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Anyone who is completely flip-floppin every minute? 3G, WiFi, Size

M

melman101

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Sep 3, 2009
2,751
295
I can make so many arguments for both sides. Do I really need 3G? If I get WiFi would it be better to go max 64GB for all the content. Do I really want to pay $45 or $60 bucks a month for iPhone 3GS and iPad 3G? Am I really going to use the GPS? Should I save cash over time by not getting 3G? Etc, etc, etc. Am I really going to walk around with the iPad as a GPS ever?

So many questions swirling. You can still reserve the WiFi iPad for April 3rd.

AHHH what to do what to do. I travel maybe 2 or 3 times a year so not that much. I doubt Aruba will have Microsims this year, so would be worthless this year anyhow. Etc, etc etc.

DAMN! LOL
 
If you only plan on using your iPad in wifi available areas, get the wifi only. If you EVER plan on using it where wifi is not available, the decision is a no brainer...you need wifi+3g. As you are not committed to a contract and can sign up on the go and cancel the 3g data plan, you don't have to worry about paying for something you are not using (save the initial investment). You can buy the 3g and not use it...you can't add the 3g (at this time) to a wifi-only iPad.

As for space....very few ever complain of to too much space.
 
The wife and I already have iPhones, so I just did not feel the need for an additional data plan.
I travel quite a bit, and free/cheap wifi is always pretty easy to come by IMHO.
GPS would be interesting, but I already have Navigon on our iPhones which works better than my 3 year old Garmin Nüvi.

I went with the 64GB WiFi model.

iPad apps are going to grow larger over time, and getting the 'big one' will increase its lifespan/resale.

Looking forward to next Saturday!
 
Plus uno

Lots of personal factors here clearly but bumped up to 64GB as the content delivery is going to explode in short order and we'll all be sweating it to some degree at some point I'd venture.

3G is another matter. There are options and it's an area/use issue. In more urban environments you have more choices. In my neighborhood the cable company is building a network for the whole town. Coverage is spotty but if you have their home wifi you get that as a freebie.

That network is still somewhat spotty but I'll guess it's going to get better.
Go Cablevision. (Thought I'd never say that.) :p
 
Romanesq said:
Lots of personal factors here clearly but bumped up to 64GB as the content delivery is going to explode in short order and we'll all be sweating it to some degree at some point I'd venture.

3G is another matter. There are options and it's an area/use issue. In more urban environments you have more choices. In my neighborhood the cable company is building a network for the whole town. Coverage is spotty but if you have their home wifi you get that as a freebie.

That network is still somewhat spotty but I'll guess it's going to get better.
Go Cablevision. (Thought I'd never say that.) :p
Click to expand...

Yeah I have Cablevision as well :). There is quite a bit of Optimum Wifi. :)

Sigh. I think I have to go WiFi. :) I just can't hold out as much as I want to. LOL!
 
If someone already owns an iPhone, I just can't see the value of 3G on the iPad being that big of a deal.

I'm very similar to the original poster, in that I genuinely "travel" about 3 times a year. Usually by car or train. In those rare instances I always have my phone with me, so if I needed the internet it is always there with me. Furthermore, most trains will likely offer wifi in the near future. It's already being tested on some trains, and will be rolled out in the coming year or two.


Some airlines are offering wifi these days, and this is likely going to be standard in the next year or two as well.


So it really comes down to how often are you going to be out in public places and want to have your iPad with you. Then when you're in those situations, how often will wifi not be available to you? In my opinion, those instance are going to be rare, and when they occur you'll have your iPhone with you which you already pay a lot to have anyway.
 
eawmp1 said:
If you EVER plan on using it where wifi is not available, the decision is a no brainer...you need wifi+3g.
Click to expand...

Not true. $130 + $30 makes it a $160 decision at the minimum and that's only if he uses it only once for 3G. If you find yourself in a hotel that doesn't have wireless sometime in the future, you can buy an Airport Express and hop on the connection anyway.

I do agree about space though. You can never have too much space.
 
Note that the GPS is only available with the 3G + WiFi model. Also, there's no data plan with the 3G--it's buy when you need.
 
BruiserBear said:
If someone already owns an iPhone, I just can't see the value of 3G on the iPad being that big of a deal.
Click to expand...
I have an iPhone, and I do love using it when I'm out and about.

At work, our Internet is blocked so that we can't do non-work related activities.

For personal Internet access while at work, if I had the choice between using an iPhone during those 9 hours, or paying an extra $1/day to be able to use an iPad, I'd have no problem paying extra to use the larger iPad. :)
 
I just got an idea......

Would it be possible for someone to link the iPad to the iphone's GPS via bluetooth? You know... build an interface that has the iPad poll your iphone for GPS coordinates if you had the Wifi only version?

I know it's easier to just get a 3G version with the GPS, but I'm just brainstorming in trying to guess if it's possible.
 
I had planned for months to get a 16GB WiFi.. I ordered one on the 12th... cancelled on the 18th to order a 16GB WiFi + 3G but in the end ordered a 32GB WiFi.

I really didn't want another monthly bill and if I had the 3G the temptation would be there every month. I'd rather drop $30 in apps every month or two.

And after I talked myself outta the 16GB 3G, I figured the 32GB WiFi + a dock is the same cost... :D

16GB would have been "just enough" space for me by my estimates... I'd rather not regret being short on space.
 
msduncan said:
I just got an idea......

Would it be possible for someone to link the iPad to the iphone's GPS via bluetooth? You know... build an interface that has the iPad poll your iphone for GPS coordinates if you had the Wifi only version?

I know it's easier to just get a 3G version with the GPS, but I'm just brainstorming in trying to guess if it's possible.
Click to expand...

Well, that's the thing about Apple. They control the interface and the experience. They like the interface to be simple and straightforward and under their control (and I say this as an admitted Apple fan and one who has ordered an iPad). They DO NOT like dongles, workarounds, tethers, etc.

No. It will not be possible.
 
Flip-floppin? No. Rock solid. No point in getting one until the first "I've had it for a month and still like it!" reviews start coming in.

Besides, where I live Winter is hanging on and flip-flops aren't back in use yet. ;)

On a related topic, I like the name "flip-flop" for a tablet. Consider this my copyright to that name for a tablet style device that displays a subset OS ideal for tablets in one orientation, and a full blown desktop OS when you flip it over. Yes, I know it will be considered a flop by some and just the "flip" by others. ;)
 
msduncan said:
Not true. $130 + $30 makes it a $160 decision at the minimum and that's only if he uses it only once for 3G. If you find yourself in a hotel that doesn't have wireless sometime in the future, you can buy an Airport Express and hop on the connection anyway.

I do agree about space though. You can never have too much space.
Click to expand...

My hotel this last weekend had wifi only - and i barely picked it up, and lost the signal completely if i typed an email in landscape. An Airport Express wasn't going to do me any good.

For me, the 3G is the only way to go. (fyi, i currently have ZERO mobile internet access)

I currently spend 4 hours a week at the speech therapists & occupational therapists, soon to add probably 2 more hours for a 2nd child. There isn't wifi there..... i don't need to be online those 4 hours, but i could get some emails deleted/answered if i was able to get online.

Then I have a 3 hour meeting on Tuesday nights in a building where we don't have access to internet unless someone brings their own USB sitck. Which means they get to work on things - and i don't.

I pondered the wifi only version plus a mifi, wifi and a Virgin Mobile stick for my MBP, but in the end, i can do everything i need to do online on the iPad and it fills a couple of other needs for my kids in learning areas. So the 32gb 3G version is it for me.... it's the cheapest "monthly" solution for mobile internet without a contract to boot.

I'd still consider the Virgin Mobile Broadband if i could get it in a mifi format, but I guess that isn't happening.....

That said, i'm so NOT excited about being an AT&T customer - but since i can make them go away if needed and i'm not married to them for 2 years/forever.... i'll have to suck it up and deal with it.

But would have bought a Verizon iPad with the same inet pricing in a heartbeat.
 
you have an iphone. you do not need 3gs on your ipad. use your 3gs when not in a wifi hotspot. Or, use your ipad and teather it to your iphone using MiFi. The 3G ipad is a waste in my opinion.
 
Sleazy E said:
you have an iphone. you do not need 3gs on your ipad. use your 3gs when not in a wifi hotspot. Or, use your ipad and teather it to your iphone using MiFi. The 3G ipad is a waste in my opinion.
Click to expand...
I don't want to use my 3GS for 9 hours straight when I'm at work with no WiFi.

I don't want to pay Verizon $60/month for a MiFi when the iPad is the only device I'd use it with. Why pay 2x more than I have to? :?

A lot of people's situation are unique. Blanket statements like "if you have any iPhone, you don't need an iPad 3G" don't work.
 
Sleazy E said:
you have an iphone. you do not need 3gs on your ipad. use your 3gs when not in a wifi hotspot. Or, use your ipad and teather it to your iphone using MiFi. The 3G ipad is a waste in my opinion.
Click to expand...

In your opinion for the OP - or overall?

Do you assume that everyone has an iPhone - or other smartphone with internet?

Frankly, the iPad with the no contract pricing for mobile broadband makes WAYYYYY more sense than locking into paying AT&T $30 a month for as long as you want to use your iPhone.. because you pay even out of contract.

I'm basically taking the money i'd spend on that $30 over 2 years, and getting a device that meets needs, and allows me to get online as I choose. I can then take the $400~ (no contract for me) i'd spend on the phone and save it for $15/mo iPad fee.

I dunno.... frankly..... paying $30 forever to AT&T doesn't make a lot of sense in my opinion :D
 
Yeah, I see all the benefits to the 3G iPad. But I also see incredible money draining. I'd probably sign up just to have it, and then be wasting money. I think I can honestly get by on the Wifi iPad. My commute is 10 mins in my car everyday. I still have my iPhone 3G for when I'm out and about. And when I go on trips, I'll have 64GB of content, use my iPhone for AIM/SMS, and be good to go. I think Wifi makes complete sense to me now. I was just being greedy. I don't know, I'm so confused.
 
My decision was pretty easy. Wifi only due simply to the fact I have carried a MB or MBP for the past several years and outside of a couple vacations I have not been lacking for Wifi hotspots.

Clearly it's based on each persons use. If I traveled across 4 or 5 states, stayed in hotels 4 nights a week etc... I would no doubt buy a 3G version. I either work from home, or travel within about a 50 mile radius which is covered by tons of Wifi accessible spots. Worst case with the iPad, I would just use my iPhone to view a document or email that I needed if I happen to be a few miles from a wifi location.

The only decision I had to make was how much storage to go with, I've landed on 32gigs and haven't been able to think of or read a situation where I would need more. Personally I'm glad I was able to figure it out, I now just have to pass the time until I can pick it up and use it. :)
 
bossxii said:
My decision was pretty easy. Wifi only due simply to the fact I have carried a MB or MBP for the past several years and outside of a couple vacations I have not been lacking for Wifi hotspots.

Clearly it's based on each persons use. If I traveled across 4 or 5 states, stayed in hotels 4 nights a week etc... I would no doubt buy a 3G version. I either work from home, or travel within about a 50 mile radius which is covered by tons of Wifi accessible spots. Worst case with the iPad, I would just use my iPhone to view a document or email that I needed if I happen to be a few miles from a wifi location.

The only decision I had to make was how much storage to go with, I've landed on 32gigs and haven't been able to think of or read a situation where I would need more. Personally I'm glad I was able to figure it out, I now just have to pass the time until I can pick it up and use it. :)
Click to expand...

Yeah, thats the thing. I don't travel much, commute is 10 minutes, I'm mostly home with my 802.11N network. My parents have Wifi. My job has Wifi. Etc, etc. I think I'm going Wifi.
 
Can't make up my mind? .....

Let see. The first day we could I ordered a 32g Wifi + 3g.

Then a week later, I decided I should just start with the 16g wifi only model. So I canceled the 3G one and ordered the 16g.

My brother texted me that he finally ordered one, the 16g wifi only.

So I cancelled mine 16g wifi and ordered the 32g wifi, just to out do him:p.

Actually I just wanted more room for movies and photos after I thought about it. But the timing was great! :D
 
aristobrat said:
I don't want to use my 3GS for 9 hours straight when I'm at work with no WiFi.

I don't want to pay Verizon $60/month for a MiFi when the iPad is the only device I'd use it with. Why pay 2x more than I have to? :?

A lot of people's situation are unique. Blanket statements like "if you have any iPhone, you don't need an iPad 3G" don't work.
Click to expand...

very curious as to what you are planning on using the iPad for 8 hrs a day while at work. my blanket statement is still accurate for the majority. not many people will be using the ipad 8 hrs a day at work. furthermore if they are using such a device at work, the likelihood of having wifi is pretty high.
 
I have decided to forgo 3g for 3 reasons

1 i have an iphone
2 Its insanely over priced option
3 no front facing camera

Reason # 3 is the most impotent reason i could overlook 1 and 2.

I am going to take a good look at the JooJoo pad thats being shipped now and then i will decided if i am going to get apples products.
 
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