Last year I got a Kobo touch E-reader, and with an upcoming Florida holiday, I was looking at how to get internet access with it to buy books away from my home computer. Hubby did some research and decided it was time for me to get a tablet, so he bought me a Galaxy. There are no instuctions as how to implement the features. The instructions tell you how to turn it on, and what icons to pick, but the rest is all trial and error. I found out how to get to my forums, and access the internet, but the whole typing and searching is incredibly awkward. I tried to access my Kobo books and needed an app. The app download was controlled by Google and I needed to register. I hate giving my E-mail address out , so I looked for alternatives. I could set up another e-mail but I needed my Google membership to do that. It certainly didn't seem as free and easy as the internet I access on my home tower. I thought that I could play my BigFish games on it, but they wouldn't download. I tried to watch my favorite TVO series, and they wouldn't download.

The tablet went back. Either I'm too old-fashioned for it, or it is more complex than people are led to believe. I'm still trying to figure out how to get WiFi on my Kobo.

Sorry to hear that Colpet. It can be so frustrating sometimes trying to figure out some of todays technology.

I even have a problem with my new phone, sometimes I want to slam it up against the wall.

 But then I get a grip and ask one of my boys to help me.

Maybe someone here can help you with your Kobo, There seems to be a few members here that are very knowledgeable on the subject of tablets and e-readers.

 Good luck, I hope you get it figured out.

Thanks, Helen. It's actually kind of funny that I like to work out puzzles yet can't get my head around many of the newer gadgets.

Colpet.... I feel your pain.  I still can't understand my new galaxy phone.  I think the instructions on how to operate it are out there on the internet somewhere but I've lost motivation to search for them.  All its fancy features go unused as I use it primarily for texting my sons - which is very handy.

I too, tried the 'let's sort this puzzle out' approach only to realise very quickly that solving problems in real life lacks the charm of solving them in games with cute graphics, a soundtrack and the escape clause of a walkthrough. 

So, a break from chilly Canada to hot and steamy Florida.  I hope you take some interesting photos to share with us.  Are you going to DisneyWorld?

Phones and tablets use different OS's than PC's do, so obviously you can't play the same games since PC games are made for Windows.   For that you need to get yourself an IBM laptop with Windows installed, or an Apple if you want to play games that you can usually play on your Mac.

 I think one can get a version of Windows for your phone, but it's quite a lot of fiddling, and of course, your phone or tablet has to have quite a lot of memory and a fast processor for that.  You do get games specially for phones and tablets, but they're usually not the same games that we play on our Windows PC's, though some of them ( I can vaguely recall an AG or two included in the list) have indeed been ported.

..so, all in all, you'd do better to get yourself a Windows netbook, or a cheapie laptop.  I got a cheapie laptop a few months ago, (in addition to my kindle and my tablet, mainly because whith the latter two devices, displaying most PDF's is a pain, and also typing is slower and not half as convenient as on a proper laptop, and i couldn't really do any work stuff on them, especially not on the Kindle which is otherwise very light and convenient for just reading) and the latest laptops are really very easy to operate.  Everything is already installed for you, and if you pay a 30 or 40 bucks or so extra for a memory upgrade, you should easily be able to play HOGs and similar casual games at the very least on it. 

As for getting books for the Kobo, what a pity you didn't rather get a Kindle instead.  The app Amazon has as a Kindle simulator for PC, is extremely convenient to use and to get and install. In fact you don't have to do anything - you simply go into your Amazon account, and say you want to test-read a certain (any) book,  and then it will ask you if you want to try the reader for PC, you say yes, and there it goes. Instant Kindle for PC.  You can dld books to it, and then from there download them to your Kindle device, it's all very easy and convenient.

Ok, i don't like Amazon out of principle  (they have similar business practices to MS), but anyway, i can't deny that getting books from them is easier than what it seems for Kobo.

Also, your Kindle device itself comes with wi-fi software already installed so you can connect to your Amazon store from wherever you are and download directly to your Kindle.

Oh, and btw, i hope you have a lovely holiday in Florida, and that you'll bring back and post lots of photo's for us!

I thought tablets were just limited computers. I didn't realize that they didn't use windows.

As for my Kobo, I buy most of my books from Indigo/Chapters, so a Kobo makes more sense. It has a desktop version that's easy to use. I can connect it to any computer and access my books. It has a WiFI feature that would let me but books away from a computer, but I don't know how to activate it. It's not really a big deal, as I can load it up before we go away.

We are going to the Orlando area in November. My first trip to Disney was in 1997, so I'm sure a lot has changed. Right now we have scheduled Animal Kingdom and Epcot. I'm interested in Harry Potter Land, but Paul would be bored senseless.

It depends which one you get.  Most of them have apps that allow you to view docs and even wordprocess them off your computer.  (You plug the tablet into your computer as you would do with any external memory drive, and just copy the files over to your tablet's hard drive.)

..but with the iPad, it has the iOS on it, and other tablets tend to use some or other kind of mobile OS like Droid.

..but a netbook/laptop is only slightly bigger and more expensive with a lot of the features your desktop has,  - in fact, you can buy laptops that are just as powerful as desktops, -only they're more expensive because of the size & cooling technology that goes into them.

Dear Colpet,

You still have time.  Research an alternative day's activity for your beloved and get thyself to Harry Potter Land.  This is your holiday too.  Senseless sacrifice pleases neither of you: the man won't notice and you'll never forget. 

Originally Posted By Caroline (27 AUG 2012 5:31pm)

Dear Colpet,

 

You still have time.  Research an alternative day's activity for your beloved and get thyself to Harry Potter Land.  This is your holiday too.  Senseless sacrifice pleases neither of you: the man won't notice and you'll never forget. 

Can't agree more. Take a few hours where you go and do your thing and he goes to something that doesn't interest you.  Nothing makes you feel more trapped than an unwilling millstone around the neck...  and to make matters worse, Caroline and I expect a full report on HP land and a photo or two when you return. 

Colpet bows to Caroline's and Traveller's wisdom. It shall be done.

Originally Posted By colpet (28 AUG 2012 6:38am)

Colpet bows to Caroline's and Traveller's wisdom. It shall be done.

  You're welcome, Colpet!    Enjoy all the witches and wizards!  I'm actually quite envious, come to think of it... 

Originally Posted By Traveller (28 AUG 2012 3:57am)

Originally Posted By Caroline (27 AUG 2012 5:31pm)

Dear Colpet,

 

You still have time.  Research an alternative day's activity for your beloved and get thyself to Harry Potter Land.  This is your holiday too.  Senseless sacrifice pleases neither of you: the man won't notice and you'll never forget. 

 

Can't agree more. Take a few hours where you go and do your thing and he goes to something that doesn't interest you.  Nothing makes you feel more trapped than an unwilling millstone around the neck...  and to make matters worse, Caroline and I expect a full report on HP land and a photo or two when you return. 

That makes three of us. I can't wait to vicariously visit HP Land. I just got back from my vicarious visit to eastern Europe and let me tell you it was great.