Why no data enabled N7?

[bob60626]

This seems to be the tablet of the summer; will there be a GSM version? I wouldn't mind paying another fifty bucks to use TMobile prepaid.

 

[Skyroket]

Just use wifi hot spot

 

[umataro42]

I think being wifi only is part of how they keep the price down to $200 for the 8GB. The other big selling $200 tablet, the Kindle Fire, is also wifi only.

If you're out and about, and not paranoid about using free wifi, there's McDonalds, Starbucks, Coffee Bean, as far as the bigger chains. I think a lot of libraries have free wifi too.

 

[Deleted User]

Yep, I'm sure it's partly about price. Typically, cell-enabled tablets are more than a $50 increase in price. For example, the cell-enabled iPad is $150 more than the wifi-only version.

 

[Unforgiven]

I think this is targeted at the Kindle Fire so WiFi makes sense. Also, at $200 ($250 for the 16GB) how can you go wrong. This is the best spec'd tablet hardware wise out there.

 

[redlari72]

I just use it on the wifi at home, but if I'm out and about usually places have free wifi and if not I use Foxfi and surf off my 4G.

 

[burtonvdp]

I just use it on the wifi at home, but if I'm out and about usually places have free wifi and if not I use Foxfi and surf off my 4G.

This!

For the price they couldn't jam it in this unit... And given most (Probably 90% or more) wouldn't use it anyways on this first go around. I bet next year if not sooner you will see it pop up. You can always get one of those little hot spot devices and get a case that can hold both... More bulk but not too bad of a solution.

 

[JanComputerman]

It also uses more power and it needs it for the quad core CPU and the dozen video processors plus a big tablet has an even bigger battery with more power to spare for cell service.

 

[Unforgiven]

It also uses more power and it needs it for the quad core CPU and the dozen video processors plus a big tablet has an even bigger battery with more power to spare for cell service.

Actually this bad boy is a five core with the fifth being a super low power idle core for the times when you aren't doing anything processor intensive.

 

[aSystemOverloa]

I've used bluetooth to tether to my Defy, I mean why pay for two tariffs, only problem is I can't use it much or I go over my 500Meg allowance. need to upgrade to 1Gig allowance, lol!

 

[bob60626]

Thanks guys.

Tethering is not a practical option, IMO, due to phone battery life considerations. The hunt continues for a 3/4G 7" tablet on the cheap(ish)!

 

[MSUgEEk]

Thanks guys.

Tethering is not a practical option, IMO, due to phone battery life considerations. The hunt continues for a 3/4G 7" tablet on the cheap(ish)!

It will be years before you find one. Cellular radios and the supporting hardware are expensive. You'd be looking at a minimum of $100 price increase if not more to pack one in a tablet. You can either get an expensive tablet with a cellular radio or a cheap one without it. It's just not possible to do a sub $300 tablet with cellular radios right now. Just go get a wifi hotspot if you're concerned about phone battery life. Most are free with a contract.

 

[DC IT]

Thanks guys.

Tethering is not a practical option, IMO, due to phone battery life considerations. The hunt continues for a 3/4G 7" tablet on the cheap(ish)!

BlackBerry just released a 4g version of the PlayBook @ $550.00.
For that price the N7 with WiFi is just fine since I can tether to my GNote mobile hotspot when free hotspot is not available.

 

[NeoteriX]

As an aside, Google has had a rough time of dealing with cell phone carriers -- it's well known its plans to offer the Nexus phones with carrier intervention was a failure.

Making the Nexus 7 wifi only allows Google to sell the device on its own terms.

 

[zetroc]

As an aside, Google has had a rough time of dealing with cell phone carriers -- it's well known its plans to offer the Nexus phones with carrier intervention was a failure.

Making the Nexus 7 wifi only allows Google to sell the device on its own terms.

More so than the price, I think this was a huge factor. Whenever there are carriers involved, Google can't seem to do what it wants with the device however it envisions the device to be. Especially with CDMA carriers. This allows Google to offer the complete Google experience without compromising anything (other than cell data accessibility). The next OS update will likely be released immediately to the N7 and this is in big part because Google doesn't need to ask anyone else for permission or what not. They can just push the update out and be done.

 

[BubbaHotepUK]

Get a MiFi, makes a lot of sense if your wife/husband/girlf/boyf gets a tablet too. You can all share the same connection, and the battery life of MiFis is far better than cell phones or tablets.

 

[thengodisseven]

I tether with my phone and experience no drastic battery loss. An hour of being tethered and consistent use might cost me 5% of the battery. Not a large drain at all.

It's nice having one mobile plan and one payment for it as well as opposed to having one for each device I use that is data enabled.