I am just about to get an iPad, cant decide if the 3G is worth the extra money as im not away from my wifi that much, but then it sounds good at times like trips and holidays to have it.....any thoughts guys
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3G or not
- Thread starter chrisiw
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If you have the money, get the 3G. It's nice to have in case you need it. Having GPS is also a plus.
With my wife away, I enjoyed my 3G at a local tavern bar (no wi-fi) last evening. I am convinced that 3G is really a necessity until free wi-fi is more available.
It depends on your situation.
Take my situation for example. I now have a 3G iPad, and sold my PC/Laptop, and modem. Don't need any of them.
If you use WiFi, there is no reason to get a 3G version. You want to spend extra money on a service you may use? Which just costs you more money to use it on top of your current internet costs? Many of the above comments just have me pff'ing air.
Take my situation for example. I now have a 3G iPad, and sold my PC/Laptop, and modem. Don't need any of them.
If you use WiFi, there is no reason to get a 3G version. You want to spend extra money on a service you may use? Which just costs you more money to use it on top of your current internet costs? Many of the above comments just have me pff'ing air.
I had a Wi-Fi only iPad at first and then sold it and switched to a 3G iPad when they were released. While I spend most of my time at home (I work from home) in our own Wi-Fi network, I do encounter many places without Wi-Fi when out of the house. While I also have a laptop, I do sometimes need or want to only bring my iPad with me when going out and I want to be able to connect anywhere, particularly if I need to do a bit of work in a pinch. Given this, the $129 premium for the 3G iPad was worth it to me.
It looks like many of the 3G iPad plans in the UK (after a quick glance, I did not read them all thoroughly) can be had daily or weekly (which is not an option for us in the U.S.) so you definitely have the option to use it only when you need it and avoid a long-term contract and recurring monthly bill. I say go for it.
With the UK plans offering daily and weekly options, it's not necessarily going to cost him much extra particularly if he's on holiday and is away from free Wi-Fi. Not everyone is in the same situation as you and there's no need to be condescending about the experiences and opinions of others.
It looks like many of the 3G iPad plans in the UK (after a quick glance, I did not read them all thoroughly) can be had daily or weekly (which is not an option for us in the U.S.) so you definitely have the option to use it only when you need it and avoid a long-term contract and recurring monthly bill. I say go for it.
With the UK plans offering daily and weekly options, it's not necessarily going to cost him much extra particularly if he's on holiday and is away from free Wi-Fi. Not everyone is in the same situation as you and there's no need to be condescending about the experiences and opinions of others.
There is nothing condescending about thinking someone is an idiot for spending a large sum of money on something extra they "may" use once in a blue moon.
Cost is the only reason not to get a 3G. GPS and wider connectivity option are big pluses if you can afford $130 more plus the monthly fee.
Then allow me to be condescending....if you think $129 is a "large sum of money" then you probably can't afford an iPad in the first place.
Then allow me to be condescending....if you think $129 is a "large sum of money" then you probably can't afford an iPad in the first place.
Not necessarily true. I know plenty of people who could buy iPads weekly but still consider $129 more than an insignificant amount of money.
I only went for the 3G version because if you can't get onto a wifi network you nave no choice but to use the mobile network. The limitation of wifi only version is it's too reliant on wifi so basically you are bound to home.
I was referring to it being a large sum of money. If someone can drop a few grand a month of disposable income (according to your "weekly iPad purchase" example) they won't think twice about a hundred bucks.
While a large sum is certainly subjective, a c-note isn't a large sum when talking about a device that costs > $500 and typically more since a lot of opt for the higher units.
Maybe you missed my point. I'll state it more simply, if you need to worry about spending $100, you probably shouldn't be buying an iPad.
Same for me...just in case. I already canceled my data plan since I only used around 20mb last month. Virtually everywhere I go I seem to find WiFi. Luckily, few exceptions so far.
haha, I clicked your page, and as expected...
20" iMac, 15" Macbook Pro, iPhone 3G (and now an iPad 3G)
I enjoy going out to bars/clubs or gigs, especially when I'm back in Tokyo (night life in Australia is rather dull) However I'm responsible with my money, and don't have a disorder of buying the same things over and over again in different form factors.
$129 is a significant increase in price, especially when the reason for that increase is likely not to be used or needed.
But hey, I'm not judging your lifestyle, I'm just glad it's not mine!
By the way, how are those porn sites working out for ya?
3Gs are great, but even though I could afford it I said no, a decision I've been happy with.
Why?
- That ugly black strip absolutely mars the clean lines and beauty of the iPad. Why they didn't make it silver colored is beyond me, it sticks out like a sore thumb on an otherwise flawless design.
- Restrictions of 3G. Now I just MyWi tether my iPhone. I don't have any of the inane restrictions 3G connectivity provides. I can do whatever, just as if I was on WiFi.
- While I COULD have afforded 3G quite easily, in Canada it's $35/mo for 5GB. That's well over $400 a year. I could almost buy a new iPad every year just by forgoing 3G. That and I get unlimited data for $30/mo on my iPhone anyway. I just tether, even though the battery life isn't the best.
Why?
- That ugly black strip absolutely mars the clean lines and beauty of the iPad. Why they didn't make it silver colored is beyond me, it sticks out like a sore thumb on an otherwise flawless design.
- Restrictions of 3G. Now I just MyWi tether my iPhone. I don't have any of the inane restrictions 3G connectivity provides. I can do whatever, just as if I was on WiFi.
- While I COULD have afforded 3G quite easily, in Canada it's $35/mo for 5GB. That's well over $400 a year. I could almost buy a new iPad every year just by forgoing 3G. That and I get unlimited data for $30/mo on my iPhone anyway. I just tether, even though the battery life isn't the best.
Like others have said, it is definitely worth it. I have already used my 3G more than I originally thought I would. I'm just glad I have it and glad I have the unlimited data plan too!
I got the wifi myself. I would have gotten the 3G, but they didn't have any in stock. I figure it saves me $30/month anyway.
haha, I clicked your page, and as expected...
20" iMac, 15" Macbook Pro, iPhone 3G (and now an iPad 3G)
I enjoy going out to bars/clubs or gigs, especially when I'm back in Tokyo (night life in Australia is rather dull) However I'm responsible with my money, and don't have a disorder of buying the same things over and over again in different form factors.
$129 is a significant increase in price, especially when the reason for that increase is likely not to be used or needed.
But hey, I'm not judging your lifestyle, I'm just glad it's not mine!
By the way, how are those porn sites working out for ya?
Wow...you looked at my "page"...that info is old from when I first joined. As for "lifestyle"...you probably wouldn't like mine. I retired in my early forties, live in a 12,000 sq ft house with my wife and 4 kids and have a LP560-4. Life sucks...
As for porn sites, I have no idea what you are referring to.