Should I buy an iPad?

[MarkGrace]

I really don't understand the appeal of these things, but the Mrs. has been wanting one, so that has brought me to this thread. Just went to the Apple store to snag one, but the place was closing and I'll likely be headed back in the morning. They said there are wi-fi and 3G versions, and I'm not sure what the hell that means, but reading through this thread I think I get what's going on.

So peeps think the 3G is definitely worth the difference in cost (which is about $120, I think)? And if you don't have a 3G phone, then what, you buy the monthly service at $20? I'm guessing the Mrs. would most likely use it in our house and at work. She travels to different clinics in the area, and while I think some of them have wi-fi, I'm not sure that all of them do.

Input? And how long until the iPad3 comes out and this thing is irrelevant?

[Uncle Ted]

I really don't understand the appeal of these things, but the Mrs. has been wanting one, so that has brought me to this thread. Just went to the Apple store to snag one, but the place was closing and I'll likely be headed back in the morning. They said there are wi-fi and 3G versions, and I'm not sure what the hell that means, but reading through this thread I think I get what's going on.

So peeps think the 3G is definitely worth the difference in cost (which is about $120, I think)? And if you don't have a 3G phone, then what, you buy the monthly service at $20? I'm guessing the Mrs. would most likely use it in our house and at work. She travels to different clinics in the area, and while I think some of them have wi-fi, I'm not sure that all of them do.

Input? And how long until the iPad3 comes out and this thing is irrelevant?

Personally I would rather have a Macbook Air but the iPad can be very useful as well.

If she is not much of a road warrior and will be using it primarily in wifi areas then it most likely won't be worth the extra $240/year for the 3G service. Another option is to opt for the personal hotspot service on your phone. That way you can connect your laptop and other wifi devices as well.

The iPad 3 will most likely be out 1Q2012 or 2Q2012, have a higher res screen, faster processor, and more memory.

[MarkGrace]

Personally I would rather have a Macbook Air but the iPad can be very useful as well.

This is my line of thinking as well.

Anyway, I bought the wi-fi one and will let her decide if she wants the other one. In my mind it didn't seem worth it, but perhaps she'll have a reason that I didn't consider.

[falafel]

This is my line of thinking as well.

Anyway, I bought the wi-fi one and will let her decide if she wants the other one. In my mind it didn't seem worth it, but perhaps she'll have a reason that I didn't consider.

I think you probably made the right decision. Hell, even church has wifi these days!

[TripletDaddy]

This is my line of thinking as well.

Anyway, I bought the wi-fi one and will let her decide if she wants the other one. In my mind it didn't seem worth it, but perhaps she'll have a reason that I didn't consider.

One reason she may want the 3G is because she wants to be able to connect to the internet in areas that don't have wi-fi. Beyond that, I agree that there aren't many other reasons to get the 3G model.

[MarkGrace]

One reason she may want the 3G is because she wants to be able to connect to the internet in areas that don't have wi-fi. Beyond that, I agree that there aren't many other reasons to get the 3G model.

ha. Jackass.

[falafel]

One reason she may want the 3G is because she wants to be able to connect to the internet in areas that don't have wi-fi. Beyond that, I agree that there aren't many other reasons to get the 3G model.

tether.

The cost difference between the wifi and the 3g models should be enough to turn you away MG, but then when you consider that you have to pay for 3g service (not 4g, but 2 year old 3g tech) at $20 a mo., there's not a great reason to buy the 3g version. Unless you're loaded, I guess.

[TripletDaddy]

tether.

The cost difference between the wifi and the 3g models should be enough to turn you away MG, but then when you consider that you have to pay for 3g service (not 4g, but 2 year old 3g tech) at $20 a mo., there's not a great reason to buy the 3g version. Unless you're loaded, I guess.

maybe he can buy a used iPad at Last Chance and save even more money.

[MarkGrace]

tether.

The cost difference between the wifi and the 3g models should be enough to turn you away MG, but then when you consider that you have to pay for 3g service (not 4g, but 2 year old 3g tech) at $20 a mo., there's not a great reason to buy the 3g version. Unless you're loaded, I guess.

I don't think she could do that with her phone. She's got some crappy basic phone.

I just meant I'm not sure how often she'll be using it in an area that doesn't at least have wi-fi. My guess is the vast majority of her use will be at home or at work, and I think the majority of the locations where she works have wi-fi. But there may be other scenarios where wi-fi is not available that I'm failing to consider.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I don't think she could do that with her phone. She's got some crappy basic phone.

I just meant I'm not sure how often she'll be using it in an area that doesn't at least have wi-fi. My guess is the vast majority of her use will be at home or at work, and I think the majority of the locations where she works have wi-fi. But there may be other scenarios where wi-fi is not available that I'm failing to consider.

I have never regretted getting the wifi (non-3G) version. I don't think it is worth the extra cash.

[falafel]

maybe he can buy a used iPad at Last Chance and save even more money.

Who doesn't like saving money?

[MarkGrace]

I have never regretted getting the wifi (non-3G) version. I don't think it is worth the extra cash.

Once you added in the difference in cost for the tablet itself, plus the cost of the monthly plan, it just didn't seem worth it given her likely usage. Also, with the 3G priced at about 2/3's the cost of a Macbook Air, that was when I couldn't get the thing to make sense anymore. I would rather just get the Air.

[MarkGrace]

btw, the wi-fi went back in favor of the 3G.

[TripletDaddy]

btw, the wi-fi went back in favor of the 3G.

Did she have a good reason?

[EuropeanFootballMale]

I have never regretted getting the wifi (non-3G) version. I don't think it is worth the extra cash.

Same here