How fast is the browser over WiFi?

[fizzler]

I have managed to resist the temptation of buying an Ipad until now, but I took the notion yesterday to go and have a go on one at my nearest Apple store. After about 1/2 an hour of messing messing about with one, i went to make the purchase only to be told that there were none in stock and that I would need to reserve one (which i should be able to pick up in the next 7 days)

Not even wanting to get into the questionable reasons as to why a product that was released months ago is still in short demand - I am in 'Ipad-limbo' for the next week or so.

I have an Iphone, which i love, but do think that the browser loading times are a little bit slower than I would like over my home WiFi connection (3-4mb), however I can accept the slightly slow browser speed - as it is a phone after all. One of the things that really struck me in the Apple store, was the speed and responsiveness of the demo units when browsing sites.

This may sound like a daft question, but am i correct in assuming that the speeds that i was experiencing on the demo units were reflective of the Ipad's performance, and not a result of the fast wireless network in the store?

 

[0101001]

Faster then my current model MacBook.

 

[ColReb22]

Faster then my current model MacBook.

I hadn't really thought about it until I read this thread but it really is faster than the MBP I bought in Feb.

 

[Trek2100]

Your first statement is quite explainable. The demand outweighs the production capability. I got mine last thursday after a 13 day wait on the the reserved/priority list.

My WiFi version is extremely fast at home but then I have a fairly fast WiFi network (15Mbs). It is a lot faster than my iPhone 3GS and my MBP. In the Apple stores the speed will vary due to all of the devices on their network. For example; all the iPads, iPhones, iPod touches, macbooks, MBPs, iMacs and other cell phones. I've been in the stores when it was fast and when it was slow. I have 6 wireless devices in my house. Only one is faster and that is my iMac i7.

I'm sure you will like the iPad.

 

[HiFiGuy528]

My iPad is far faster on wifi than my iPhone 4 at 10.48 mbp down on 802.11g.

 

[shellbryson]

Running speedtest.net on my iPad when connected to my home WiFi claims 22Mbit - which is fast enough It's not as fast as my MBP or MacPro though, they are both reporting 55Mbit (since I fixed my router). I have ~50Mbit cable.

 

[iThinman]

Unless you are on dialup, your wifi is much faster then your Internet connection, so connect speed really plays little into the equation. The iPad has a 1ghz processor and browses the web very quick in most cases. Pages are displayed by the time the load bar finishes, however, when browsing a page with a large numbere of pictures, scroll refresh can be a bit laggy at times.

Overall, page compatibility aside, I give the it an A in the browser dept.

 

[jeffy777]

The load times are quite a bit faster than an iphone.

 

[MythicFrost]

I've got a 30Mbps down and 1Mbps up connection, iPad gets ~12-20 Mbps down and 1Mbps up depending on where I am.

 

[0dev]

I've only used them in the Apple Store thus far, but even on their busy network Safari was impressive.

 

[MikeTemple]

My iPad is much faster than my iPhone 3G.

I'd say it's as fast as my iMac.

 

[sandyjmacdonald]

I think people are getting confused with the speed of the browser and the speed of the wifi connection. Two completely different things.

 

[vertigo78]

I think people are getting confused with the speed of the browser and the speed of the wifi connection. Two completely different things.

agreed.

i just can't believe anyone who is saying safari on their ipad is faster than on their mbp. that is just not true. sometimes there is not a big difference but on really heavy sites, it begins to show.