Ipad wifi vs 3G

[Doju]

For those folks advocating tethering, I am curious how badly this affects your phone battery life? I work on the road quite a lot, and I actually use my smartphone to make phone calls as well as all the other functions, so how much talk time would I be losing if I am counting on it as a wifi hotspot as well?

Tethering for an hour brought my iPhone to 40% battery life.

 

[raremage]

Tethering for an hour brought my iPhone to 40% battery life.

Without knowing where you started that doesn't provide complete information (if you were at 90% when starting, there's a huge drain. If at 50%, not so much).

What I think you're saying, though, is it adds a significant drain to the battery, which is what I suspected, and why I am still leaning toward a 3G in the future.

 

[robotkiller]

For those folks advocating tethering, I am curious how badly this affects your phone battery life? I work on the road quite a lot, and I actually use my smartphone to make phone calls as well as all the other functions, so how much talk time would I be losing if I am counting on it as a wifi hotspot as well?

On my Droid, tethering for an hour brings it down to ~ 60%, IIRC. If you are heavy into 3G, it's obviously not an ideal solution.

If, however, you are going to primarily use WiFi with only the occasional need for 3G access, it's much more cost effective to tether.

I'm not a cheapskate and I can easily afford the data plans, but I would have a hard time spending even $15 for the once or twice a month I will likely access 3G. It's a principle thing.

Now if I was accessing 3G on a daily basis for up to an hour a day, then getting 3G would make much more sense to me.

 

[melman101]

I just know that the one time I'll need 3G for whatever reason will piss me off if I don't have it. So I am just gonna wait the extra days.

It's a tough thing, but someone has got to do it .

 

[avaloncourt]

For those folks advocating tethering, I am curious how badly this affects your phone battery life?

I have used NetShare occasionally to do tethering and it kills the battery very quickly. It has the cell radio and wi-fi running full out plus acting as a proxy keeps the processor running hard. I only use NetShare when I really need a connection for the laptop and nothing else is available.

 

[T4R06]

i just got my IMP500 yesterday and this battery is awesome! this is going to get used more when my iPad arrive.

iphone as wireless router + IMP500

 

[WLS]

HELP, i am so close to ordering a wifi Ipad as i cant wait for the 3G grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, i have always said ill wait for the 3G but i cant think off any advantages to having a 3G over a wifi, what are your guys thinking of this? what advangtes are there? if i need to use ipad whilst out and about ill just use mywifi from my iphone,

all help would be great

I was going to get just the WIFI but it is starting to make more sense to wait for the 3g version. The 30 day wait will get the early production and supply issues resolved and who knows maybe OS 4.0 will ship with it-it's possible. Also I have come around to the idea even if you are going to be a WIFI user the minimum ATT data contract makes sense because it is my understanding you also get free unlimited access to all the ATT WIFI hotspots around the country. That's better than Boingo and you have the 3g as a backup when needed.
Plus you get GPS which is a nice added feature with the 3g model.

I'm just throwing this out there as a thought. A lot of people say they will wait for the 2nd gen iPad but in a way the 3g version is different enough to be considered as the 2nd gen since it comes after the WIFI model and offers new features. The WIFI model is really not much different than a large iPod Touch and it is not until the 3g version do you get significant new features. I'm thinking the 3g version is worth the investment and will get you a higher resale value so I say the best value is probably the 16GB 3G because for a little over $100 you get new features but on the WIFI model that $100 just gets you 16GB more memory
Just saying....

 

[email68]

I ordered a iPad 32 +3G the first day.

But today I cancelled it and ordered a wifi 16gig model instead.

I just decided that I will mostly be using it at home for web surfing and home automation (via HS Touch app). Once and a while I will throw some movies on it when we go on vacation or something.

I can use my iPhone for a wifi hotspot if needed.

This way I'm not spending more than I really need and can justify an upgrade when version 2 comes out .

 

[foxnews1]

I ordered a iPad 32 +3G the first day.

But today I cancelled it and ordered a wifi 16gig model instead.

I just decided that I will mostly be using it at home for web surfing and home automation (via HS Touch app). Once and a while I will throw some movies on it when we go on vacation or something.

I can use my iPhone for a wifi hotspot if needed.

This way I'm not spending more than I really need and can justify an upgrade when version 2 comes out .

+1 but I got 32GB. save money for version 2/3 upgrade.

 

[TraceyS/FL]

I think this has been discussed several times before...

I went WiFi as I have a $15/mo Unlimited Plan with a MiFi so 3G version would be pointless for me.

I also think those that have can share WiFi through phones are better off without 3G. I know some people keep mentioning convenience and that it's only $130 more, but there is also the monthly fee to consider. I don't see the point to pay two data plans, but each his/her own.

I could only dream of a MiFi with a $15 a month plan.... that isn't $15 per day!

2 Data plans don't make a lot of sense to me either - which is why i chose the iPad to be the ONE i'll be paying for!

 

[melman101]

I could only dream of a MiFi with a $15 a month plan.... that isn't $15 per day!

2 Data plans don't make a lot of sense to me either - which is why i chose the iPad to be the ONE i'll be paying for!

Honestly, 2 Data plans does suck. I'm not going to lie. But in fact, to me, it will be 3 data plans. My home internet, my phone internet, and my iPad internet. LOL! . However, I don't plan on paying every month especially if I know I'm not going to use it. But I would like the option. And even more so, I hope a lot more countries offer Microsims and then it will be way worth it. Last time I had Internet in a hotel in Europe, they killed me on data fees. If I can get an unlimited Microsim, that would be wonderful.

 

[bniu]

+1 agreed!

the $129 dollar insurance is well worth it. Also, I'd rather wait 30 days for a 3G iPad, then live 335 days without the iPad that I really wanted. I'll wait the 30 days .

or do what I do, get them both! i already ordered a 3G ipad 64gb but i'm thinking of getting a 32gb wifi only model on launch and give it to my mom after my 3g one arrives, it'd be a nice birthday/mother's day gift and I can also use an iPad in the interim...

$829 + $599 = $1428. All from money made umpiring softball. How great is officiating? i get to participate in a game that I love, I get to have fun, I get paid good money for it, and with that money, I can buy fancy devices, stuff I would never ever do with a regular paycheck...

 

[bniu]

The original announcement said that the iPad would be available online, at Apple Stores, and select other retailers. Apple has a 14 day return period on its products, but Best Buy's 14 day period is for computers... if the iPad is sold as a being an entertainment device (more like iPod touch than computer) then the return period jumps up to 30 days.

IF Best Buy has the wifi model at launch, and IF it is not in their system as a computer, then it might be possible to buy it at launch, enjoy it for 29 days and then return/exchange it for a 3G model if you've decided it is worth it (In theory).

Thoughts?

I'm still really torn between the iPad and waiting even longer for the Slate or Adam... :-\

very unethical but completely legal. there's also a few other shady and possibly illegal ways to do stuff as well, and i'm not talking about the low level five fingered discount...
if i were best buy management, i would impose a right to collect a restocking fee mostly to discourage people from "borrowing" my inventory...

 

[cualexander]

I say iPad with 3G would be good for travelers. I think it would be really good for international travel because with an unlocked phone, data is still really expensive abroad. So if there were good deals in say, Europe, where you could just pop in a MicroSim when you got there and use data for awhile, then it would be handy. Especially since the iPad is unlocked from the get go.

Now for me personally, I can only envision using the iPad at work or at home. Both places I have wifi. If I'm out in the grocery store, shopping, or out at a bar I'm not going to be carrying a huge bag with my iPad in it. I can't really see taking the iPad anywhere else besides home or work, unless maybe to a friend's house and chances are they will have wifi.

Everything I need to access on the go, RSS, email, google, etc is on my iPhone.

Therefore, 3G if you are a traveler, Wifi if you are not.

 

[email68]

Well, I just cancelled and re-ordered again. lol

I dumped the 16g wifi only model for a 32g wifi only. I just thought all these movies are coming with digital copies now, plus to really play with the photo app you'll need to put a lot on there, so thats how I convinced myself anyway.

Still have a couple of weeks to change it a few more times.

All these changes screwed me out of getting the case shipped by the 4/3 to getting it shipped mid April. Serves me right for not knowing what I want.

 

[wingnut8]

I don't even have 3G in my area, and EDGE is painful enough on the iPhone. Don't want to mess around with it on the iPad.

 

[melman101]

I say iPad with 3G would be good for travelers. I think it would be really good for international travel because with an unlocked phone, data is still really expensive abroad. So if there were good deals in say, Europe, where you could just pop in a MicroSim when you got there and use data for awhile, then it would be handy. Especially since the iPad is unlocked from the get go.

Now for me personally, I can only envision using the iPad at work or at home. Both places I have wifi. If I'm out in the grocery store, shopping, or out at a bar I'm not going to be carrying a huge bag with my iPad in it. I can't really see taking the iPad anywhere else besides home or work, unless maybe to a friend's house and chances are they will have wifi.

Everything I need to access on the go, RSS, email, google, etc is on my iPhone.

Therefore, 3G if you are a traveler, Wifi if you are not.

Yeah, I kinda agree with that, except there are other local places that I can see the iPad being useful. I mean, the iPhone would probably work just as well, but hey, the iPad is mobile enough. For instance, Doctor's offices. I never understood why you make an appointment and they don't see you for an hour or so. Other examples, Department of Motor Vehicles, Social Security Administration, pretty much anywhere you gotta wait for like an hour or more.

Hey I just thought of a good one actually. I was actually holed up in a hospital last year for 4 - 5 days. That entire weekend I was using my iPhone because my laptop didn't have Internet and the hospital didn't have Wifi and it was painful. Now, if I had my 3G iPad, I could be recovering with internet access, books, movies, and more . However, I hope I don't have to go to a hospital anytime soon again.

The more and more I think about the 3G iPad, the more and more I can see where I would use the 3G feature.

 

[pirateRACE]

Well, I just cancelled and re-ordered again. lol

I dumped the 16g wifi only model for a 32g wifi only. I just thought all these movies are coming with digital copies now, plus to really play with the photo app you'll need to put a lot on there, so thats how I convinced myself anyway.

Still have a couple of weeks to change it a few more times.

All these changes screwed me out of getting the case shipped by the 4/3 to getting it shipped mid April. Serves me right for not knowing what I want.

Ditto. I scratched my 16GB WiFi for a 32.

I'm really excited for the iPad as a "digital album" for our personal photos and videos. 32GB should be able to take all of that content without having to be too selective. I doubt we will load all of our music when we have iPhones that serve fine as MP3 players.

As far as the 3G vs WiFi... I'd love to have the 3G for certain situations, but 95% of it's use will probably be in our home (like the laptop it's replacing). With 2 iPhones and cable internet, I really am not keen on another connection fee.

 

[obey908]

I can't decide between 16gb 3g or wifi.

No matter what, I am waiting just before I leave for my 6week Italy study abroad trip to buy the iPad. I leave May 18th, so that will give plenty of time to read reviews.

I like the idea of having 3g for traveling around, we will also be taking long bus rides to different companies (ferrari, ducati, bugatti, etc), so having internet would be nice.

I plan to do a lot of traveling on the weekends, would I have to buy a new sim card for each country I visit, or does one sim card work throughout Europe?

Holding me back from the 3g is that I will have my blackberry with me, so I will be able to do a quick internet search on that, if I need to. I don't really see myself using 3g outside of the Italy trip.

But the extra $130 + 6weeks of 3g coverage could be worth it, and I will always have the option of buying 3g coverage when needed.

 

[WLS]

If you are traveling in Europe that SIM card won't work at all so don't expect it to, in fact the iPad uses a microSIM that is not even physically compatible with standard SIMs you might find. This is the one case where the 3G iPad won't be of use for traveling. You are better off getting the WIFI only version for the trip you indicated. I don't know how cell service is going to be handled outside of the States but I expect it will have to be with those cell companies that handle the iphone now. The sticky part is if they are going to want to agree to the same low data deal that Apple squeezed out of ATT. (Apple really has ATT by the balls in this country). My guess is that they will not be so eager to do so.

 

[JohnnyQuest]

While 3G connectivity would be nice, I can't justify spending an EXTRA $130 on it. I plan on getting the 64GB WiFi. I'm going to use the iPad for web browsing, pictures, e-mail, an iPod with my entire library on it, books, etc., and most everywhere I take the iPad will have WiFi. If I really feel like I'm missing out on not having 3G, there's always the second generation!

 

[Alchematron]

I work out of my car so I need 3G access anywhere

I do plan to try the 4G Sprint mobile hot spot

But if it does not work out I will fall back to 3G

 

[bowlerman625]

I think I'll excessively use one of my "second-class" devices (aka netbook) over the next month or so. That way I'll be soooo ready for my iPad 3G when it arrives I will really appreciate it and forget about the fact that the WiFi iPad people have been playing with their new toys for almost a month already!

 

[msduncan]

I considered the wi-fi originally but GPS only exists in the 3G version. If you never activate the 3G service you'll still have access to the GPS chip in the 3G version. Even if you may not think you'd use it now, it would be an option if you reconsidered sometime later with the 3G model. It's just like the amount of storage. Once you make your decision to purchase you're stuck. I'd recommend going with the most options that might be a need. There are so many location-aware applications available with many more coming. People will try to sell you on wireless will give you the same thing but that simply isn't true. Wireless locating requires an access point to be recorded by Skyhook. If you go back to the original 2G iPhone (which didn't have GPS) threads here you'll see the huge amount of complaints about how poorly Skyhook worked. It was an awful system that assumes no wireless access point ever moves. If one does, you get horribly inaccurate results.

If I already have a GPS system, what advantage does GPS enabled apps give me? If I'm not using an Ipad to navigate or find restaurants or gas stations, what advantage does it buy me in apps?

Not being snarky! I'm really curious if I'm missing out on considering something I should be.

 

[Jett0516]

if you're gonna always have your ipad with you...3G is a must.

It's kinda like having an ipod touch with no wifi around. It gets boring and all you can do is listen to music, read books, and fondle with apps that doesn't need wifi to run.