Basically there are two different iPad models. The first is the iPad – it can “talk” to the internet only by using WiFi – that means you will need to be someplace where WiFi is available to use it. Are you at places that have WiFi a lot?? (do you have WiFi at home, at work, at the office, do you often go to hotels, coffee shops, restaurants, air ports, book stores, hospitals and or other places that have WiFi?? Remember WiFi works about 300 feet from the transmitter.
The next iPad is the iPad 3G – it is just like the iPad above it can use WiFi the added part to this one is the ability to use the AT&T 3G network. 3G is wireless that works through cell phone towers. First question is this – does 3G work where you will be using the iPad?? Is it available. 3G is available in most major cities and along much of the interstate system. In many areas what this means is that if your are 3 or 4 miles from the Interstate 3G will not work.
The way to tell is find someone with an iPhone 3G and have them check the areas where you are most of the time to see if they can get connected to AT&T at 3G speeds. AT&T has two data systems Edge which is available both urban and rural – Edge is very slow, it is really not a lot faster than dial up. It does work as long as you are not doing a lot of data. You can sort of tell and the first thing to do is check the coverage maps on the AT&T site for your area. Be sure to use the AT&T coverage viewer – put in your zip code – it will bring up a map in tones of orange. Next click on the box (Blue “Show 3G Coverage”) zoom out on the view – if your area or where you will be using the iPad has a lot of blue then you really should consider the iPad 3G – the main advantage is you can connect to AT&T 3G cellular – that means you will have internet in places where WiFi is not available – (like your car, the park, on the street, and on and on.)
AT&T just dropped the $30 unlimited data plan for the iPad (and new iPhone) they have a $25 plan which gives 2G of data and $15 which gives 250 MB here is an article about the “new” AT&T plans for the iPad
BTW TUAW is a great place for information about the iPad, iPod, iPhone, and other Apple products
Next up with the iPad is what size – they come in three sizes – 16G 32G and 64G
People experienced with the iPhone and who use them a lot quickly found that 16G is just not large enough. On the other end not many people are using all of the 64G on the top model. The sweet spot seems to be 32G – in fact the brand new iPhone 4 announced yesterday only comes in 16G and 32G which means that the 64G has been dropped. (that has to mean with the iPhone the 64G model was not selling enough.)
So at least to me the 32G iPad 3G is the one that makes a lot of sense. While I do have WiFi both at home and at the store – I find my self in a lot of places using my iPhone on 3G. For me the ability to be able to choose is important with my iPhone and will be important when I get an iPad. Often WiFi is not open and this is getting more and more so. To use it you need access and not everywhere has open WiFi. Of course 3G is not available everywhere either. So at least with the iPhone I use a combination of 3G and WiFi and between the two I usually am able to have Internet access where ever I am – even if that means finding a place with WiFi where 3G is not available.
I also find that in places where only EDGE is available – rather than deal with the slowness, I will head for a WiFi hotspot like the Golden Arches, or Expensive Coffee places. (a note – if you are an AT&T customer you do have free access to all of the AT&T WiFi hot spots.)
Tags: AT&T data plan, iPad, iPad 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4
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