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Don't overestimate how many GIG you need.

M

MaskedCarrot

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Mar 25, 2009
464
270
Northern VA
So I have been waiting for some places to get some stock in so I can buy an iPad. At first I wanted to get the 3G version. Then I came to the conclusion that I probably won't take it out of the house. I never go anywhere where I would need it. Plus I have an iPhone, and after the "finger" incident, I am a bit nervous to have it in public.

So I found a few Best Buys in the area who had some in stock. And I can say at least for the Northern VA area, Best Buys will NOT hold an iPad if you call. They say it is first come first serve. Only the Springfield store will hold them.

I went back and forth on the size, 16 or 32. I know I will not put any music or movies on it, I mainly just wanted it for browsing and reading in bed or whenever I don't feel like sitting at my desktop, and some apps.

Unfortunately my friends all kept saying to get the 32 because ya never know how big the apps will be in the future. The "Better to have too much than not enough" type of attitude. And it seems that is the general consensus from people online as well.

So I get the 32 and dive right into it. There are not a lot of apps I want at the moment, and some of the apps I like on the the iPhone have little meaning on the iPad because it is much easier to just browse the regular websites.

On my 16g iPhone 3GS I am only using 4 gigs. The non-game apps for the iPad are not really that much bigger. I couldn't see me having more than 14 gig of apps.

I would love to take back the 32 and exchange it for a 16 and use the extra money to buy some accessories. But after paying the restocking fee at BB it wouldn't be worth the effort.

So I guess the moral is....Bigger is not always better, and don't live up to the hype that you may need the extra space later. If you already have an iPhone, look at how much you really use on that to get an idea on how big of an iPad you need. Save the extra money and buy some stuff for your iPad.

So now I have more space that I will ever need. I fell for the hype.
 
How do you know there's not going to be some new must-have App that comes out in a few months that requires 10gb of space?

Also, if one day you end up traveling with it, you might decide to load your music and some movies on it.
 
I got the 32G version to match the size of my iPhone. I doubt I'll ever get to even 16G, however, don't forget that iPad apps are considerably larger in file size than their iPhone counterparts.
 
thank you VERY much for this post!

I was really gonna go for 32gb but having a 16gb iphone with only 6gb used on it (that includes more than 2gb for the tomtom europe), it makes sense that I won't be needing that much storage after all!!

Cheers.
 
This is a very common topic of discussion here including every point in this thread so far. But -

There is no downside to a larger capacity other than cost. If you don't care much about the cost difference, you lose nothing by moving up.

What you gain depends greatly on your library and use patterns. You may find that you gain almost zero.

In my case, I'm not cost-sensitive and I usually get max capacities, but I got the 32gb after careful consideration. I feel comfortable with that choice. I am using a little over 10gb so far, and don't anticipate that amount multiplying - just increasing by a GB here and a GB there.

None of the capacities including 64gb is big enough to hold everything you might ever want.
 
32 is good for me. I also have a 32 gb iPhone 3G. For mr it's all about how many movies I want to carry around.

Your mileage may vary. I was considering the 64 and currently am pleased I saved the hundred. Of course I spent it on a case and several apps. (yes, LogMeIn is very much worth the 30 bucks to me).
 
The OS is already about 3 gigs. That leaves you with only 13 gigs right out of the box on the lower end model. Considering I have several apps that are already almost a gig each and it still very early in it's life, I'd say most 16 gig adopters are going to be regretting not getting the larger space later on. And if you plan on putting any movies or music on it then don't even think twice about getting extra space, you will need it.
 
Sleazy E said:
The OS is already about 3 gigs. That leaves you with only 13 gigs right out of the box on the lower end model. Considering I have several apps that are already almost a gig each and it still very early in it's life, I'd say most 16 gig adopters are going to be regretting not getting the larger space later on. And if you plan on putting any movies or music on it then don't even think twice about getting extra space, you will need it.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the very useful post on how much space is available to use.

Having thought about it a bit I just placed an order for the 16GB with 3G model.

I have no intention of putting any games or significant apps on it other than maybe a GPS app. Mostly I intend to use it for email, browsing, some books and maybe 1 or 2 small video files at a time. Possibly a few songs but certainly not the entire library.

Also, most likely the 32GB and 64GB models are by far the most popular and least likely to be available anytime soon.

Thanks again,
Keri
 
jessica. said:
I bet you have a really big unit too.
Click to expand...

I'd tell you the truth, but I'd get pigeon-holed as "there he goes again, exaggerating and making stuff up" again.

I do have a 1TB USB drive that's bursting at the seams with the 20,000+ song files and 600+ movie files I've got stuffed in there. Problem is, they're all ripped at a size/quality that's optimized for iTouch and iPhone. Got to step them all up and re-rip for the iPad's advanced real-estate.

Quite a chore for my manservant, but he'll survive.

BJ
 
KeriJane said:
Having thought about it a bit I just placed an order for the 16GB with 3G model.

I have no intention of putting any games or significant apps on it other than maybe a GPS app. Mostly I intend to use it for email, browsing, some books and maybe 1 or 2 small video files at a time. Possibly a few songs but certainly not the entire library.
Click to expand...

Don't undersell what you can do. I have 900 songs, three screens of apps, including some pretty big ones and some games, 575 photos, and three movies. Plus a few short videos I shot on my 5mp camera. The true factory capacity of the 32gb model is 29.04gb. I have 18.57gb free, meaning I'm using about 10.5gb so far.

Also, most likely the 32GB and 64GB models are by far the most popular and least likely to be available anytime soon.

Thanks again,
Keri
Click to expand...

Conventional wisdom is that the 16gb version may be the most popular, although I have doubts about that, and think the 64gb may be more popular. But in any case, the 16gb is not unpopular. Also, since the same assembly lines make all variants and Apple ratchets which models it makes based on demand and profit margin, I wouldn't expect any to necesarily be easier to get than any other. If I were to predict which one you'll be able to find fastest, it'll be the one with the highest profit margin - 64gb 3g - because Apple has added incentive to serve customers willing to pay the highest profits first.
 
boltjames said:
You know its true, Honeybabe. No way you'd give a passing glance at a wifi/16GB/$499 owner with a Honda, but a 3G/64GB/$829 owner with a BMW is gettin' it good. Right?

BJ
Click to expand...

I enjoy talking to people, so, I would speak to a wifi owner. I would also speak to someone who didn't own an iPad at all. :)

LHB
 
boltjames said:
I'd tell you the truth, but I'd get pigeon-holed as "there he goes again, exaggerating and making stuff up" again.

I do have a 1TB USB drive that's bursting at the seams with the 20,000+ song files and 600+ movie files I've got stuffed in there. Problem is, they're all ripped at a size/quality that's optimized for iTouch and iPhone. Got to step them all up and re-rip for the iPad's advanced real-estate.

Quite a chore for my manservant, but he'll survive.

BJ
Click to expand...

Bah, only 1 TB of media. I thought you was a player. :p
 
It probably depends on your music or movies...

I copy everything to iTunes as lossless so just a few albums eat up a LOT of space. So if you like lossless, the more space the better.
 
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