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iPad with cellular: why?
- Thread starter clunkmess
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They're also costing me around $50/week.
WHOA. Even my games don't cost me that much!
Games provide you with hours upon hours of entertainment. Unfortunately, comics are $3-5 a pop for a 20-page 5-15 minute read. Marvel, especially, likes to guilt fans into preordering the periodicals by threatening cancellation (trades/graphic novel preorders don't count).
Lol, I tried. Cut down around $60-80 worth of Marvel in January (change in digital copy program). Ended up spending it on DC, Image, Dark Horse, Aftershock, Dynamite and Valiant instead.
I started Marvel again this May since they're reinstating digital copies. Secret Empire is a major drain at the moment.
That said, a lot of series I've been following have either been cancelled or are ending soon so I'm just not picking up new titles to replace them and Secret Empire will be ending August (so my last preorder will be this month). Also switching to trade-waiting on some books.
Well you think it's useless because its useless to you, plus you dont have a cellular plan for your ipad (200m doesn't count).
For a lot of us, we use iPads outside of our homes, out of office. Yes, you can tether from your phone, but it consumes too much battery on the phone, and most plans have limited amount for tethering. Yes there are 'free-wifi' in Starbucks. But the security for those free wifi remains in question, plus, it's a hassle to ask and connect to wifi wherever you go, and you have no idea wheather the place you go have free wifi, or if it's fast enough.
For some old people, or people in less developed regions, a cellular for your phone may also seem useless, they can just go home and 'surf the internet', and while they are out, they just use phone and text. So whether a cellular plan (either for phone or ipad) is useful, depends completely on your habit and usage.
For a lot of us, we use iPads outside of our homes, out of office. Yes, you can tether from your phone, but it consumes too much battery on the phone, and most plans have limited amount for tethering. Yes there are 'free-wifi' in Starbucks. But the security for those free wifi remains in question, plus, it's a hassle to ask and connect to wifi wherever you go, and you have no idea wheather the place you go have free wifi, or if it's fast enough.
For some old people, or people in less developed regions, a cellular for your phone may also seem useless, they can just go home and 'surf the internet', and while they are out, they just use phone and text. So whether a cellular plan (either for phone or ipad) is useful, depends completely on your habit and usage.
My disclaimer is is that I have never had any use for cellular iPad. But the reason is I have always had access to Wi-Fi at work without any restrictions and at home. I'm not one that would require cellular use for my iPad other than those two locations. I also think it's based on the extent of your Wi-Fi and how far it extends to your preferences.
But if I was more mobile and I required consistent access to my iPad, then I would certainly consider cellular. I think it really is based on How mobile someone is and and content they need to access it anytime without solely relying on Wi-Fi.
But if I was more mobile and I required consistent access to my iPad, then I would certainly consider cellular. I think it really is based on How mobile someone is and and content they need to access it anytime without solely relying on Wi-Fi.
I wasn't aware that the iPhone can go into power saving mode while being tethered.
I'm currently pondering whether to get a cell-enabled iPad. Just today I got biased towards saving the money, as I found that I can conveniently initiate tethering from the iPad (if BT is enabled), without having to take the iPhone out of my pocket.
But if the iPhone repeatedly breaks the connection due to power saving mode ... :-/
Games provide you with hours upon hours of entertainment. Unfortunately, comics are $3-5 a pop for a 20-page 5-15 minute read. Marvel, especially, likes to guilt fans into preordering the periodicals by threatening cancellation (trades/graphic novel preorders don't count).
The games I play are online in nature though, which means you can play for a while (about 15mins per game at most) before having to wait for your free play time to be recharge or pay for play time. This is also known as the ingame stamina system.
The gacha system (pay to get random characters of varying rarity with gamechanging effects) in these games do take in a LOT of money too!
The reason "why?" is so I don't pull my iPad out one day and ask myself, "Why didn't I just get the LTE version?".
Use my iPad in the field and can not imagine not having cellular. I did the teather thing, long ago and my phone battery really suffered.
Buy what you need.
Buy what you need.
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I've owned both variants and can honestly say that the iPad Air 2 was the first iPad I ever really used properly as it wasn't limited by any lack of connection.
I just use prepaid and get ~8gb with 12 months expiry (or something like that). I use wifi the majority of the time, but it's great having a portable computer you can take out and always have connectivity. Personal hotspots on the IPhone are way too temperamental, unreliable and drain the phone battery at warp speed. I'd rather pay the extra and get the fully featured iPad.
I just use prepaid and get ~8gb with 12 months expiry (or something like that). I use wifi the majority of the time, but it's great having a portable computer you can take out and always have connectivity. Personal hotspots on the IPhone are way too temperamental, unreliable and drain the phone battery at warp speed. I'd rather pay the extra and get the fully featured iPad.
Maybe not a major decision factor........ but one other big advantage of cellular is that it means device has an 'always on' data connection...... so if you were unfortunate enough to misplace or lose (e.g. When travelling) - can remotely find or wipe. If were tethering that would not be possible.
I have the grandfathered AT&T unlimited data plan with a FAN discount. It does not include tethering. The new unlimited data plan, which includes tethering, would cost me an additional $30 per month. I always buy the LTE versions, but only buy prepaid data when I travel. T-mobile has a $10 5 GB data bucket that lasts for 5 months. I usually buy that when I travel and don't have to worry about wifi in airports, on trains (Amtrak wifi sucks) or in hotels.
I too use it as a hotspot because of the huge battery life. It will also pick up LTE when my phone won't.
I used to spend 10+ hours a week in waiting rooms without wifi a week. Cellular iPad to the rescue!! Now I have wifi most places I go. But, I'm not a fan of using public wifi either.
If I get the wifi only 12.9, I'd still have this one to activate, or the kids pro (cellular, but never activated).
Decisions, delicious......
I used to spend 10+ hours a week in waiting rooms without wifi a week. Cellular iPad to the rescue!! Now I have wifi most places I go. But, I'm not a fan of using public wifi either.
If I get the wifi only 12.9, I'd still have this one to activate, or the kids pro (cellular, but never activated).
Decisions, delicious......
I went through this dilemma a couple days ago. I primarily use my iPad at home (excellent WiFi) however my family does RV a lot. I had considered the LTE model iPad this time, but between the price premium and the $20 access fee I get banged for on VZW, I decided it wasn't worth it for the month or so out of the year I'm camping somewhere. Plus, my wife and kids would also have to connect to my iPad to do whatever they wanted to do.
For me, a MiFi w/ $10 access fee is the answer. Everybody can connect to it, it runs independently of my iPad battery, it has cheaper line access fees, and I bet it functions better as a hotspot for multiple people then would my iPad.
That's just me though.
For me, a MiFi w/ $10 access fee is the answer. Everybody can connect to it, it runs independently of my iPad battery, it has cheaper line access fees, and I bet it functions better as a hotspot for multiple people then would my iPad.
That's just me though.
Yea, I never really understood the point either as I could always tether to my iPhone. Doesn't seem worth the money just for GPS, which you have on your phone.
agreed
i personally have 8GB to tether on my phone so to me thats plenty enough when i need it outside but normally i don't. i have wifi at home and at work so it's really not needed. i also don't know why somebody would use GPS when you have your phone
Interesting. Is this on the new unlimited plans? Because on the slightly older shared data plans, it was the reverse - iPad line access fee $10, wireless hotspot $20.
Besides, one of the main advantages for me is the iPad has practically universal LTE support for overseas use (just replace SIM card). Last time I took a trip, a local LTE hotspot cost $150 with a pay as you go prepaid plan. There's no guarantee that Verizon's MiFi will work overseas and even if it did, configuration is probably gonna be a hassle when you don't have working internet. The iPhones and iPads auto-configure themselves based on carrier.
I think that overseas trip was when I really appreciated how Apple makes their devices so easy to use for non-techies.
While I pretty much just installed a SIM card on my mom's iPhone and my iPad and they were good to go, it was a pain trying to get internet working on my Sony Xperia (Android). And I wouldn't have known what APN configuration to use if I didn't have working internet on my iOS devices.
Adding the iPad to a VZW unlimited account for $20/mo outweighs the iPhone hotspot battery hit for me, not to mention doing so gets the iPad full unlimited data each month instead of hitting the 10GB/mo tethering limit that knocks speed down for the remainder of the month with VZW.
Maybe I feel that way because the new unlimited plan (including iPad line) still saves me $35/mo over my old grandfathered plan
Also resale value can only be helped, if anything.
Maybe I feel that way because the new unlimited plan (including iPad line) still saves me $35/mo over my old grandfathered plan
Also resale value can only be helped, if anything.
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