Convertible laptop/tablet connectivity?

[vyv_cox]

Thinking of changing from iPad to one of the convertible devices. For Greek sailing we need SIM connection as wifi is variable and usually poor. Do these devices have micro SIM slots like the iPad? I would prefer to use the existing SIM card as setting it up in the first place was a tedious business. Thanks.

 

[laika]

Do these devices have micro SIM slots like the iPad? I would prefer to use the existing SIM card as setting it up in the first place was a tedious business. Thanks.

Not answering your question (sorry) and you probably know this already but...changing SIM may not be as onerous as you think. My smartphone (micro sim) broke recently and my backup phone takes an old standard sim. Vodafone just swapped it with no charge and minimum hassle. Setting up a new account involves ID, credit checks and paperwork. Changing physical SIMs (in the UK anyway) seems trivial.

Also, you probably know this but you can get converters which allow you to use a nano sim in a micro sim device and micro sim in a standard sim device. £5 in the vodafone shop. Doesn't allow you to convert down of course but if you get the smallest sim any of your devices takes you can probably use one of these to use it in devices which take larger sims.

 

[Bawdrons]

Thinking of changing from iPad to one of the convertible devices. For Greek sailing we need SIM connection as wifi is variable and usually poor. Do these devices have micro SIM slots like the iPad? I would prefer to use the existing SIM card as setting it up in the first place was a tedious business. Thanks.

Instead of changing your iPad could you use a mobile wifi device (mifi) like this Huawaei? I have this version which is great for those marinas that charge for wifi access or moorings that don't have it. It uses a micro sd card - I use a giffgaff card which works a treat.

 

[VicMallows]

Even more versatile is an Alfa R36 router. This gives you a local WiFi hotspot (the same as a MiFi) and can be used either with a standard 3G dongle, or with an Alfa AWUS036NHR long-range USB Adapter which will give vastly greater WiFi range. (You can even use a separate high gain WiFi antenna with it). Total cost around £60. (The R36 is 12v and works fine straight off the boat supply).

 

[Bawdrons]

Even more versatile is an Alfa R36 router. This gives you a local WiFi hotspot (the same as a MiFi) and can be used either with a standard 3G dongle, or with an Alfa AWUS036NHR long-range USB Adapter which will give vastly greater WiFi range. (You can even use a separate high gain WiFi antenna with it). Total cost around £60. (The R36 is 12v and works fine straight off the boat supply).

I too looked at the Alfa and USB adapter but opted for the Huawie as I believe it far more versatile as I can stick it in my pocket and use it anywhere - not just on the boat. I use it on holiday and in hotels and public transport that charge for internet access.

 

[vyv_cox]

Thanks for all info. To clarify, my primary aim is to stop using the iPad, which is not versatile enough for what I want to do. It does its Internet job well with wifi and SIM card, so I would like to find a direct alternative and the convertibles look to be a possibility. Changing SIM cards in Greece is almost certain to involve lots of hassle and arranging to see a technician when he arrives from Athens, which I would like to avoid. A mifi or similar has few benefits for someone with only one wifi device. The 3G signal in Greece is far more widely available in Greece than in UK, so having a high gain aerial is rarely necessary. I have a Vodafone dongle for Greece but a built-in SIM card like that of the iPad would be preferable.

 

[laika]

Changing SIM cards in Greece is almost certain to involve lots of hassle and arranging to see a technician when he arrives from Athens

Do check that (assuming that my understanding is correct: you want to keep the same account but possibly change to a different sized SIM to fit in a different device). As I said, in the uk at vodaphone you identify yourself (a little *too* easily imho), they pull out a card with a new sim, scan it, tappetty tap they assign your number to it and within a couple of hours your old sim stops working and the new one starts. Done by average salesperson in less than 5 mins (excluding the 20 mins you have to wait to speak to someone in the first place).

 

[vyv_cox]

Do check that (assuming that my understanding is correct: you want to keep the same account but possibly change to a different sized SIM to fit in a different device). As I said, in the uk at vodaphone you identify yourself (a little *too* easily imho), they pull out a card with a new sim, scan it, tappetty tap they assign your number to it and within a couple of hours your old sim stops working and the new one starts. Done by average salesperson in less than 5 mins (excluding the 20 mins you have to wait to speak to someone in the first place).

If only!! When I first took my iPad to Greece I wanted to sign up to Cosmote, as they reputedly have the best 3G coverage. The phone shop in Leros is manned (womanned?) by two sales girls but a technician from Athens was expected that evening, so I went back then. After about an hour of struggling he gave up and told me we would have to go with Vodafone. After a further hour he had it working. Next season it would not connect and nobody could figure out why. Eventually a girl in the Vodafone shop (the only dedicated phone shop in Lakki) found the solution in a little notebook under her desk - we needed to enter about four lines in the VPN setting, previously unknown.

 

[duncan99210]

In Greece, if you have a mobile data SIM that works, then the very last thing you want to do is to disrupt it in any way shape or form! Getting the connection re-established is a absolute nightmare - it took us three months of visits to the local Vodafone shop just to set up a new credit card on a contract a year to two back.
However, if you have a micro SIM and want to use it in an normal sized SIM socket, then all you need to is to buy a cheap 'combo' SIM in UK, pop out the micro SIM and insert your Greek micro SIM into the empty holder. We did this in Spain and Greece so as to avoid the hassle of getting hold of different cards for use on the boat and in the iPad when mobile.
As to the original question, sorry haven't got a clue but you could go down the mifi brick route as it would give you a signal anywhere in the boat plus the ability to hoist it up the mast for better reception in poor reception areas, plus you can retain the original Greek SIM.

 

[Ravi]

For Greek sailing we need SIM connection as wifi is variable and usually poor.

Vyv - i bought a wifi booster (recommended by a forumite) and that had made Greek WiFi on the boat a usable option.
Re - Maybe I have misunderstood the prob but, if you just want something for a 3g device, it is relatively straightforward (for Greece) to get a new payg cosmote sim to use in your device for internet.

 

[vyv_cox]

Re - Maybe I have misunderstood the prob but, if you just want something for a 3g device, it is relatively straightforward (for Greece) to get a new payg cosmote sim to use in your device for internet.

See my post#8. That is exactly what I was doing. What I want to do is dump my iPad in exchange for something Windows, but keep all its good points, like a built-in SIM, gps and wifi. It seemed that maybe these convertible laptop/tablets might do that, leaving the keyboard part for editing video and photos but using the tablet part out for email and forums.

 

[Sarnia]

In Greece, if you have a mobile data SIM that works, then the very last thing you want to do is to disrupt it in any way shape or form! Getting the connection re-established is a absolute nightmare - it took us three months of visits to the local Vodafone shop just to set up a new credit card on a contract a year to two back.
However, if you have a micro SIM and want to use it in an normal sized SIM socket, then all you need to is to buy a cheap 'combo' SIM in UK, pop out the micro SIM and insert your Greek micro SIM into the empty holder. We did this in Spain and Greece so as to avoid the hassle of getting hold of different cards for use on the boat and in the iPad when mobile.
As to the original question, sorry haven't got a clue but you could go down the mifi brick route as it would give you a signal anywhere in the boat plus the ability to hoist it up the mast for better reception in poor reception areas, plus you can retain the original Greek SIM.

Does all that above apply to an i4 phone when in Greece, by changing my '3' sim for a Cosmote one.

 

[duncan99210]

Sarnia, provided that your iPhone is not locked to the 3 network, the you should be able to simply insert a Cosmote SIM for it work on their network. We've found that it's worth taking the phone with you to the shop and getting them to set it up for you: we've found most of the shops to have at least one geek on the staff who can help out should it be required.
That said, if you check out the APN setting for the Greek networks (Google search for Greeek APNs) that'll give you the info you need to manually set the APN to get on line. The setting can be changed by going to the cellular data setting tab in the setting menu, choose APN settings and change as required to match the data you checked out via Google.
We had a problem with APN settings under Ios 6 but Ios 7 & 8 seemed to load the required stuff automatically.

 

[Ravi]

OK, I think that I know what you mean. A laptop / tablet combo? I.e. a laptop where you can walk off with the screen and use it as a tablet. Yes?
And you also want it to have SIM card capability?
Like this device.....http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/tablets/thinkpad/thinkpad-helix/

If so, great if you can afford it.
If you are thinking of going with avdifferent operating system (windows), you may want to check (a) if it will run the programs that you consider essential and (b) if you will need to re-buy your existing software for the new OS. You may need to buy it again.

An argument against the combo solution is that for a laptop you want the biggest screen, CPU and keyboard possible (to do photo editing etc.) and a combo will always be compromise.

A cheaper solution is to buy a good laptop and a good tablet. The SIM on the tablet can be set up a WiFi hotspot for aptop.

But, the argument FOR the combo solution is that you have an integrated technology and everything should be seamless and you only need 1 software licence for your programs.
Those are the argumemts. As with any co!outer decision, the deciding factor should be the prpgrams that you use/need and their licensimg !model and whether they will run on that, particular, OS.

A separate laptpp and tablet would suit you if you enjoy tinkering with geeky stuff. A combo will be lower maintenance, but at a cost.
I hope that !makes sense.