[DWSimmons]

Is it relatively easy to tether an android smartphone to the chromebook? I have a galaxy s phone with unlimited data plan and was hoping to tether instead of buying the 3g chromebook.

Thanks!

Tether, either by PDAnet or other app turns your phone in a USB modem. The operating system that you plug it into must first actually look for internet access at the USB connection and second, be able to recognize the USB device as a modem. From the promo material I have read so far, the USB connection is evolving, and from what I've read as of a couple days ago (16Jun2011), the answer is no.

Two things. One, there is always some hacker out there who wants to do the same thing you want (have your Chromebook recognize your cell phone) and has the tools to make it happen. YMMV. Second, Droymac is talking about turning your phone into a wifi hotspot. The phone would act as a wireless router, you would log in and be connected to the web via your phone's data plan. There are ways to do this without paying the $15/month. Again, YMMV.

 

[DWSimmons]

I actually have ATT - I had the unlimited data grandfathered into my plan.because I had the iPhone.

Is pdanet available too ATT subscribers? I have had trouble finding it?

Amazon app store, apple app store, android store show or don't show apps based on your carrier, your phone type, and your operating system release. Things that may not be available on Android HTC Hero or Eris because of how old it is would be available for the new EVO because they stopped updating Android OS for Hero and Eris.

All 3 stores to varying degrees flag and remove apps because of agreements with carriers or internal policy. We normally don't see this because Angry Birds is available to all, but for things like PDANet, it's much more variable.

There is always rooting of a phone. It's upside/downside can be very negative (dead phone) to very positive (tethering, wifi hotspots, access to programs that you wouldn't otherwise be able to).