HOWEVER, I think that AT&T should offer similarly priced tethering plans so that iPhone users can just use that AT&T radio instead of buying another AT&T radio in the iPad.
.I wonder how international data roaming will be handled?
Forget international data roaming, too expensive. Just purchase a pay-as-you-go sim card in whatever country you're in and pop it in the iPad. Much cheaper.
I'm confused. Wasn't AT&T crying like a baby just less than a year ago about the strain on their network from the iPhone and now they're the ones that are supporting the iPad?
I almost always agree with you Steve, but this time hell no.
In the end, I think the price saved the iPad from being labeled "underwhelming" - the iPhone set the bar so high for this sort of thing, it's virtually impossible to top it. That was the "magical" device, the iPad just stands on its shoulders.
They're really trying to replace the laptop/netbook for people who don't really need all the functionality of a "real" computer, as well as pushing a new class of device that could easily end up in the hands of people who would be lost on a full computer, or better served by a closed device - that covers a lot of people, many of whom would not normally be in the computer market.
The $499 model, combined with a keyboard dock, would be killer in education, though they need to come up with a good clipboard manager to work around the lack of multi-tasking (think research papers - need to be able to copy and paste without constantly bouncing between browser and Pages).
I'm going to resist the iPad until next year, I would guess. My iPhone contract is up in mid-2011, and the iPad may replace the data plan and combine with a basic, probably pay-as-you-go phone, as the phone is the least-used function of my iPhone. I'd probably go with the $15 plan normally, and bump it to the $30 plan when I travel - no more $80+ cell bills, which will be welcome.
Waiting a year will also allow the iPad to replace my laptop for its only real use these days - photo storage while traveling. Whatever is left from 64GB (after apps, media, etc) probably wouldn't be enough for photos for a week (I use a DSLR, shooting RAW - 20MB+ files), but 128GB probably would be, and I think we can anticipate that being the top model in a year or so. The only question is whether the camera adapter will allow you to download and view RAW files, or only JPGs - if the latter, then it may not be able to replace my laptop as well as my iPhone.
As an iPhone user, should I really have to pay another $30 for an additional device. This is getting ridiculous. I already pay AT&T for internet at home and on my iPhone. Now I have to pay another $30 a month for the iPad?
I order for people to afford buying these gadgets, there needs to be one plan for all you internet connected devices. Period.
I agree 100%. i'm in the same situation. ATT was complaining not long ago how the iPhone is a data hog. . . now the iPad. will they be able to keep up?
ATT has been having a hard time allowing it's customers to use Mms and tethering because it feared that the increasen in data traffic would bog it's network. Now we are to believe that ATT can handle an increase in data demands from new customers???
This can already be done with wireless cards on ATT. just take out sim card and put in wireless card for laptop. I haven't done it personally but I have a buddy that says he does it all of the time.
I am just curious if apple already thought of this and disabled it for ATT
Yes they did... the iPad has a mini sim card so you won't be able to swap.
The real question is - can you use your existing data plan along with the iPad, or does it require a separate purchase? (i.e., can you get a duplicate microSIM card from AT&T for your existing iPhone account).
My guess - NO.
Any iPhone data plan is an all-you-can-eat plan but for the small plate only. Like at buffet, you might have to differently-sized plates, you can pile as much as you want on your plate but if you want to use the larger plate, you'll have to pay for the larger plate.
Comments
I'm just researching this now. Are you referring to MyWi?
Maybe.....
Will the $30 a month unlimited data be available worldwide? I'm just wondering because here in Canada we have no unlimited.
According to Steve, they'll be talking to Rogers tomorrow.
Also, at 6 GB per month, it's pretty close to unlimited.
HOWEVER, I think that AT&T should offer similarly priced tethering plans so that iPhone users can just use that AT&T radio instead of buying another AT&T radio in the iPad.
.I wonder how international data roaming will be handled?
Forget international data roaming, too expensive. Just purchase a pay-as-you-go sim card in whatever country you're in and pop it in the iPad. Much cheaper.
I almost always agree with you Steve, but this time hell no.
I must be slow today.....How do you do that?
Where have you been since Job came back?
Apple is all about a closed system coupled with vertical as well as horizontal product integration.
(And that is why they are so successful at what they do)
Ever heard of bootcamp?
Maybe.....
Stop touting MyWi. Do you work for them? If so, don't stealth-push your product. Thanks.
You can't unless you have a jailbroken phone.
I thought so. Thanks.
They're really trying to replace the laptop/netbook for people who don't really need all the functionality of a "real" computer, as well as pushing a new class of device that could easily end up in the hands of people who would be lost on a full computer, or better served by a closed device - that covers a lot of people, many of whom would not normally be in the computer market.
The $499 model, combined with a keyboard dock, would be killer in education, though they need to come up with a good clipboard manager to work around the lack of multi-tasking (think research papers - need to be able to copy and paste without constantly bouncing between browser and Pages).
I'm going to resist the iPad until next year, I would guess. My iPhone contract is up in mid-2011, and the iPad may replace the data plan and combine with a basic, probably pay-as-you-go phone, as the phone is the least-used function of my iPhone. I'd probably go with the $15 plan normally, and bump it to the $30 plan when I travel - no more $80+ cell bills, which will be welcome.
Waiting a year will also allow the iPad to replace my laptop for its only real use these days - photo storage while traveling. Whatever is left from 64GB (after apps, media, etc) probably wouldn't be enough for photos for a week (I use a DSLR, shooting RAW - 20MB+ files), but 128GB probably would be, and I think we can anticipate that being the top model in a year or so. The only question is whether the camera adapter will allow you to download and view RAW files, or only JPGs - if the latter, then it may not be able to replace my laptop as well as my iPhone.
According to Steve, they'll be talking to Rogers tomorrow.
Also, at 6 GB per month, it's pretty close to unlimited.
But 6GB is $80 a month here in Canada. Oh well.
As an iPhone user, should I really have to pay another $30 for an additional device. This is getting ridiculous. I already pay AT&T for internet at home and on my iPhone. Now I have to pay another $30 a month for the iPad?
I order for people to afford buying these gadgets, there needs to be one plan for all you internet connected devices. Period.
I agree 100%. i'm in the same situation. ATT was complaining not long ago how the iPhone is a data hog. . . now the iPad. will they be able to keep up?
we'll see about that. AT&T = FAIL
In the global market, CDMA = FAIL
ABOUT THE SIM CARD FROM PHONE FOR TABLET
This can already be done with wireless cards on ATT. just take out sim card and put in wireless card for laptop. I haven't done it personally but I have a buddy that says he does it all of the time.
I am just curious if apple already thought of this and disabled it for ATT
Yes they did... the iPad has a mini sim card so you won't be able to swap.
Will the $30 a month unlimited data be available worldwide? I'm just wondering because here in Canada we have no unlimited.
Well you just answered your own question didn't you?
But 6GB is $80 a month here in Canada. Oh well.
That includes talk doesn't it?
needless to say, I'm frightened for the potential prices for Canada.
The real question is - can you use your existing data plan along with the iPad, or does it require a separate purchase? (i.e., can you get a duplicate microSIM card from AT&T for your existing iPhone account).
My guess - NO.
Any iPhone data plan is an all-you-can-eat plan but for the small plate only. Like at buffet, you might have to differently-sized plates, you can pile as much as you want on your plate but if you want to use the larger plate, you'll have to pay for the larger plate.