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Pros and Cons of 3g ipad?

Pros
GPS and 3G

Cons
GPS and 3G *

(* GPS is a battery hog; 3G coverage can be spotty and connection speed slow even when you have five bars. If the iPhone 3G coverage at your frequent venues is unsatisfactory, then the iPad 3G will be in the same boat.)
 
The black bar is ugly and I am slightly concerned about the 3G sucking the battery. However, there have been too many times in the last month when I've wanted internet and there is no WiFi. Not to mention that I am getting tired of the WiFi flaking out, not connecting or giving a weak signal when my iPhone has full strength. I suppose I may get into the habit of switching 3G on and off to save battery; however, my iPhone is on 3G all the time and still lasts me two days. Right now I get 5 days of use out of my iPad. If it gets cut down to 2 or 3 I am not concerned.

Of a smaller concern, a lot of people show interest when they see the iPad for the first time and rarely am I in a coffee shop when it happens. It will be nice to show them the full capabilities of the device by having an internet connection.
 
data competition

Remember the iPad is unlocked so, hopefully T-Mobile may jump in with some competition in data plan rates and drive the prices down. Future is good.
 
1. GPS itself is NOT a battery hog. Applications that use that AND data are - ie. Google Maps and apps that are constantly using data for location services. A GPS chip barely draws any power itself.

2. I don't buy getting 3G as "future-proofing" unless you consider short term the future. IE - wanting the option to connect wherever you are that Wifi isn't. Wifi will be around just as long as 3G. As we move into 4G and on up, there's no guarantee the networks will be compatible after a certain point. But all that's moot anyway because who's going to have the same iPad for more than 2 years do you think? I don't think anyone on THIS board anyway. So what are you really future proofing?
 
I thought about just jail breaking my iPhone and tethering, but mine is still under warranty and jail breaking the iPhone voids the warranty. So, I thought it was better to just get the iPad 3g. Also, I have heard that AT&T monitors 3g usage on the iPhone to find those that are tethering.
 
PROS:

-3G connection in your iPad without a need to tether to an existing phone!
-Slightly better location services with 3G chip than the WiFi model!

CONS:

-3G iPad costs $130 more!
-3G service costs an extra $30 per month ($15 per month plan = useless)
-3G iPad has a reduced battery life, which could be substantially worse than advertised by Apple. We are a 2 days from knowing the truth!
-3G iPad has an ugly black bar right where you would hold the iPad horizontally, which may show ugly fingerprints, just like your screen!

Get ready everyone! We are only T-Minus two days away from the release of the iPad 3G! You know this means we'll have a short honeymoon period, followed during the next 2 weeks of threads from those who can never make up their mind and ask "Should I return my iPad 3G?".

I suspect we may see threads such as "Should return their iPad 3G model for a WiFi iPad" because "I don't think I can afford the extra $130" or because "The battery life is nowhere near as good as the WiFi model" or "I can't afford an extra $30 per month when I can tether to my phone for free" or the "I can't stand fingerprints on my black bar" thread. Of course, these things should be thought out before buying the device, but people will buy anyhow and panic as they hit the 14 day return window.

As for me, I'll stick with my WiFi iPad tethered to my jailbroken iPhone with MyWi hotspot app. I got a 8900mah imaxpower external battery that fits in my bag or pocket and there's never a concern of MyWi draining the iPhone battery. This setup works great and I'll use the $30 a month that I save to buy other things that are more useful in life. It's worth the minor inconvenience if you can tether to know that you're not giving your pimp (AT&T) an extra $30 a month of your hard earned money.
 
gatearray said:
For me, I can't bear to give AT&T another $30 on top of what I already pay for my iPhone.
Click to expand...

So you want your iphone data plan to cover every mobile device you have? At least they're not charging $60 a month for the ipad plan like they do if you have a laptop aircard. Fact is data really bogs down a mobile network so its gonna come at a premium.
 
I view the 3G as "connection insurance" -- If I've don't have WiFi but I have to have connectivity, then I can buy service for the month. If I don't need it, I don't have to buy it.

I travel a lot in Europe and since it's not locked, I can see picking up a pay-as-you-go (micro-) SIM or two for the countries I spend the most time in.
 
iPad 3G: It's a nice EXTRA.

The iPad 3G is a luxury over the Wi-Fi model. If you REALLY think your gonna need the internet everywhere, go for it. But remeber we all have or had a laptop and find ways to be productive with zero internet(Unless you teather). Its a pro that your not commitied to the service. I may return my Wi-Fi model for a 3G.:apple:+
 
We have to remember what we are getting this Friday is a 3G+WiFi version of the iPad. We don't have to use the 3G. We have more control of how we want to use it by activating it (3G) straight from the iPad at our convenience. I plan to use WiFi most of the time, but it's good to know 3G is a backup whenever or wherever I need it. ;)
Black bar? If this is on the back side, not an issue since my iPad will be in the Apple Case all the time. ;)
 
jarvijarv said:
Black bar? If this is on the back side, not an issue since my iPad will be in the Apple Case all the time. ;)
Click to expand...

True. But you'd have to admit it does take away from its sexiness since you can also see it on the top when viewing the screen. In a case... not an issue which is what I plan on doing as well anyway.
 
glocke12 said:
Cons of 3g ipad

lousy streaming video over 3g
Click to expand...

This is not a con, in a comparison with a wifi iPad. If video streaming is lousy over 3g (not sure it will be), you can choose not to stream video over 3g, and you'll be in the same position as you would be with a wifi iPad in that regard.
 
Applecreep said:
The iPad 3G is a luxury over the Wi-Fi model. If you REALLY think your gonna need the internet everywhere, go for it. But remeber we all have or had a laptop and find ways to be productive with zero internet(Unless you teather). Its a pro that your not commitied to the service. I may return my Wi-Fi model for a 3G.:apple:+
Click to expand...

Actually, lack of wifi where i go means my laptop stays at home. What i need to do in those places - needs internet and the iPad will work, so that was my biggest PRO.
 
For the people who are saying that MyWi is. All you need...will you never upgrade your phone or will you wait until the next iPhone is jail broken and then buy it?

Most of us seem like early adopters...we have to have it the first day...so I can't see many waiting a few months after the next iPhone is released just to keep MyWi.
 
First of all... Black bar? are some of you seriously complaining about that? How about this, consider it a badge that says "I payed more" if you're really vain enough that it matters.

I travel a lot so for me the 3g is much better. GPS alone is worth the price of admission here. As for the wireless, sure there's plenty of places that have it free, but I hate having to search for it everywhere I go. I will use this from the car quite a bit too (not moving of course, besides the GPS). I'll be in Disney world next week and I can tell you there's absolutely no way I'll be able to use the wi-fi only one there on the resorts. Been there, done that. 3g or expensive wired is all they got. Even at the various offices I travel to, they are locked down to wired only or a strange wireless protocol that the ipad can't access. Again, 3g is the only answer there.

The only downside I see is price, and if it's a lot to you and you don't travel a lot, then fine, but a black bar or fingerprints is not a factor against it
 
i plan on getting a G3 ipad 64GB. the apple store guy said there should be enough available while the wifi models are sold out. this is the first pro for the 3G model.:D


anyway, does anybody know how the g3 dataplans work?

can I go to germany or iceland and buy a 3g dataplan prepaid and put the sim card into the ipad and surf the web?

in theory the device in unlocked and prepaid 3g dataplans for netbooks/notebooks are available. so in theory i should be able to use any prepaid dataplan that works with notebooks as well correct?
 
andiwm2003 said:
anyway, does anybody know how the g3 dataplans work?

can I go to germany or iceland and buy a 3g dataplan prepaid and put the sim card into the ipad and surf the web?

in theory the device in unlocked and prepaid 3g dataplans for netbooks/notebooks are available. so in theory i should be able to use any prepaid dataplan that works with notebooks as well correct?
Click to expand...

As long as you can edit the APN settings from at&t's default you shouldn't have a problem. Not sure if you will have to jailbreak it to do that or if you can just do it from within Settings.
 
You would think that will all that space inside the iPad casing (we've seen the X-ray and the teardowns), they would have compensated the 3G model with a slightly larger battery.

I thought I read somewhere that the battery life is 9 hours over 3G as opposed to 10 hours over Wi-Fi.

UPDATE: The tech specs are worded very peculiar:
  • Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, or listening to music
  • Up to 9 hours of surfing the web using 3G data network
Click to expand...
I know that unless I'm at home or a usual Wi-Fi hotspot (read: Starbucks, McDonalds, Barnes & Noble, etc.), my Wi-Fi antenna will be off or not seeking hotspots.

Because of the places I travel and the lack of hotspots, I had to get the 3G model. As I stated in previous threads, I even sold my 3GS and downgraded to a flip phone to accomodate the iPad 3G. So, the resale value, the GPS, the data-anywhere capability, and the lack of contract was worth more than the $130 and the three additional weeks to wait for it.
 
MT0227 said:
Con: $130 for a $7 Part

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUS200766886820100128
Click to expand...

What difference does that make? I don't think the $130 price tag is worth it to me... probably most, especially if you have an iPhone, but if you need it you need it. Also the part cost $7, but there was also extra engineering expenses, testing expenses, and its unknown if Apple is actually paying ATT a subsidy to get the $30/unlimited/no contract deal. They sure don't offer that pricing to any other device.
 
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