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Pros and Cons of 3g ipad?
- Thread starter glocke12
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That would be tethering which converts your phones 3G signal to WiFi so a 3G iPad wouldn't be necessary.
Con: At least for me is AT&T is already getting over $100.00 per month from me. I really don't need the 3G access as I have an iPhone that goes with me where ever I go, the iPad does not.
This is the truth. It's just a matter of whether or not you want to pay for it. It's all benefits.
I bought my girlfriend the wifi 64GB. After using it for a month, I don't see a real need for 3G. Yes it's a nice option to have, but we hardly take the iPad out of the house. If I need 3G I have my iPhone for that. Kind of wish I just went 64GB wifi from the start. Oh well, I'm not going to cancel now since I waited a month already. Next version I will seriously considering just wifi only.
The gps and no contract internet did it for me. I had a 64 gb wifi model, used it for 1 1/2 weeks and my dad took it off my hands. The 3g will be for whatever may change in the future, I don't know if i'm going to change my lifestyle or job where I may need 3g. Am I going to use the 3g when I get it this friday, probably not for a while.
If I used an iPad even remotely the same as my iPhone there is NO WAY I would even remotely come close 250Mb a month. Currently I pull in about 3GB a month. I would strongly suggest checking your data usage before signing up for a data plan.
That being said, the MyFi option is giving me some thoughts that maybe I don't need another 3G bill.
For me it all came down to the "on the go" factor. I could have went with a wifi iPad, but I thought about the people I know that have an iPod Touch instead of an iPhone. Sure, wifi is available a lot of places, but there are tons of times I can use a 3G connection. In the car, somewhere they charge for wifi, power outage or internet outage at my house, and plenty of other places. On top of that there are a lot of apps that use an internet connection. If you are away from wifi, you are screwed out of these apps. I know people that have messaging apps like Ping on their iPod Touches and I constantly have reply issues with them because they are away from wifi and can't send or receive messages for hours or more. To me the $130 extra is worth the added connectivity and convenience.
Also, the fact that it is a non-contract 3G plan meaning I can cancel if I don't need it and restart when I do, makes it even better.
Also, the fact that it is a non-contract 3G plan meaning I can cancel if I don't need it and restart when I do, makes it even better.
Good point. I mainly will use it at home and probably not take it out of the house. Heck I don't even take my laptop out of my house. Maybe only a handful of times in the 3 plus years I've owned it. I guess I was going for 3G because it was top of the line. But I'm not one to be taking every device with me where I go. I only take my iPhone with me and I'm good to go. Ugh.. tough decision on if I should keep the 3G or get wifi only.
If you are confident you won't use the 3g aspect, and if gps isn't crucial to you, of course you should get wifi only.
I know for sure that with my use pattern, 3g makes sense. I could tether my Nexus One, I've done that from time to time with a laptop, but then you're limited by the phone's battery. The iPad's battery life is a huge plus to me - maybe the device's #1 feature.
I know for sure that with my use pattern, 3g makes sense. I could tether my Nexus One, I've done that from time to time with a laptop, but then you're limited by the phone's battery. The iPad's battery life is a huge plus to me - maybe the device's #1 feature.
Hehe, all I could think when I read this was "Deductible".
I don't know, but I'd wager it's the opposite. Apple is far more likely to be getting a kickback from AT&T than paying a subsidy. Exclusivity is a pretty big deal. Remember that Verizon passed on the iPhone. AT&T definitely kicked back airtime income to Apple when the first iPhone launched. I would be surprised if that weren't the same with this.
As far as the OP, for me, dropping $700 on an iPad made the extra $130 to be able to use it pretty much anywhere a no-brainer. I don't HAVE to pay a 3G plan, but if I want it, it's there.
Someone mentioned not being able to use 3G or wifi during a flight. True, but for the 4 hours you're stuck on the tarmac, you're going to be glad you have the 3G iPad.
B
GPS I only use google maps when I am out and about. I've never owned a 3G data card for my laptop and I don't see a need for me to carry an iPad around where I go. My iPhone takes care of those tasks for me. I'm at work all day in front of a computer so having 3G internet with me isn't a issue. I guess I am painting myself in a corner to go with wifi only.
If I remember correctly, one of the reasons for the $130 3G price tag is the licensing of the 3G technology. I maybe wrong, but I believe it factors in a good amount.
For the choice was where I go. I have wifi at home and it reaches my yard, school, any local coffee shop in the area so I don't absolutely need 3G. If there is something that important I can reach into my pocket. For two weeks I haven't caught myself wishing I could use it outside a wifi area.
+1.
And personally, I'd prefer to not have to spend time and angst rigging up a solution, in the event of no wi-fi. For me, it's a matter of convenience. My plan is to use the iPad as a mobile device, at least a fair amount of the time. For that reason, it'll be good to have the 3G and not be at the mercy of wi-fi availability.
Except it's not an exclusive deal like the iPhone. The iPad is unlocked and no-contract. That benefits Apple more than ATT. ATT surely would not be making any $ on a no-contract $30 plan if it had to push $ back to Apple.
Haven't seen it in person yet but I kinda like the black bar! Chalk it up cognitive dissonance or whatever you may but it looks cool to me..
You will never find yourself "regretting" getting the 3G version. I returned my wifi version after I found myself wanting to take it everywhere. When you don't have access to wifi (which will be more often than most people are willing to admit).....it feels like a crippled device. For many people, the wifi is a smarter choice because they will most likely never leave the house with it. But if you are on macrumors.....I think we know that is not your case.
I think it's going to depend on a case by case matter. I live in southern California where nearly ALL places I would actually take my iPad have wifi. If I really needed 3G I can tether as others have mentioned so I feel the extra price for the 3G model itself and having to pay $30 dollars a month which in a year comes out to $360 isn't worth it at all. Others may or may not feel the same, but this is my situation. And have fun on AT&T, I can hardly stand the coverage they "offer".