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hcho3

macrumors 68030
Original poster
May 13, 2010
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I am considering to buy ipad 3G because it has GPS. I can careless about AT&T network with their Tiered pricing. Should I just go for wi-fi model? Any of you guys having benefits from GPS on ipad 3G? Please share.
 
The advantages should be obvious. If you travel and can't get WiFi then you have ready access to your email/Internet. We just drove 6 hours each way for my son's college graduation and my wife was on the Internet for quite a bit of that time. Ditto travel abroad. If you happen to go overseas or even as close as Mexico it's nice to have the option of picking up a 3G card locally (and even using Skype). Also nice to have GPS.

The other benefit is that there are and will be more and more apps that are GPS-enabled that use your location to get information specific to your area.

And for travel, there are iPhone/iPad apps like the Lonely Planet travel guides which contain maps that can access GPS.

So, for me, it was worth the added expense to keep my options open.
 
I wrestled with this question too. The thing is, if you have an iphone as well like I do, it's tough to justify 3G. Since the two devices share the same OS, there's really not much you can do on your iPad that you can't do on your iPhone. The iPad is just a better experience of the same thing.

In other words, the content you need will be accessible from your iPhone. So if you have an iphone with 3G then there's really no reason to get the 3G ipad except for the convenience factor. I just ended up jail breaking my iPhone and downloading mywi so that I have the best of both worlds.
 
In addition to what others have said, you get to join the iPad 3G elitist club.
 
I wrestled with this question too. The thing is, if you have an iphone as well like I do, it's tough to justify 3G. Since the two devices share the same OS, there's really not much you can do on your iPad that you can't do on your iPhone. The iPad is just a better experience of the same thing.

In other words, the content you need will be accessible from your iPhone. So if you have an iphone with 3G then there's really no reason to get the 3G ipad except for the convenience factor. I just ended up jail breaking my iPhone and downloading mywi so that I have the best of both worlds.

Agreed. I did the same :).

Now just waiting for MyWi for iOS 4 before I upgrade.
 
In addition to what others have said, you get to join the iPad 3G elitist club.

It's a great place to look down on people from.... I am only inferior to 64GB w/ 3G (show offs!!!!!)...

Seriously though I love the 3G aspect to my iPad and it goes pretty much everywhere... I had it on a price plan (uk Orange) but the speed was poor but now got a sim for three from eBay preloaded with data for next to nothing and cut the sim down to fit. Don't get hung up on AT&T you have a choice the pad is not locked....

Tom
 
If its only to have the GPS hardware then you would need:

A. Wifi to engage Google Maps

B. No wifi but in this case the GPS app would need to be the one with the built in maps
 
While WiFi is starting to appear everywhere, there are security concerns with using open WiFi and getting your data sniffed. As more location-aware apps are released you'll appreciate having a GPS in your iPad.
 
I have wifi only and use mobile hotspot to access the internet on my iPad from anywhere I get reception on my cell phone. 3G model is a waste.
 
I have wifi only and use mobile hotspot to access the internet on my iPad from anywhere I get reception on my cell phone. 3G model is a waste.

Not everyone here has a smartphone to share data with..... I'm getting tired of the assumption that we are all wasting money having 3G.

In fact, I bought the 3G in order to stay contractless with my carrier. 2 year contracts with required data are a waste in my eye. Maybe I should go around saying that?

Change your tune to, "it is a waste for ME and the way I use the iPad", because you haven't a clue how some of us use are device.
 
I am considering to buy ipad 3G because it has GPS. I can careless about AT&T network with their Tiered pricing. Should I just go for wi-fi model? Any of you guys having benefits from GPS on ipad 3G? Please share.

Yeah...I am with you on this.

I got a 64g wifi on opening day. I freaking love it. I WAS planning on moving that to my wife to replace her netbook and getting myself a 3G when they came out.

Decided NOT to get the 3G. Here's my reasons (yours and everyone else may have other ones).

1. ATT can suck it. Won't go into the huge flame-war (again) but the number one reason I was going to get the 3G is the 'flexible' contract. You can start it up, shut it dow, get a little or unlimited. 27 days after release (and about 2 weeks before I had the scratch saved up) ATT pulls this tierd pricing. No thanks ATT. (Don't flame me back...been active in that argument..just making a point).

2. I 'usually' have access to wireless. At home and at the two places I vacation I have good (not great) wireless reception. I can always find a Starbucks, Panera Bread, or <gas> McDonalds to get free wifi from.

3. The $130 upcharge was a little much even for my "Apple-Fanboy" tastes.

I have been completly satisfied with my wifi purchase. No second thoughts. My company just switched from ATT (thank God) to Verizon. I will look into one of the 3rd party wifi hotspot devices eventually.
 
I opted for the wifi version because I don't want to deal with another bill from another company. Most places I will be using it have wifi.

I really did want the gps, but it wasn't worth the extra price for me. I can't see using my ipad for nav...to me my nav device would be something I can leave in the car.

If I really end up liking my ipad and don't find something I like better before the second or third gen come out, I might opt for an ipad with data (maybe even 4g) then. I also really wish that they had other possibilities for data than at&t. My cellphone is currently sprint and it would be nice to be able to keep it down to one bill. I know that will never happen though.
 
It comes down to money factor to me. I'd rather put $170 into kids college fund than buying a 3G model just in case I would find some use for it in the future. i do have a smartphone and have access to internet when I need it on the go.
 
I have a wifi iPad, but whenever I tried to use Skype, it's always pain in the a**..!

Would love to get 3G or 4G version of iPad (if there will be one in the future) for the next time.

Otherwise, if I can get easy access to wireless, I have no problem with wifi version.
 
Not everyone here has a smartphone to share data with..... I'm getting tired of the assumption that we are all wasting money having 3G.

In fact, I bought the 3G in order to stay contractless with my carrier. 2 year contracts with required data are a waste in my eye. Maybe I should go around saying that?

Change your tune to, "it is a waste for ME and the way I use the iPad", because you haven't a clue how some of us use are device.

Whatever happened to freedom of speech? Why is your response any more important that his? I thought this was a forum open to everyone to express how they feel. Just because someone doesn't carry your view - should not be a reason to ask them to reconsider their opinion.
 
Whatever happened to freedom of speech? Why is your response any more important that his? I thought this was a forum open to everyone to express how they feel. Just because someone doesn't carry your view - should not be a reason to ask them to reconsider their opinion.

Maybe because he touted it in about 10 threads yesterday morning.

BUT, it gets old seeing it, I guess people can't grasp that not everyone has an iPhone that owns an iPad. It's not shared as a personal opinion, "sharing my data on my jail broken device and violating my TOS by not paying tethering charges works for ME, you should try it", it is instead delivered as "do this or you are stupid."

(and yes I know that outside of the US sharing the data isn't violating the TOS for some, but it is for AT&T and obviously everyone has their own levels of comfort doing such)

So tout your opinion, but own it as a solution that works for you and might not be something the poster is interested in or own a device to make it happen.

Even if I had a smartphone with data it wouldn't work for the way I use my iPad most times, so why have two data plans?
 
I opted for the wifi version because I don't want to deal with another bill from another company. Most places I will be using it have wifi.

I really did want the gps, but it wasn't worth the extra price for me. I can't see using my ipad for nav...to me my nav device would be something I can leave in the car.

If I really end up liking my ipad and don't find something I like better before the second or third gen come out, I might opt for an ipad with data (maybe even 4g) then. I also really wish that they had other possibilities for data than at&t. My cellphone is currently sprint and it would be nice to be able to keep it down to one bill. I know that will never happen though.

Well, if you have Sprint and want one data bill and want 4G then you already have an option in the form of the Evo which can serve as a Wi-Fi hotspot and is a 4G device. Problem solved!
 
I am considering to buy ipad 3G because it has GPS. I can careless about AT&T network with their Tiered pricing. Should I just go for wi-fi model? Any of you guys having benefits from GPS on ipad 3G? Please share.

Would you own an iPhone that only made calls while you're in a wi-fi zone? You would use the phone for photos, games, and as a handy calculator, but only as a telephone when in wi-fi?

There's your answer.

BJ

Posted from my iPad 3G/64GB/$829
 
Yeah...I am with you on this.

I got a 64g wifi on opening day. I freaking love it. I WAS planning on moving that to my wife to replace her netbook and getting myself a 3G when they came out.

Decided NOT to get the 3G. Here's my reasons (yours and everyone else may have other ones).

1. ATT can suck it. Won't go into the huge flame-war (again) but the number one reason I was going to get the 3G is the 'flexible' contract. You can start it up, shut it dow, get a little or unlimited. 27 days after release (and about 2 weeks before I had the scratch saved up) ATT pulls this tierd pricing. No thanks ATT. (Don't flame me back...been active in that argument..just making a point).

2. I 'usually' have access to wireless. At home and at the two places I vacation I have good (not great) wireless reception. I can always find a Starbucks, Panera Bread, or <gas> McDonalds to get free wifi from.

3. The $130 upcharge was a little much even for my "Apple-Fanboy" tastes.

I have been completly satisfied with my wifi purchase. No second thoughts. My company just switched from ATT (thank God) to Verizon. I will look into one of the 3rd party wifi hotspot devices eventually.

Totally Agreed. With AT&T's tiered pricing, I have no desire to buy 3G. I don't hate AT&T service and they are not as terrible as ones in DC and NY. But, still AT&T has far way to go. With that being said, I cannot justify additional 130 dollars. I will use that money to buy more memory on ipad. Ipad apps are a lot bigger than iphones. I would need at least 32GB.
 
iPad 3G is the way to go.

Yup. For everyone saying that there is free wi-fi everywhere, there is not. It's said right in this thread. It's ridiculous to think that you have to go to a Panaras or a gas station that has wi-fi to access the internet while on the road. When I need internet access, I need it without wanting to think about where I have to go to get it. If it's a matter of the monthly money, well then I can understand if someone can't afford 3G, but any other justification to not have it is crazy.

An iPad without 3G is a crippled machine.
 
Yup. For everyone saying that there is free wi-fi everywhere, there is not. It's said right in this thread. It's ridiculous to think that you have to go to a Panaras or a gas station that has wi-fi to access the internet while on the road. When I need internet access, I need it without wanting to think about where I have to go to get it. If it's a matter of the monthly money, well then I can understand if someone can't afford 3G, but any other justification to not have it is crazy.

An iPad without 3G is a crippled machine.

I agree with the free wifi. But quit a few people confuse need with want or obsession. Do you NEED Internet access while on the road? OP doesn't care about data plan (neither do I.) My wifi ONLY iPad is in no way crippled. I don't take it everywhere with me. I also Use a plain ole cell phone, NO FU%^*#}*ing camera either. A cell phone with a camera is a crippled machine. (Can't take image capturing devices into some of the places where I work).

Basically OP wants a iPad, not data plan and a GPS. Hmmm. Wifi iPad and a $100 TomTom should suit his needs and save some money.
 
As one of those that went for the top... 64 GB - WiFi + 3G, I have to say that I wouldn't trade it. Think about this; the price difference is $130 for 3G. If you are dropping $700 on a piece of a equipment why not spend just a bit more to have it all? None of us are going without groceries to buy this thing or we have other problems. Splurge... Enjoy life a little. I love not counting Gigabytes with my AT&T Unlimited Plan...
 
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