You are buying the technical capability to use 4G. In order to actually have it work, you need to pay for a monthly data plan from a cell phone provider. I have an Android tablet and an iPad. I got both of them with only wifi because I did not want to pay for a data plan for either. They connect to the internet via my router or a free wifi hotspot. If I am somewhere that I can't use them, I use my cell phone and its data plan to connect to the internet. Bottomline: If you want to use a tablet everywhere, you need to buy the more expensive one with the capability to connect to a cell phone system, and you need to additionally pay for the data plan. Sorry, but there's no free lunch with 4G. This post was edited by kudzu9 on Fri, Mar 22, 13 at 20:21

yes if you have wireless in your home through a router which it sounds like you do then you have wifi that is all wifi is a wireless network connection no matter where it happens to be located. 4G is a term associated with cellular networks it is supposed to be the fastest protocol at the moment but it is not available every where so you may ask for 4G and pay for 4G but you may not get 4G you will get what ever band is available in the area you are in and in some areas if there is no coverage by that cellular network then you may not have any connection. you will have to have a cellular data plan to be able to use the 4G ability on the tablet, that will be a monthly fee with some cellular provider. I am not concerned with having that type of connection on my tablets I use mainly wifi connections. I do have a smartphone which does do all the tricks and does have a 4G plan including data so I can use my phone to access the internet where there are wifi networks available free or I can use the cellular data plan and access it through the cell towers if I am in a zone that has coverage. You will pay for that data on the cellular networks if you go over your allowed amount and it can really add up fast. So you just have to decide if you think you will use the 4G connection and if it is worth it to have to purchase a monthly plan to cover usage. I have no idea why it will cost $500 when the google nexus is so much cheaper and is a decent tablet. If it is going to be a 10 inch instead of the 7-8 inch that will be part of it. any cell company has a map you can look at that supposedly shows the coverage areas for the various bands like 4G 3 G etc.

I'll try to keep it short, not something I do well. The term for pattern learning, which is also affected by system performance too, is called adaptive recovery from setback. It's also something I also have no need or use for. I do use scheduled daily daytime and overnight setbacks but I got thermostats on which adaptive recovery is an option that can be turned off. I put in two new internet accessible thermostats when I did a two system equipment replacement a few years ago and I got Honeywells (on the recommendation of my HVAC contractor). I'm very happy with them. I need to do a system replacement on a second home in the next few months and I plan to get Honeywells installed there too, so that I can use one app to control both locations. I've heard that some HVAC contractors don't like the likes of Nest and Ecobee. Maybe because some of them are knuckle dragger/Luddite types and feel more comfortable sticking with brands known in the industry, I don't know. I have to say that even with my new Honeywells (the best known name in the HVAC industry and a company that manufactures many OEM branded models - for instance things like Carrier thermostats, Trane, etc) , I had to help a tech program them. The contractor's team did the wiring and of course the equipment install but, frankly, I understood the setup issues better than they did. No problem, we worked together, and the outcome was fine. If your upstairs system is vanilla - single stage gas furnace and single stage air conditioner, a system that doesn't need a communicating thermostat, not a heat pump with backup secondary or emergency heating, maybe an Ecobee or Nest might be fine. If it's other than vanilla, maybe not. And if it's installed or set up wrong, you'll have problems. I'm a person who tries to do things well, which is not always the cheapest way. I like being able to rely on the expertise of others. If you know and can afford to pay an HVAC contractor maybe a few hundred dollars (not counting the cost of the thermostat) for something a DIY person might try but screw up, have one come out to assess your situation and recommend what to use (and what they can install). Most modern thermostats do offer Wifi access and with Apple and Android apps. It shouldn't be too hard. You might even wind up having them install two if you can afford it. Do it at the same time. Your sprinkler controler sounds awesome! Good for you, you old dinosaur! You're an inspiration and excellent example for others, including younger others, of being adaptable to new things and using technology as a tool to overcome a disability. In your case, a visual disability, something everyone of Social Security age has to deal with.

Back when I had 3 active teens at home & a full time job, my old oven's Delay Start & Time Bake were fantastic conveniences. I'd get home at 3 pm, put a refrigerated casserole in the oven, start my 2 1/2 hours of pick ups & drop offs & errands, then we'd all come home to a cooked meal. I can see how remotely operating an oven could be very useful for a busy family. I use my new oven's wifi. It's not essential, and if it fizzles out as the appliance ages, no real loss. But it's a nice convenience for now. I was grocery shopping the other day, & the fish looked great. I have a good baked fish recipe, so I got the fish & other ingredients. Starting the oven in the grocery store, I came home to an oven ready to go. I assembled the fish dish & popped it in the oven, then put away the rest of the groceries. It gave me some time to get off my feet afterwards, especially when the end time rang on my phone & I turned the oven off without having to get up. We had guests recently, & dessert was still baking when they arrived. I could sit with them on our deck & converse because I had my phone with me to keep an eye on the oven. Otherwise, I can't hear the oven timer from the deck. GE sometimes adds features via software upgrades. They've added air fry to some ranges; hopefully they'll add it to my wall oven. This summer they added a weather feature to my clock display, which I like. I can see the current temp, projected high & low, & the day's forecast.