pocket. Gotta love it.

 

I'm with Evan on this one. Most of my work is serious work and not suited to tablet work anyway. And. like MrBill, my Blackberry does all the mobile stuff I need to do.

 

I use a Galaxy Note , A brilliant little Super-Gadget it is too, -compass,GPS,Notepad,Camera,Dictaphone,Videophone,E-book reader,Web Browser,E-mails,Telephone,Walkman,Games machine,Journal,Barometer,Metal Detector,Radio,Broadband Hotspot,USB storage Device AND ...........Ghost Detector!!

 

@Nick, I've never been involved with any WiFi except for in-house cable modem/router so gotta ask: Would a WiFi enabled (well, I guess they all are?) tablet be good enough to use BroadBand out 'n about (I'm in S.Coast UK) or does one have to roam around in ones travels to find a signal etc.?
How safe is piggybacking on another's signal? or am I being too paranoid?
Am thinking that if my device got some unwanted s/w via hotspot and then I am at home and connected to lan, could it be possible for the nasties to port themselves over to my main machine and commence with their evil intentions!

Excuse the questions but am totally naive about this stuff - I've been in IT for long time but just always kept head buried in hacking... so really, no idea what's what these days.

 

Well with 3G its not quite up to the standard of Broadband yet , 3G is great for browsing and E-mails but any serious data load and it slows down although you do get 3G "hot-spots" where performance is better. -As for Wi-Fi, I assume you mean schemes like BTs Wifi-hotspot scheme and similar where you buy minutes or pay a monthly fee OR have access as part of your home broadband contract. Also Free Wi-Fi hotspots provided by firms such as starbucks or macdonalds. -The thing is this :- they are not secure so your data is in theory vulnerable whilst you are using them.-Generally they have no security or a key provided by the hotspot provider which is available to others, -in PRACTISE though such "hacking" is thankfully rare although it does happen. - You can protect yourself from Viruses and malware by running a good mobile security App but this won`t protect you from a live attack.

Wi-Fi Hotspots provided by Broadband providers such as BT are becoming more common, generally a broadband customer "opts in" to the scheme and in exchange for access to other subscribers hotspots gives up a small proportion of their own signal for public use.
If you are in a car you can drive around until you find such a network by monitoring the signals with an Application or in your tablets settings, then log on. but obviously the number of such hotspots are in proportion to the general population density - in citys you`ll find one easily ,-might have to drive around a little in rural areas and in the countryside, -forget it!

 

According to http://www.tracert.org/bandwidth_meter my Samsung Galaxy Note II with 4G is currently running at 10.38 Mbps. Flip on its Hotspot, connect my laptop to it and the laptop is getting 9.72 Mbps.

 

That's pretty darn good... unfortunately I don`t have the option of 4G yet - its still rolling out over here..However 4G capability is going to be a "must" for consideration if buying a new handset now. - I think it will be a game changer.

 

Yep, it's faster. I've seen it above 12 Mbps before on my Samsung 4G Tab.

 

Well, seems 4G in UK is 'kinda' here via EE but is very patchy geographically speaking. 3G coverage from what I've seen is patchy too and interesting to hear about the usefulness of it too. Pure 3G recreational use I guess is ok but I'll wait for year end and see what falls out of all the competition and inevitable 'deal' offerings..
I'm on Virgin Cable so practically speaking guess BT is off the radar. The cruise by hotspotting sounds cool.

What is and how perpetrated - live attack Sounds like no way to protect self..

 

A live attack is usually perpetrated when for instance, if you are surfing on an open network or even a password protected network where a supplier gives you the wireless key to access it (internet cafes etc -remember the attacker can get the key too) then software exists where the attacker is on the same network and can access any data you send or receive on it. this may include credit card transactions (the card number ,security code etc,) passwords used , basically everything you do. As its not a virus as such or "malware" -there is very little to show you are being "hacked" or monitored. - A good rule of thumb is to never make sensitive data transactions on "public" networks.
There is one way to protect yourself, - you can now obtain dongles that come in a paired set which when you plug into the computer you are using,creates a VPN or Virtual Private Network between the PC and your own PC at home (where the other half of the dongle is plugged into your own PC/connection) thus Encrypting all your traffic and using your own internet access, and denying a possible attacker interpretation of your data.

 

Great information. Gives me a great handle on the subject and plenty of keywords for searches to consolidate what you have given.
VPN, I thought that a Win based mobile device, eg - laptop, could install VPN. Maybe this software was a proxy so that all comms were sent/rcvd by the VPN website and presumably encrypted.
Geeze, lots to study and mull over. Thanks Nick.

 

Yes , the term VPN refers to an encrypted link between your pc and an internet provider usually, but may just be another computer. The VPN services you see advertised are services where software in the home computer does the same job as the hardware dongle I mentioned to connect you via an encrypted link to another internet service provider - this changes your IP address that a web site "sees" to that of the provider. (The provider still sees YOUR I.P. though which is why they advertise their anonymity practises i.e. Log keeping). -its a way of anonymising your surfing and is very popular with bittorrent users.
The Hardware dongle does the same thing using hardware to connect you from where you are surfing to your PC and connection.

 

Think I missed something rea:

Is this paired dongle setup wireless as in 3G?
I mean my mobile device can be anywhere (well as long as signal etc) and we get my local isp based connection which is relayed back to mobile device.. but without IP logging since is 'as if' I'm wirelessly connected with my laptop when at home on wifi modem/router.

If above ok then I need mobile subscription?
or...

 

No -The scenario I mentioned is the one where you are surfing in a internet café and using a wired connection - I should have mentioned that if you are connecting wirelessly via a tablet - you are still vulnerable -my mistake sorry .-Got carried away with the explanation.!
The Network you are connecting to is where the vulnerability exists. it exists when both you AND the attacker are logged onto the same Wi-Fi network.
You are protected using the dongle on a WIRED connection because it encrypts the connection before it leaves the PC you are surfing on over the network.

Edit :- To be clear - the dongle only protects you over wired connections-HOWEVER....
A VPN service will do the same from the PC/tablet and will encrypt your connection to a service provider, -Android tablets CAN use VPNs - you enter the VPN providers Server address into the tablets settings.
There are Paid VPN services and free ones but obviously the service/speed you receive is better on a paid for service than on a free one (you share the free one with other free users) -The paid services are not THAT expensive - I use two -VersaVPN and BTguard both average about £ 3-5 a month.