Think it's worth waiting for the Verizon 4G?

[lucasbuck]

Just fishing for opinions before I pull the trigger. I hate waiting and figure the Verizon model is going to be overpriced. Also, I read it was a modified version of Jellybean which makes me wonder if Verizon tinkered with it.
I have unlimited data on my Verizon Galaxy Nexus but since it's on Jellybean I can't use pdanet for wifi. Does the bluetooth tethering work pretty well? What's the odds it could get broken like the wifi hot spot did with Jellybean?
Thanks for any opinions!

 

[jneusch]

I have been impatiently waiting since the announcement at CES. I went ahead and bought the wifi version at Costco (90 day return policy) to make sure I would like the tablet. My thought is that the LTE version would replace my LTE VZ iPad3. I must say that I really like the 10.1 and if VZ ever releases it, AND it's a reasonable price, I will buy it and return the wifi model.

I am using my Note2 to hotspot my 10.1 via wifi and it connects very easy. I am on Share Everything so hotspot is included in my rate plan. I have not tried BT tethering so I can't answer that specifically.

 

[LegalAmerican]

I prefer the Wi-Fi version with tethering from my phone. The LTE version would be AWESOME if I hadn't gotten so tired of Verizon's crap. I HATE the modifications they do to their devices with bloatware, holding up updates, and plastering their logo all over the place. I recently cancelled my Verizon contract and I LOVE the freedom I have with the Wi-Fi only model and unlimited data through a different carrier so I can tether when I need it.

But I certainly see the draw for the LTE version. I just wish you could get the benefits without the downside. Verizon illustrated my point for me too, when they said it would be available 3 weeks ago and then never mentioned it again.

 

[lucasbuck]

Thanks for the replies. As soon as VZ gets rid of unlimited data, I'll bail, so it's probably not the best option. Funny thing is, I was playing around with PDANet today and noticed it still works on my VZ Galaxy Nexus. It's still on 4.1.1. I read where hotspot won't work if it's updated to 4.2. I'm curious 1) can I block my phone from updating to 4.2 to keep the hotspot 2) is there any other features that 4.2 has that 4.1.1 doesn't? But I'll jump over to the Nexus forum so I don't clutter up the Note one. Just musing.If I can connect through my phone, I'm fine. Now I'll just have to ask a million accessories questions, but I'll do another thread for that!

 

[LaWolf]

I just wanted to warn you... I too have unlimited data, however, a few months ago, during a 7 day power outage I called Verizon to turn on my 3G mobile hotspot capabilities, when I spent a night at a friends house who had no wifi. I tethered my laptop to my phone, and all was going great. I was happy as could be watching TV online, until, to my surprise, I got a warning from Verizon saying that I was 50% through my 2G of data. I called Verizon immediately and they told me that 3G mobile hotspot is not part of the unlimited data. I was so pissed because I was using it to try and catch up on all of my shows I was missing during the power outage (I'm a TV junkie!). Naturally that was the end of that because video streaming goes through data so fast. So, unless they were lying to me and that message was sent in error, unlimited data does not cover 3G hotspot.

On another note, I am in the same boat as you. I have been waiting ever since the announcement too. I think I'm going to do what the other poster is doing and head down to Costco tomorrow. Thanks for the great idea jneusch!!!!

 

[lucasbuck]

I was just planning on using PDANet, but was somewhat worried about Verizon noticing after reading posts on the topic. I wouldn't be streaming anything, just maybe email, lite web surfing, and occasional navigation when I'm out of town. Any current opinions on whether Verizon notices with PDANet? Is there a difference tethering wifi and bluetooth on PDANet as far as what they would notice? Most of the posts on the topics I found are older.