I deliberated long and hard between the iPad and the Galaxy Tab and came to the conclusion that either one would be great. It wasn't an issue of the iPad being somewhat more expensive or that the Tab was somehow superior...I just liked the slightly more rectangular screen format of the Tab, the ability to customize the interface using Android, and the fact that I knew Android would be easier for me to use based on having an Android smartphone. The iPad is a beautiful machine, so I hope no one thought I was dissing it because I wanted to tout the choice I made as better...it was a close call. Other observations I can make are: 1) I wanted to use my device as an Internet browser, so having Flash capability (which the iPad doesn't support) was a modest issue. 2) If you want compactness in your ereader, then the Kindle of the Amazon Fire would be a better portability choice than either the Tab or the iPad. 3) I had gathered, from reading comparisons between the Tab and the iPad, that I might have a bit more flexibility with handling a range of ebook formats if I chose the Tab over the iPad, and in sharing those books across devices. I understand that iPad doesn't read formats available from all libraries, although I assume you could solve this by doing a conversion with the free Calibre software. (I'll admit that I'm not an expert on this.)

Raven-- I live in a no man's land between Time Warner Road Runner, six miles south, and Fios, six miles north. I am surrounded by beautiful farms and most of them are owned by Mennonites, who aren't likely to use the internet unless they run a business that demands the service. The area is sparsely populated and there is zero plan for any cable to come our way. I have to use TDS for my land phone and DSL, and DISH for TV. I am retired and have all day free most of the time. There is no competition for the poor folks living in Conquest, NY and I believe TDS takes advantage of that. Thanks for the idea of adding another fan to my tower. I do periodically clean it because I have three cats. It has run hot from the day I got it and it doesn't help that my computer and TV are located in my double wide's smallest room. I absolutely hate using a touch pad instead of a mouse, and I have a wireless mouse for my netbook when I take it on vacation. I don't do anything on my Kindle except order and read books so a lack of keyboard isn't an issue. I was hoping that a good tablet would have a touch screen so I could avoid having to use a touch pad to select programs or mail. My house is 44 feet long and the router/WiFi I have works well in all rooms. I was recently on vacation in Maine where I met up with my son from California. He is a whiz on his iPhone and I would like to be able to manipulate images the way he can on his phone. Clearly, if I wanted to write more than a few words I would go back to the PC. Other than checking email and the weather frequently throughout the day, I always check my bank accounts, credit cards and all the monthly bills I pay online. I use two to four credit cards on a daily basis because I charge everything I possible can, paying cash only to the small vendors who insist on cash payments. I always pay my credit cards in full at the end of the month, so using them doesn't cost me anything. I go for the perks offered by the cards and since I never pay any interest, any benefits I receive are totally free to me. I wait until I am eligible to receive 1% cash back and then collect my "free" money. I really think I would enjoy having a tablet with me so I can check the above mentioned information whenever I have a spare minute. It would make waiting through commercials on TV less annoying. Nancy

I have installed the RIM software in the past, but now I have not been able to make it work any longer. It takes 45 minutes to install, and you have to promise to buy Blackberry service to install, and I told it I would so I could back up my sim card contacts, but I don't have Blackberry service. The software did not connect, yet it deleted all my contacts from my sim. Furthermore, you have to give all your information to Blackberry your name, address,your profession, first born child etc. and it takes a very long time to type in all of that. If you do it once you still have to type it in again each time you download the software. The RIM software is buggy, you will need to reinstall it frequently if it works at all. I will never use the RIM software again. I have seen usb sim card readers for as low as 4.99. They told me I should either buy a new phone or use the RIM software. That is why I am posting here to see if anyone else has used a sim back up usb device and if so what brand did they use. I can't understand why tmobile would suggest I spend $300 to buy a new phone rather then spend 4.99. The sim card goes into the usb, it's a card reader. They have one if you look on Amazon, but it got a low review. New Egg also has card readers with slots to insert a SIM card, the same way you would the memory card from your camera. I would assume you can also edit your contacts via computer. Tmobile should get in touch with reality.

I pick up a SIM card and replace the one in my phone with the SIM, which is local to the country. I can't receive calls on my U.S. number, which doesn't bother me because I can be reached by email or Skype.