Asus EEE Transformer Prime Alternate Internet Connectivity

[yatiya]

I am considering buying a Transformer Prime. However, in South Africa, Wifi is a luxury restricted to the affluent,and is not readily available. At home I can still arrange to get wifi,but at work etc, ideally I would need 3G/HSDPA, which the TP doesn't have!

My question is, are there any alternative ways to connect without Wifi? Secondly, how much of the tablet's functionality depends on a connection ie is it usable off-line? Thirdly, can I use my laptop's 3G connection (via USB modem) to connect at home?

Thank you all in advance.

[jrpbulk]

@yatiya

I can't speak to what options you have outside of WiFi in South Africa.

You can tether the TF201 to a smartphone (or other device) via bluetooth. If that device has access to the Internet you can use that connection.
This has worked for me here in the U.S. It took about 60 seconds and I was sharing my smartphone's 4g connection via bluetooth riding in my car (I wasn't driving).

If your laptop has 3G then you should be able to use your laptop's connection via Blue tooth or USB (I have never tried it this way)

On your last question: Off-line use. That just depends on what you want to do, you can load movies, video, books, games ... etc and use them "off-line"

Hope this helps

I am considering buying a Transformer Prime. However, in South Africa, Wifi is a luxury restricted to the affluent,and is not readily available. At home I can still arrange to get wifi,but at work etc, ideally I would need 3G/HSDPA, which the TP doesn't have!

My question is, are there any alternative ways to connect without Wifi? Secondly, how much of the tablet's functionality depends on a connection ie is it usable off-line? Thirdly, can I use my laptop's 3G connection (via USB modem) to connect at home?

Thank you all in advance.

[leeshor]

Welcome to the forum

The quick answer is no, WiFi is it, however there is a way for you to gain WiFi access at work even if they don't have it. ASUS makes a mobile WiFi router, WL-22N3G, that would allow you to connect to the wired network at work and create your own hotspot. Alternatively there are some 3G, (dongle) devices that the router supports as well.

[DrPhill]

another option for is if you have a 3g mobile phone with hotspot support. I've got a HTC desire and whenever i need to be online out of the office/home i setup a quick wifi hotspot and voila

[bfmetcalf]

Don't they make a TF101G that has 3g capability? Might be just a US Carrier thing though.

[leeshor]

Don't they make a TF101G that has 3g capability? Might be just a US Carrier thing though.

The issue is that the G version is only available in a limited number of countries and I'm pretty certain SA isn't one of them.

[bfmetcalf]

Ok, Just thought I would throw it in there. Wasn't sure on the specifics of that one.

[Johnniek]

I live in South Africa and I have the TF101. I use it with my Samsung Galaxy phone all the time. I just activate the WiFi tethering on the phone and the TF pick up the hot spot. We don't have the silly tethering rules that the USA suffer with ;-) Also Vodacom offers a portable WiFi router for around R99 per month on a 2 year contract - I have connected to one of those without any issues. The TF is a really nice tablet - way better than the Samsung Tab 10.1.