Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
I'd be happy with wifi if it didn't drop my connection every 30 seconds... :mad:
 
I am also considering giving up my iPhone..... The things I use it for the iPad can do, and bigger.

I think it has a lot to do with what you use the iPhone for. I'm over 30, so I'm not much into texting, using social apps or keeping in 'constant contact with my friends'. If I was, I would not have been able to give up the iPhone and the convenience of 'always in my pocket'.

My main use for the iPhone was surfing the web and looking up things on the go like directions. I didn't even use the iPhone much to make calls or receive calls. My one complaint was how small the iPhone was.... so the iPad is a perfect replacement for me.
 
The only place we visit that doesn't have WiFi is my inlaws

That can be fixed with a 69 dollar linksys rather then me paying 129 for the 3g version on top of the monthly fees.

Easy choice.

If I was going to mount it in my car full time, well there's a different story.
 
No need for a 3G one since im always at starbucks and i get free att wifi since im a gold card member lol.

Starbucks + iPad = match made in heaven.
 
I don't have an iPad yet, but I will certainly go for the 3G model. Even if it only was because of the black strip (which probably also means better WiFi reception, if they locate it over there), the GPS and to be sure I've get internet like everywhere.
 
Well if you see the posts from me on this forum, you will know I was adamant about getting the 3G iPad for numerous reasons. For lack of patience I decided to go 64GB Wifi instead of 32GB 3G. Side notes: I have iPhone 3GS and Macbook Pro 13"

Best decision i have ever made.

Pros:
Was able to get 32GB more for $30 bucks less.
Was able to tether 3GS via MyWi to iPad for free.

Cons:
No GPS
I am a slave to jailbreaking.

I went to a defensive driving class in a hospital and I thought I was going to have to tether but they had wifi. So far everywhere I have went has WiFi.

I just hope they can unlock and jailbreak the next iPhone :).
 
Yeah, I'm in an interesting position where I was thinking of returning the wifi version just to get the 3G version but it's not like I travel often. It's just the comfort that if i travel and their isn't any wifi, then I can access the internet. But then again, I have a 3GS iPhone.
 
I had a 3G 32GB on order and like others decided to cancel and go with a 64GB WiFi. So far, I am very happy. WiFi hotspots are plentiful and I have my iPhone for those times I really need to be on the net. That works enough for me. I figure when the second gen iPad comes out I may consider 3G then.
 
I've mentioned before, but it really depends on your use.

For me, wifi is fine. At work there is free wifi. So between that and home, I've got wifi all the time 5 days a week. I'm not going to take the ipad out with me on weeknights. And weekends, if I'm home, I got wifi. If I go out running errands, or to an event, or a party, etc...I'm not taking the iPad with me. That's why I have an iphone and data plan.

Traveling? Airpots have wifi. Many flights now have wifi. Hotels have wifi. Conferences have wifi.

In the rare instances where I have my ipad and no wifi, I can just as easily look up directions, a restaurant, an email, etc on my iphone, just like I was able to do a week ago before the iPad came out. Plus, it's more discreet when out and about.


This is not good logic. How many airports have you been to recently? Many of them do have wi-fi, but not all of them are FREE! Most hotels, wifi is NOT free. Plus, haven't you heard about how unsecure the wifi is at hotels and airports? I would NEVER put any sensitive passwords in while using these connections. You think you'll have wifi everywhere, but you're sorely mistaken. Plus the wifi will cost you at least $10/night at most hotels. You might as well pay AT&T the $15 and not be limited to the hotel room only. This way you can take your iPad outside to the hotel pool and enjoy a movie while you sip on your umbrella drink.

Those of you who said....no big deal, I'll tether my iPhone 3GS. I hope you realize your battery on your iphone will be dead in about 2-3 hours. How is that ideal? Sure you can tether, but you better be damn close to an electrical outlet. Also, keep in mind that you better not update to 4.0 when it is released....else no more mifi! Then what will you do? iPhones have tethering, but to enable it on your account, you're going to have to pay AT&T in the future. At least with the iPad you're not tied to a contract. The 250MB option is fantastic for $15.

Next, I hope you people don't like to use any GPS based apps.

Waiting for the 3G was a no-brainer.
 
Those of you who said....no big deal, I'll tether my iPhone 3GS. I hope you realize your battery on your iphone will be dead in about 2-3 hours. How is that ideal? Sure you can tether, but you better be damn close to an electrical outlet. Also, keep in mind that you better not update to 4.0 when it is released....else no more mifi! Then what will you do? iPhones have tethering, but to enable it on your account, you're going to have to pay AT&T in the future. At least with the iPad you're not tied to a contract. The 250MB option is fantastic for $15.

Next, I hope you people don't like to use any GPS based apps.

Waiting for the 3G was a no-brainer.

I have a charger in my car for road trips and a Mophie Juice Pack if I'm out longer. Are you honestly going to be surfing the web for more than 3 hours on the road at a time without access to a charger? If you're in the middle of no where you're not going to even get AT&T 3G service. 4.0 will be hacked in a week. I'm not paying AT&T for 2 data plans. Im either using data on my iPad or my iPhone, but not at the same time.
 
I have a charger in my car for road trips and a Mophie Juice Pack if I'm out longer. Are you honestly going to be surfing the web for more than 3 hours on the road at a time without access to a charger? If you're in the middle of no where you're not going to even get AT&T 3G service. 4.0 will be hacked in a week. I'm not paying AT&T for 2 data plans. Im either using data on my iPad or my iPhone, but not at the same time.

Have you ever streamed a movie from Netflix? Most movies runtime is about 2 hours, so 3 hours of use is not unrealistic.

You've got a good option with the Juice Pack, but those are not free either. All of the work-arounds for not getting the 3G version cost money. In time, those costs will most definitely add to more than $130. If you travel much, that's only 13 nights in a hotel room, or 13 flights, etc. The 3G is just a smarter investment, IMHO.
 
Nope. This is a first gen device. I will most likely tether it to a cell phone or mifi and wait to see what gen 2 looks like before I re-evaluate getting a 3g.
 
I'd be happy with wifi if it didn't drop my connection every 30 seconds... :mad:

are you using and airport express when this happens or is it everywhere you use it? I had a similiar problem with a mac running SL on an airport express, got so bad i sold it an got an extreme.
 
Have you ever streamed a movie from Netflix? Most movies runtime is about 2 hours, so 3 hours of use is not unrealistic.

You've got a good option with the Juice Pack, but those are not free either. All of the work-arounds for not getting the 3G version cost money. In time, those costs will most definitely add to more than $130. If you travel much, that's only 13 nights in a hotel room, or 13 flights, etc. The 3G is just a smarter investment, IMHO.

I'm not sure why you'd even want to stream an entire movie over 3G, or even AT&T allowing so (in good quality). Even then, you're going to need the Unlimited plan at $30 /month. I suppose if you're constantly out on the road it may make sense but if you just want some web browsing while out on the road I'd just tether.
 
I think I'll be able to manage with just the wifi model. 3G would be nice at times but i just don't want to spend the money for a contract.
 
3G for me -

Decided to cancell Wi Fi only - the 3G is much more attractive to me - plus you can turn 3G on and off - if Wi FI was available where ever I go then it would be Wi Fi - it is not! Easy choice for me!
 
This is not good logic. How many airports have you been to recently? Many of them do have wi-fi, but not all of them are FREE! Most hotels, wifi is NOT free. Plus, haven't you heard about how unsecure the wifi is at hotels and airports? I would NEVER put any sensitive passwords in while using these connections. You think you'll have wifi everywhere, but you're sorely mistaken. Plus the wifi will cost you at least $10/night at most hotels. You might as well pay AT&T the $15 and not be limited to the hotel room only. This way you can take your iPad outside to the hotel pool and enjoy a movie while you sip on your umbrella drink.

Those of you who said....no big deal, I'll tether my iPhone 3GS. I hope you realize your battery on your iphone will be dead in about 2-3 hours. How is that ideal? Sure you can tether, but you better be damn close to an electrical outlet. Also, keep in mind that you better not update to 4.0 when it is released....else no more mifi! Then what will you do? iPhones have tethering, but to enable it on your account, you're going to have to pay AT&T in the future. At least with the iPad you're not tied to a contract. The 250MB option is fantastic for $15.

Next, I hope you people don't like to use any GPS based apps.

Waiting for the 3G was a no-brainer.

When I travel, it's mostly for business. So wifi fees are expensed. Regardless, the amount of money I'd spend a year accessing fee based wifi hotspots would be a lot less than the extra $130 for a 3G ipad plus whatever amount I'd end up spending on monthly access to ATT's 3G iPad service. Spending a few dollars here and there is no big deal.

And when I'm on a public wifi I'd never do any banking anyway. Lastly, I can tether. And I use that option when I just want to get on and do some quick browsing. Nothing long term. AND, my iphone and all its apps (including GPS) still work too! And if the iPad also get's v4.0, I won't need to upgrade my iphone until they jailbreak 4.0.

And finally, keep in mind there are still plenty of other things you can do with an iPad besides accessing the net like reading a book, listing to music, watching a movie or TV show, playing games, etc, etc...
 
I have a charger in my car for road trips and a Mophie Juice Pack if I'm out longer. Are you honestly going to be surfing the web for more than 3 hours on the road at a time without access to a charger? If you're in the middle of no where you're not going to even get AT&T 3G service. 4.0 will be hacked in a week. I'm not paying AT&T for 2 data plans. Im either using data on my iPad or my iPhone, but not at the same time.

Amen.
 
When I travel, it's mostly for business. So wifi fees are expensed. Regardless, the amount of money I'd spend a year accessing fee based wifi hotspots would be a lot less than the extra $130 for a 3G ipad plus whatever amount I'd end up spending on monthly access to ATT's 3G service. Spending a few dollars here and there is no big deal.

And when I'm on a public wifi I'd never do any banking anyway. Lastly, I can tether. And I use that option when I just want to get on and do some quick browsing. Nothing long term. AND, my iphone and all its apps (including GPS) still work too! And if the iPad also get's v4.0, I won't need to upgrade my iphone until they jailbreak 4.0.

I will agree that the iPhone can be a good solution for short-term applications. If you're going to be tethering all the time, then I think it's foolish not to opt for the 3G version.

My company pays for my voice and data plans as well as an air card for my laptop. Why not have your company pay for the iPad 3G plan? It could surely save them $ on all the wifi access fees, depending on how much you travel.
 
I will agree that the iPhone can be a good solution for short-term applications. If you're going to be tethering all the time, then I think it's foolish not to opt for the 3G version.

My company pays for my voice and data plans as well as an air card for my laptop. Why not have your company pay for the iPad 3G plan? It could surely save them $ on all the wifi access fees, depending on how much you travel.

Right, which is why I stated in my first post that for me, I'm around a lot of wifi just between work and home. So 3G isn't necessary. In the rare instances I'm not around a wifi spot and need to get online, and I have my iPad with me, I can tether.

I don't travel enough for them to pay for the 3G plan unfortunately.
 
I wonder if the 3G+Wifi and the Wifi Only had been released at the same time if some answers in this thread would be different.

Maybe. But it's still an issue of cost. 3G is more expensive. So you have to justify that expense based on your needs. I still would have opted for the wifi only model.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.