Getting a Nexus 7 tablet for Christmas. What else can I do with it?

[eeyoresmom]

I wanted a tablet for reading and web browsing. Decided on the Google Nexus 7 tablet after reading tons of camparisons and reviews. Just wondering what others use theirs for outside of reading and web browsing. I have been seeing Google Play giftcards all over the stores so I assume there's lots of apps available.

 

[anniemck]

I wanted a tablet for reading and web browsing. Decided on the Google Nexus 7 tablet after reading tons of camparisons and reviews. Just wondering what others use theirs for outside of reading and web browsing. I have been seeing Google Play giftcards all over the stores so I assume there's lots of apps available.

I am trying to decide between the Nexus and the Kindle Fire HD... I do have android phones so the apps will be interchangeable... have fun searching this ... https://play.google.com/store?hl=en this is the site to search and download the free and for sale apps.

 

[MomToOne]

I'm getting a Nexus 7 for Christmas too

I am in the process of getting Google Drive setup, so I can access and update my budget spreadsheet with it - cause I NEED to be able to update it on vacation and such when I don't have my laptop with me I plan to purchase QuickOffice Pro HD to allow me to edit the spreadsheet offline, then I can upload it back to Google Drive. (And hopefully Google Drive will come out with a release that allows offline editing of spreadsheets soon.)

I am also getting it just to be able to check my Hotmail from work. They've blocked us from doing it on the corporate network and I don't need or want a SmartPhone - I think the Nexus 7 will be better.

I purchased a mobile hotspot from Internet On the Go this weekend (you can get them at WalMart) for basic Internet access because I am getting just the WiFi version.

Quite frankly, just having my Hotmail and budget is good enough for me! But I'm also starting to look around on Google Play and doing other research for apps and music I want.

 

[eeyoresmom]

Thank you anniemck. I have bookmarked that site. MomToOne, what exactly does the mobile hotspot allow you to do? I am getting the WiFi version also. Will it allow me to access the internet, say, in the car?

 

[MomToOne]

Think of a mobile hotspot as a wireless modem, only instead of the service coming through your home phone line it comes via a cellular connection. It will allow you to connect to the Internet via WiFi where ever you can get a cell connection. So yes, if you have a good cell connection, you should be able to use it in the car.

If you have a smart phone, it may already be able to act as a hotspot and you don't need to buy anything else. I have only a basic cell phone though and because I had no interest in changing that, so I had to buy a separate hotspot.

The hotspot I got is only 3G and runs on the Sprint network (no roaming) but that is perfectly fine for my needs. I like it because I only have to pay for my actual usage, which should be low as long as I pay attention to what I'm doing (i.e. don't download movies or software updates via the hotspot, wait until I'm home on the standard WiFi, etc.). There are 4G ones out there, but they usually involve a monthly fee, although with many of the pay as you go ones you can choose to have service one month, and not the next.

 

[eeyoresmom]

Think of a mobile hotspot as a wireless modem, only instead of the service coming through your home phone line it comes via a cellular connection. It will allow you to connect to the Internet via WiFi where ever you can get a cell connection. So yes, if you have a good cell connection, you should be able to use it in the car.

If you have a smart phone, it may already be able to act as a hotspot and you don't need to buy anything else. I have only a basic cell phone though and because I had no interest in changing that, so I had to buy a separate hotspot.

The hotspot I got is only 3G and runs on the Sprint network (no roaming) but that is perfectly fine for my needs. I like it because I only have to pay for my actual usage, which should be low as long as I pay attention to what I'm doing (i.e. don't download movies or software updates via the hotspot, wait until I'm home on the standard WiFi, etc.). There are 4G ones out there, but they usually involve a monthly fee, although with many of the pay as you go ones you can choose to have service one month, and not the next.

Thank you. Sounds especially useful for travelling since I do not have a smart phone.