bonny, I'm confused. If you're going to use an iPad/mini to replace a desktop computer, how do you plan on doing that without wifi? There are no native inputs on an iPad for an ethernet cable. There's no USB ports either. You can't buy one without it at least being wifi-capable. The LTE versions that run on cellular network and basically act as giant cellphones are optional.

bonny there are some things you'll be able to do on a tablet without a wifi connection but the ipad and ipad mini only have the lightning connector.

There are some adapters you can get that attach the lightning connector (that's the charger) that give you some options. For example you can get a SD card adapter or an adapter for HDMI (it's called lighting to digital av adapater).

Also you are locked into the storage - if you get 16 gbs and you use it up the only way to get more space is to use the iCloud (which requires wifi connectivity) and that has a monthly fee, delete files or apps, or transfer them to a computer.

There are soem Windows based tablets that have microHDMI ports and most Android and Windows tablets have microSD card slots for expanding storage.

If you're worried about breaking it, I highly recommend a Lifeproof or Otterbox case for it. However, those types of cases will limit the kinds of keyboards you can use for it. Zagg makes a folio keyboard case that encloses the whole ipad (or other tablet they've expanded this line) so that the ipad will look like a small computer and it provides more protection. Although it doesn't have the kind of military grade drop ratings that the Lifeproof and Otterbox cases have.

Thanks so much for the advice askye!

I do have an SD card reader, but my life is pretty usb based just now.

MFlaw, I was trying to figure out if I could use the tablet as back up, just in case.

It would appear not, so now I'm leaning back toward the itouch.

I'm feeling like any tech choice I make is a crapshoot anyway!

I'm going to check on wifi prices along with my landline, but I'm in no big hurry.

So, I've had a printer that I've used wirelessly for about six months, and it suddenly fell off the network. I've been trying for the last couple of days, with copious Brother support in chat, to get it working again, to no avail. I'm sitting in the chat queue again now, but I thought I'd ping b.org and see if any of you had suggestions. Thanks!

ack! the horror!

And turning my router off and on again fixed it. It took three chat sessions, and two successively escalated phone calls to arrive at this. To be fair, I had plenty of time to come up with this solution on my own and failed to do so. Turned everything else in the house except for the fridge off and on again before contacting tech support, but not the router. Oh, well. Next time I'll know.

Typing on my new logitech keyboard from my Galaxy tab. Works well. i'm going to try remote contorl to see if Microsoft word is easier to use via remote control on my desktop compared to sitting directly at my computer. is realvnc overkill for this. Is there a standard more user friendly app that will do the same thing, or is RealVnc fine. The reviews seem to suggest that it works great but is slightly user hostile to install.

Oh and how do close stuff on his machine. I downloaded the manual and opened it in Hnncome PDF viewer. But I don't really wnat to leave the manual and the viewer open for the entire life of he machine.

Is that on a Samsung Galaxy Tab 4? What Android version?

Eh, the detail probably doesn't matter. Try a long press on the middle (home) button. Does that display a list of open apps (task switcher) and a task manager button?

VNC is a classic bit definitely not designed for user friendliness. I have taken to using TeamViewer for remote desktopping; I don't think you can view the tablet from the computer but it should work well for viewing the computer from the tablet which is I think your goal. Both should work though. TeamViewer is easier for connections from a distance since it handles the connection and you don't née an IP or anything.