Save Money On Your Tablet Purchase

Feb 20, 2013

tablet_hotspot Tablets are hot! Sales of the Apple iPad, the Google Nexus 7, and others are quickly outpacing laptop sales as consumers begin to realize a full computer is overkill for most of the things done on the Internet. With their compact size, simple interface, long battery life, and relatively inexpensive pricing, tablets are making Internet use more accessible and convenient for a wider range of people. Unlike PC’s, there are not a lot of technical options that you have to deal with when purchasing a tablet. Basically you make sure the screen looks good, it’s responsive, and there is enough storage space for your needs and you’re all set. Tablets are mainly designed to be “viewers” to a content provider’s offerings, and to reach this content, you need an Internet connection.  That’s where an important decision comes in: should you get a Wi-Fi only tablet, or spend more and get one with built in 3G/4G access?

To 3G, or not 3G…

Most tablet manufacturers offer tablets with either Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi and 3G/4G combination options to connect to the Internet. Wi-Fi access is available through most routers on home Internet connections, as well as in coffee shops, libraries, and bookstores. 3G/4G connections allow you to be connected anywhere a Wi-Fi connection isn’t available (provided you’re within range of a cell tower). So, you have to ask yourself “Do I need to be connected every single place I go?”

If you think about it, tablets aren’t used like smartphones. You don’t whip out your tablet to check your Facebook status while walking down the street. They’re used in places you have a chance to sit down and get comfortable, and it seems like most of those places have Wi-Fi available.  I myself have owned a tablet for two years and haven’t once regretted saving the extra $200 for the built-in 3G/4G option.

If you’re one of those people that  does   use your tablet while on the go, or if you tend to travel a lot, there is an alternative that will save a lot of money.

Mobile Hotspots – Better Way to Go

Tablets with a built-in 3G/4G radio are going to charge a premium over their Wi-Fi only counterparts (often $200-$300 more), and then you have to get a 2 year contract with a carrier for your monthly data plan. If you use your tablet in Wi-Fi free areas often, an alternative would be using a Mobile Hotspot. These “credit card” sized devices grab an Internet connection off of a local cell phone tower, then distribute it to your tablet via a Wi-Fi connection. Hotspots have a number of advantages over built-in 3G/4G service

a) Large cost savings when purchasing.
b) Avoids often over-priced/contract locked data fees from the major carriers.
c) Hotspots can supply Internet to any device, not just a single tablet.

Since Mobile Hotspots are so compact, you can just keep it in your pocket or purse and turn it on if you happen to be in a place with no Wi-Fi available. Hotspot data plans tend to be a lot less expensive than going through carriers like AT&T or Verizon. Also keep in mind that you have the option of turning the service off if you know you’re not going to use it for a while. Some people only want the service while they travel in the summer, or if they live in two different locations and need Internet access at only one of them. You can simply deactivate the service, and then reactivate when you’re ready to use it again (a great advantage to not being stuck in a contract!).

Skip the 3G/4G Option — It’s Not Needed

If you need to be able to connect your tablet in areas without Wi-Fi, definitely skip the 3G/4G option. In the same way a 20 oz. bottle of soda is often more expensive than a 2 liter bottle, you’re being charged a premium for the packaging. If you need to keep your tablet connected anywhere, using a Mobile Hotspot makes for a smarter purchase.

New Business Broadband Plans!

By Mike Pawlecki • 31 Mar, 2021
TOAST.net is excited to offer 4 new Business Broadband plans

New Fiber for Business Plans!

By Mike Pawlecki • 11 Mar, 2021
TOAST.net is excited to announce 3 new Business Fiber Plans

New Residential Fiber Plans!

By Mike Pawlecki • 12 Jan, 2021
TOAST.net has added two new residential Fiber Internet plans!

Switch to Universal Pricing

By Mike Pawlecki • 14 Aug, 2020
This coming Monday, Aug. 17th, we will be switching to universal pricing -- one price for all DSL speeds (around $65) and one price for Fiber (around $90). So if anyone is thinking they could use one of our basic service plans, now's the time to order. For example:  DSL - 12 Mbps for $43.95/month - Great for seniors on a fixed income. Plenty of speed for surfing the web, checking email, and streaming for 1 or 2 TVs. Fiber - 60 Mbps for $45.00/month - Awesome solution for just about any household. Note that fiber is a new technology and only about 20% of the country can get it.  Check your address to see what service you qualify for and order by Sunday, 8/16/20! This is your last chance to lock in the speed and price of a great DSL or Fiber plan before they are grandfathered! 
Google Meet for your home or office.

Google Meet

By Mike Pawlecki • 20 May, 2020
Google Meet is now free for everyone. Check out TOAST.net's blog that tells you more about Google Meet usage at your home or office.

Work from Home (part 2)

By Mike Pawlecki • 01 May, 2020
Google - Meet Meet is video conference software, similar to Zoom. To help businesses, schools, and people around the world navigate remote life, Google is making Meet free for everyone with availability rolling out over the coming weeks. See Google's blog post for details. SolarWinds - Take Control You may need to run applications off your PC or server at the office. In that case, SolarWinds makes makes an easy-to-use application that allows home users to remote desktop to their PC in the office. It's secure and doesn't require special hardware, a static IP, or VPN. We're offering this software free of charge for 90 days. Please contact us if interested.

Work from Home

By Mike Pawlecki • 20 Mar, 2020
This week we've taken quite a few calls from companies asking how their employees and staff can work from home (WFH). We're happy to offer several WFH solutions to help organizations mitigate health risks to employees and customers. TOAST.net understands how important it is to keep your employees connected, productive, and safe during this unprecedented pandemic. Here are the services we have to help your business through this difficult time : Business Portal is a 'home page' for your browser that improves communication and efficiencies within your organization. It's a private Intranet that features company news, announcements, links to vendors and cloud apps, an employee schedule, and more! We offer this at no charge to our customers. Visit https://start.toast.net Google's G Suite - TOAST.net is an authorized reseller of G Suite, a cloud-based collaboration tool featuring Email, Calendar, Chat, Hangouts (video conferencing), and Drive. You can create files, documents, spreadsheets, and presentations with just your browser (no software to install) and share these with fellow workers, customers, and vendors. More info Remote Desktop - an easy-to-use application that allows home users to connect to PCs in the office. It's secure and doesn't require special hardware or a static IP. We're offering this free of charge for 90 days. High-speed Internet for Home - We provide residential Cable, DSL, and Fiber Internet service . So you can pay for your employee's Internet connection on your business invoice. Please contact us if you're interested in any of these services. B est wishes to everyone to stay healthy, safe, and upbeat as we socially distance ourselves for a quick end to this situation. Note: Our customer support team continues to work their regular hours. We operate support teams in multiple locations and, while there may be some disruption at certain locations for a limited time, overall we do not expect any significant change in access to support.

Cut The Cord With Unlimited Data

By TOAST.net Internet • 28 Jan, 2019
In the month after Christmas, we’ve seen a high demand for our Internet service with unlimited data. Much of it is from people wanting to use their new streaming device (Fire Stick, Roku, Chromecast, Apple TV, etc.) to cancel their expensive cable TV service. This is commonly referred to as “cutting the cord.”

Fiber Expansion

By TOAST.net Internet • 17 Dec, 2018
TOAST.net is pleased to announce fiber Internet service in 12 new metro areas:

Start Page Updates

By TOAST.net Internet • 12 Dec, 2018
Moved Facebook link from top bar to the Popular Sites section. Added Yahoo Finance to the Personal Finance section. Yahoo Finance is one of the largest business news web sites in the United States by monthly traffic.
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