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Posted

Hi, everyone! This is my first post here, but I have been lurking for a while soaking up all the great info and advice.

I'm considering purchasing a tablet computer, and I'd like some advice about which one would serve me better as we move to Thailand (Chiang Mai) in September.

At first I was sold on the iPad, but the lack of flash and higher price point have me vascillating. Would an Android tablet be better? Are there certain ones I should definitely avoid as they are not compatible with Thai carriers?

I'd like to be able to use the 3G capability here in the U.S. and then buy a Thai SIM card to use once we get there.

I'd like a 10-inch screen.

I do not have, and do not plan to have, a smart phone of any kind, so the tablet needs to have 3G capability on its own without tethering to a smart phone.

I do have an iPod touch and many, many apps (mostly free but a few paid), so that's a plus for the iPad.

My guess is that we would use around 3G of data each month, but I really don't know.

If there are certain specs I need to be aware of (like if it needs to be GSM 850 or whatever) as I shop, that would be helpful as well.

Thanks for any and all advice!! As you can probably tell, I don't really know much about the world of tablets, 3G, etc.

Posted (edited)

Are you moving to Thailand permanently?

When you say you will not have a smartphone, do you mean that you will not have a phone of any kind and that you expect the Tablet to be capable of making voice calls? Or that you may perhaps have a simple phone for making calls? Most current 10" tablets are not capable as acting as traditional phones.

Which 3G provider would you use in the U.S. prior to your move to Thailand?

Do you have to purchase now? It may be better to wait and buy in Thailand if only for the warranty issues?

As you are probably aware, now is is great time to buy an iPad2 but I am honestly not sure how easy it is to buy an unlocked 3G model in the States? You would want the version which supports:

Wi-Fi + 3G model: UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)

and is "Unlocked".

I see Unlocked and AT&T versions on eBay, not sure if the AT&T version requires any kind of commitment, or if it can be unlocked?

Any Unlocked 3G - capable tablet which supports 850/900/1900/2100 Mhz would be ideal for use here in Thailand.

We can identify SIMs and data plans closer to your move date as things will probably have changed by then. For budgeting purposes figure 400 baht/1 GB, 600 baht/2 GB, 800 baht/3 GB.

For a point of reference the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 GT-P7500/16 GB WiFi + 3G is available here for 17,000 baht, is unlocked and works on all 3G networks.

Edited by lomatopo
Posted

Thank you for the response! Yes, we are moving to Thailand permanently. We may be in central Thailand for a couple of months, but then we'll settle in Chiang Mai. I will have a basic phone so I won't be making calls from the tablet; I just meant that I won't have a smartphone so cannot rely on tethering for internet access.

I will be using AT&T here in the U.S., and we would like to purchase before we leave so we can use the tablet while traveling here in April/May. I just check around online, and apparently the AT&T 3G iPad 2 is actually sold unlocked, so you can just swap out the SIM card and go.

Your post brought up another question, though; is Applecare not valid in Thailand if it is purchased in the U.S.? Could I purchase the iPad here and then wait to purchase the Applecare plan in Thailand?

Thanks so much!

Posted

Yes, it seems like the AT&T branded 3G iPad2 is sold unlocked. (Sorry if I might have misled you; I have to say I was surprised.) And the AT&T PAYG 3G plans are quite attractive.

So it seems like that unit would work here with any our 3G service providers.

I can't answer the warranty issues; I suspect that like all AWS products, warranty repair/replacement is handled out of the AT&T Dallas, TX facility? Perhaps if you brought directly from Apple any warranty issues would be handled differently? I can say that if you bring an T&T branded device into an official (Samsung, HTC, Apple, et al.) repair facility here in Thailand you will be re-directed elsewhere, pointing towards the door. ;)

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