I find it interesting, but not surprising, that everyone one us WOULD be buying the 3G model, if it weren't a gross $130 premium over the WiFi model, am I right?
The monthly cost of the data plan has nothing to do with it this time, since it is both reasonable and contract free.
I find it interesting, but not surprising, that everyone one us WOULD be buying the 3G model, if it weren't a gross $130 premium over the WiFi model, am I right?
The monthly cost of the data plan has nothing to do with it this time, since it is both reasonable and contract free.
That damn $130.
Yah, it sucks. I'm only getting 3G to get the GPS functionality I think...hopefully that works without needing the contract so I'm going to wait a week or two to be sure that's the case.
Yah, it sucks. I'm only getting 3G to get the GPS functionality I think...hopefully that works without needing the contract so I'm going to wait a week or two to be sure that's the case.
Contract free is contract free, it just means you'll be required to pay 15 or 30 at the start of every month, regardless of how much data you use/don't use.
If you were to choose limited data ($15), and run out of data, AT&T would more than likely offer to top you up for another $15, at which point your monthly cycle restarts. This is how they handle most all prepaid service already.
so $15 gets you a month, or less. If you use it up in 3 weeks, u can re-bill imediately and keep going, or wait a week, a month, or two months until you need it again.
Its not a recurring monthly fee unless you want it to be.
I find it interesting, but not surprising, that everyone one us WOULD be buying the 3G model, if it weren't a gross $130 premium over the WiFi model, am I right?
I would never, ever use the 3G service. That's what I have an iPhone for, and why I pay thirty damn dollars a month already for data. Now, if current iPhone customers were free to use their iPad on the AT&T 3G network since they're already paying $30/mo for data, that'd be another story.
I find it interesting, but not surprising, that everyone one us WOULD be buying the 3G model, if it weren't a gross $130 premium over the WiFi model, am I right?
No, I don't think so. It depends entirely on how and where you plan on using the iPad. It's still another $15-30/month for the 3G service. In practice very few people sign up for a month of service then discontinue the service until they think they'll need it again. Probably the carriers will have some sort of service initiation fee to discourage this anyway.
For those who think they'll use 3G, the extra $130 doesn't seem too much, considering that they will probably be paying out the entire cost of the iPad again to the carrier over the next two years.
Personally, I think my strategy will be to buy the $499 iPad and see how it works for my use over a period of time. If it seems to meet my needs and that the 3G option would meet them even more completely, buy another with 3G.
I currently spend 3-4 hours online daily from my recliner in the Great room (with awesome view of the Santa Rita's) using my unibody 2.4 Mac Book Pro resting on a Raindesign iLap. The MBP is usually running on power and goes to sleep and wakes up numerous times a day.
Occasionally I use laptop to do graphics photography with Lightroom and CS4; however, most of the daily activity center around web browsing and e-mail. I have a Kindle 2, but am looking forward on reading books and mags on iPad. Will consign the MBP to the computer room unless I need to do more extensive graphics work or large downloading files.
I ordered a 64 GB wifi iPad. At first I was only thinking of a 16 GB version, but decided that with video files, books, LP album"s (e.g., Gorillaz's "Plastic Beach" some 750MB file) that I'd like room to grow.
I'm buying the iPad because it does all the things I typically use a mobile device for, only better (for me). Additionally, I think the form factor and functionality will lend itself to very interesting applications as time goes on.
Okay... yea, I can't make calls on it, but I meant mobile computer I guess.
I freely admit that it would be nice to have the 3G option. If it was standard equipment, I'm sure I would use it from time to time. The biggest reason I went with the wifi model is because that is what will be available on the 3rd. I don't really have a deeper, philosophical reason.
I admit that Apple has already changed the conversation when it comes to computing. Already, people are starting to associate a persistent internet connection with standard equipment. Think about it. When is the last time a mainstream computing device outside of a phone was expected to have a persistent connection to the web? I can't think of any. Yes, I know that some expensive notebooks have it, but they are hardly mainstream. Yesterday, we were all buying laptops that didn't have 3G and no one seemed to feel like they were doing without a necessary function. Today, people are starting to think of the wifi version of this new computing platform as being somehow crippled. What times we live in.
I ordered the 16 GB wifi only. I will give this to my wife and daughter when the 2nd rev comes out (or later depending on what it is).
I will use this during the evening when I usually spend time reading, when I travel for work which is quite often and when I go to meetings. I just think it will be more casual and friendlier when sitting in front of the tv with my family and will be less bulky to travel with than my MB Pro.
Since I have an iPhone, I will use that on the road to get on the Internet when I can't find wifi. Hotels always have it and it is really rare when I have to pay for it. There are so many hotspots that I use anyway that this won't change my habits any.
I am also looking forward to using Pages and Keynote on the iPad. I had a keyboard that I used with my Newton so I am excited about using my wireless keyboard with the iPad when I need to. Hopefully I will be able to use some of my templates that I have created with the desktop version.
I'm in whole hog. I pre-ordered a 64GB + 3G about 4 seconds after the link went live
I'm taking what appears to be a somewhat unusual approach: I intend to use my iPad as my primary computer. I'm keeping my existing household-iMac which will continue to serve as a central hub for media storage and syncing (it's sole use currently).
I'm retiring my MBP for good, and likely my Kindle2 as well. I am blogging about the experience. I truly believe devices like the iPad are "the future" and though I may be lonely in my quest at first, I have a strong suspicion that many will join me in time.
Comments
The monthly cost of the data plan has nothing to do with it this time, since it is both reasonable and contract free.
That damn $130.
I find it interesting, but not surprising, that everyone one us WOULD be buying the 3G model, if it weren't a gross $130 premium over the WiFi model, am I right?
The monthly cost of the data plan has nothing to do with it this time, since it is both reasonable and contract free.
That damn $130.
Yah, it sucks. I'm only getting 3G to get the GPS functionality I think...hopefully that works without needing the contract so I'm going to wait a week or two to be sure that's the case.
Yah, it sucks. I'm only getting 3G to get the GPS functionality I think...hopefully that works without needing the contract so I'm going to wait a week or two to be sure that's the case.
Contract free is contract free, it just means you'll be required to pay 15 or 30 at the start of every month, regardless of how much data you use/don't use.
If you were to choose limited data ($15), and run out of data, AT&T would more than likely offer to top you up for another $15, at which point your monthly cycle restarts. This is how they handle most all prepaid service already.
so $15 gets you a month, or less. If you use it up in 3 weeks, u can re-bill imediately and keep going, or wait a week, a month, or two months until you need it again.
Its not a recurring monthly fee unless you want it to be.
I find it interesting, but not surprising, that everyone one us WOULD be buying the 3G model, if it weren't a gross $130 premium over the WiFi model, am I right?
I would never, ever use the 3G service. That's what I have an iPhone for, and why I pay thirty damn dollars a month already for data. Now, if current iPhone customers were free to use their iPad on the AT&T 3G network since they're already paying $30/mo for data, that'd be another story.
I find it interesting, but not surprising, that everyone one us WOULD be buying the 3G model, if it weren't a gross $130 premium over the WiFi model, am I right?
No, I don't think so. It depends entirely on how and where you plan on using the iPad. It's still another $15-30/month for the 3G service. In practice very few people sign up for a month of service then discontinue the service until they think they'll need it again. Probably the carriers will have some sort of service initiation fee to discourage this anyway.
For those who think they'll use 3G, the extra $130 doesn't seem too much, considering that they will probably be paying out the entire cost of the iPad again to the carrier over the next two years.
Personally, I think my strategy will be to buy the $499 iPad and see how it works for my use over a period of time. If it seems to meet my needs and that the 3G option would meet them even more completely, buy another with 3G.
Occasionally I use laptop to do graphics photography with Lightroom and CS4; however, most of the daily activity center around web browsing and e-mail. I have a Kindle 2, but am looking forward on reading books and mags on iPad. Will consign the MBP to the computer room unless I need to do more extensive graphics work or large downloading files.
I ordered a 64 GB wifi iPad. At first I was only thinking of a 16 GB version, but decided that with video files, books, LP album"s (e.g., Gorillaz's "Plastic Beach" some 750MB file) that I'd like room to grow.
I'm buying the iPad because it does all the things I typically use a mobile device for, only better (for me). Additionally, I think the form factor and functionality will lend itself to very interesting applications as time goes on.
Okay... yea, I can't make calls on it, but I meant mobile computer I guess.
I admit that Apple has already changed the conversation when it comes to computing. Already, people are starting to associate a persistent internet connection with standard equipment. Think about it. When is the last time a mainstream computing device outside of a phone was expected to have a persistent connection to the web? I can't think of any. Yes, I know that some expensive notebooks have it, but they are hardly mainstream. Yesterday, we were all buying laptops that didn't have 3G and no one seemed to feel like they were doing without a necessary function. Today, people are starting to think of the wifi version of this new computing platform as being somehow crippled. What times we live in.
I will use this during the evening when I usually spend time reading, when I travel for work which is quite often and when I go to meetings. I just think it will be more casual and friendlier when sitting in front of the tv with my family and will be less bulky to travel with than my MB Pro.
Since I have an iPhone, I will use that on the road to get on the Internet when I can't find wifi. Hotels always have it and it is really rare when I have to pay for it. There are so many hotspots that I use anyway that this won't change my habits any.
I am also looking forward to using Pages and Keynote on the iPad. I had a keyboard that I used with my Newton so I am excited about using my wireless keyboard with the iPad when I need to. Hopefully I will be able to use some of my templates that I have created with the desktop version.
I'm taking what appears to be a somewhat unusual approach: I intend to use my iPad as my primary computer. I'm keeping my existing household-iMac which will continue to serve as a central hub for media storage and syncing (it's sole use currently).
I'm retiring my MBP for good, and likely my Kindle2 as well. I am blogging about the experience. I truly believe devices like the iPad are "the future" and though I may be lonely in my quest at first, I have a strong suspicion that many will join me in time.
TM