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Getting 3G 'to be sure'?

T

ThatsMeRight

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Sep 12, 2009
2,399
471
Hey,

Still waiting for the international launch, you lucky bastards. Today I was just wondering. My thought were always I would go for the 32 GB WiFi-only model, but today I just began hesitating. What if I needed 3G once in a while? What if they will also have some nice deals, like you guys have with AT&T, internationally.

I mean, just to be sure I can take the 3G model. So if I go to the beach or so, I just buy a prepaid sim card and can put it in so I have a 3G connection over there.

Next to that I will also have GPS, which the WiFi-only versio doesn't have. The 3G model just has many advantages, and if I need it one day it will be there. Next to that I really begin to love the black strip (as I hated it at first).

So the pros:
- GPS included
- 3G internet connectivity everwhere if needed
- Black strip (I hated it at first, but now I don't)
- Black strip also shows you have the 'higher end' model*

Cons:
- The +$130 price tag.
- The black strip also visibible at the front (that's a big mistake Apple made)
- Another +0.05 kg/+0.1 pounds of weight: your arm/hand will be tired a bit earlier (I know it's weird, but it's true).

Are there still some disadvantages besides the price?

* I know, the Apple logo already shows you paid a lot... :p
 
aaquib said:
In terms of disadvantages, you get 1 less hour of battery life, 0.1lbs of extra weight.
Click to expand...
Are you sure it's -1 hour, or is that just the case when you have 3G turned on all the time.

Of course I will only turn it on when needed. Otherwise no 3G, and just WiFi usage :p Another +0.05kg is not too bad.
 
I know I will be getting it as I ordered both the wifi and 3G units at the same day. The wifi unit is awesome and I can not wait to get the 3G model. My vp will be very happy with the wifi unit!
 
ThatsMeRight said:
Are you sure it's -1 hour, or is that just the case when you have 3G turned on all the time.

Of course I will only turn it on when needed. Otherwise no 3G, and just WiFi usage :p Another +0.05kg is not too bad.
Click to expand...

Oh, yeah sorry about that. I mean browsing on 3G vs. browsing on Wifi. Albeit not exactly the most fair comparison.

It sounds like you're leaning towards the 3G version :p Go ahead and get the 3G one, you probably won't regret the additional functionality and it'll future-proof you + have a higher resale value.
 
aaquib said:
Oh, yeah sorry about that. I mean browsing on 3G vs. browsing on Wifi. Albeit not exactly the most fair comparison.

It sounds like you're leaning towards the 3G version :p Go ahead and get the 3G one, you probably won't regret the additional functionality and it'll future-proof you + have a higher resale value.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I'm leaning towards the 3G version (where I, at first, totally was leaning towards the WiFi-only version). Only just now I see the potency of the 3G version. The only real problem is the +$130 price tag. Sure, you'll get 3G connectivity, GPS and you will pay for some part for the licenses but still... come on... Apple is a very big and rich company. They could have done it cheaper.

I can accept the fact that the battery will drain faster when you use 3G (and from what I have heard, iPad's battery life is magical!) :)
 
The cons of weight and an hour less battery life are barely imoportant, (well thats my personal opinion) the OP may think differently.

Being in the UK ive thought about getting the Wifi Model, but now ive realised, since i have a Blackberry, with unlimited net usage, I was thinking, if im out, or on the train to college, I can swap the sim out and slip it into the iPad for some instant web browsings.

I think ill end up 3Ging it in teh end.

:apple:Mike
 
ThatsMeRight said:
Yeah, I'm leaning towards the 3G version (where I, at first, totally was leaning towards the WiFi-only version). Only just now I see the potency of the 3G version. The only real problem is the +$130 price tag. Sure, you'll get 3G connectivity, GPS and you will pay for some part for the licenses but still... come on... Apple is a very big and rich company. They could have done it cheaper.

I can accept the fact that the battery will drain faster when you use 3G (and from what I have heard, iPad's battery life is magical!) :)
Click to expand...

That's true, but what can we really do? Besides, the saved cost on 3G makes up for the additional cost pretty quick.
 
So far loving the Wifi only model. Happy I got a 64GB Wifi instead of 3G 32GB but that's just me. The Wifi does have location services albeit not the best because it's not GPS but it still works. As for getting on the net I plan to use MyWi on my iPhone 3.1.2 3GS. I haven't taken it outside today but tomorrow hopefully I can get my wife to drive and play with it in the car tethered to my iPhone. :D
 
ThatsMeRight said:
That's just so awesome. I just can't wait until they put this technology in the iPhone (because there's a big difference in surfing time on the iPhone when you use WiFi versus 3G).
Click to expand...

It's the bigger battery in the ipad I believe. The 3G chip in the ipad is identical to the iPhone 3G one according to engadget via the FCC
 
melman101 said:
It's the bigger battery in the ipad I believe. The 3G chip in the ipad is identical to the iPhone 3G one according to engadget via the FCC
Click to expand...
They must have improved something. Maybe it's just software? Because on the iPhone you can surf 9 hours on WiFi and 5 hours on 3G so I'm assuming something must have improved... :p
 
melman101 said:
So far loving the Wifi only model. Happy I got a 64GB Wifi instead of 3G 32GB but that's just me. The Wifi does have location services albeit not the best because it's not GPS but it still works. As for getting on the net I plan to use MyWi on my iPhone 3.1.2 3GS. I haven't taken it outside today but tomorrow hopefully I can get my wife to drive and play with it in the car tethered to my iPhone. :D
Click to expand...
That's a work-around. Isn't it just much nicer to put your sim in and surf the web directly?
 
So how did they fit the 3G radio in without making it larger/battery life shorter? I can understand heavier, that's obvious, but were there really hollow spots in the WiFi iPad?

I'd hate to be losing battery space because of the 3G. If we turn 3G off, it will essentially be identical to the WiFi version, right, battery wise?
 
People are talking about taking sims out of there cell phones and placing them in there ipads im pretty sure i read somewhere that 3G ipads were gonna have specific sims that are different to those with a cell phone to prevent people doing that ????

dino26 :apple:
 
dino26 said:
People are talking about taking sims out of there cell phones and placing them in there ipads im pretty sure i read somewhere that 3G ipads were gonna have specific sims that are different to those with a cell phone to prevent people doing that ????

dino26 :apple:
Click to expand...
A sim card is a Micro-Sim with more plastic around it. Just cut the plastic and there's your Micro-Sim.

But I'm going for the 3G version because...

- ...it includes GPS
- ...you have the possibility to have internet everywhere
- ...it has an awesome black strip (I like it now)
- ...maybe better reception for WiFi :p

Paying $130 just once for having the possibility to have internet everywhere is nice. Avoiding the nonsense of jailbreaking and stuff to make a WiFi-hotspot from your iPhone.
 
3G is the way to go. Not having to even think about how I am going to get a connection is so worth it. Not having to seek out a wifi spot, ask if there is a wifi, and not having to ask anyone for a password, etc. So worth it.
 
Sketchr said:
Yeah, I bought a case for mine as well. But, really I couldn't care less about the black strip :apple:
Click to expand...

I don't want the 3G based on that UGLY black strip. I never liked the black strip on the original iphone either. I know its needed to get the 3G signal, but it just ruins the smooth, clean look of the ipad and makes it look like a giant remote control!
 
still trying to decide. I'm totally fine with wifi 16gb that I got, but "just in case" 3G capability without paying fee (till I need it) or eating contract is still very tempting. That said, do I really need 3G? Ive got a couple days to decide before the return period is up.

I don't care about the black strap on top. iPad is in Apple case so I don't see it.
 
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