IPAD question for Gayle....

[judy]

Wait....I have to absorb all of the information you gave Gayle! You are soooo organized, and clear! Must be a teacher!

Seriously, thank you so much....I now know everything I need to know, other than going to an Apple store and playing with it as you suggested. I could not have gotten a better summary if I had paid someone!!!

I think there are plans for less data, which cost less. Since we do not get cell service up here in many places, I would get the cheaper service. I do get it up at the pool, which might be fun. Although, honestly, why do I need to be online at the pool? Because I want to!!!

At this point the 32 GB, Wi-Fi 3G is about $740. I wonder if the price will come down after Christmas. I think I may search online to see if plans are in the making for a new iPad model. That's when prices for the old one go down!

I don't need email or the word processor. I have a laptop and a desktop at home, and a wireless printer. ($80 from Staples, but the ink is about $30 each for B & W and color!) So, as an aside, if anyone is in the market for a printer, check out how much ink refills cost. I hear Kodak ink is much less expensive than the others.

Janet, I think we know everything we need to know. I would get 32 GB. My mp3 player is 8 GB. It holds a lot, but to spend so much for only 16 GB instead of 32 GB might not make sense.

Here are the Apple prices. Apple and Walmart are the cheapest right now.

iPad with Wi-Fi + 3GConnect to the Internet at Wi-Fi hotspots and over AT&T’s 3G cellular network when you’re on the go; 3G service sold separately


16GB1

• Ships: Within 24hrs
• Free Shipping
• $629.00
• 
  

32GB1

• Ships: Within 24hrs
• Free Shipping
• $729.00
• 
  

64GB1

• Ships: Within 24hrs
• Free Shipping
• $829.00

And...

AT&T 3G data plans for iPad

Data per month Price per month 250MB/month $14.99 2GB/month $25.00
I'm not sure what this means.

[gja1000]

Originally Posted by judy

AT&T 3G data plans for iPad

Data per month Price per month 250MB/month $14.99 2GB/month $25.00
I'm not sure what this means.

I'm not absolutely sure either, but here's what I "think" it means. Everytime you get email, or watch a YouTube video or download a book to read, or download a netflix movie or rent a movie - it uses mega-bytes or giga-bytes. Thus, if you don't do a lot of email, or downloading things from the internet, the 250 MB/month would all that you would need. Judy, this would especially apply to you if you don't have much cell service at your house. For me, I have no idea how much MB/GB I use, but I am on the G3 service a lot, as I use the iPad to pass the time while sitting in the car, waiting rooms, etc - so I like the comfort of knowing that I have plenty of download capability.

My sil has 3G on his iPad, but he uses the "phone device" to plug into the iPad. He doesn't have the AT&T data plan http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/mobile/....html?hpt=Sbin I think they cost about $25 per month, and they can be used in laptops too. He has one for his laptop at work. Here is a little more about them. Seems like they are up and coming. The devices, many of them smaller than a smartphone, are similar to the wireless routers in many homes except they don't need to be plugged into anything. They connect to a cellular carrier's data network. Once the battery is charged, a MiFi can be taken anywhere, and it provides a Wi-Fi signal to computers or iPads in a nearby vicinity.

The nice thing about the AT&T data plan is that you can start and stop it at any time, for no reason. There is no long term contract. Let's say, I'm going out of the country and not taking my iPad; thus, I know I won't be using any MB or GB for that month. I just cancel the auto renewing data plan that I have and then when I return I start it up again. There is no cancellation or start up fees. I think that is pretty nifty!

[Janet]

I got really confused for a few minutes...lol...go figure...lolol. Anyway...I thought the article had very good information in it. I had no idea if you got an Ipad that you would have a monthly charge too if you wanted to be on the internet all the time, I just thought WiFi would be the only thing needed and it's usually free. I understand now that not all places have WiFi, but seems most will pretty soon huh? Did I understand that right? I won't be able to afford another monthly payment for quite some time UNLESS I do away with my landline telephone. So much to learn, think about and then get confused some more....

[Janet]

Need to ask another question....others may know more about this than me, but that's why I'm asking. With having the 3G......which is really best...the 16 GB or 32 GB? From reviews I've read on the IPOD Touch...the 16 GB was more than most really needed....but what about the IPAD....would 16 be enough or the 32?

[gja1000]

I have the 32, but only use a FRACTION of that. I would have totally been fine with the 16. The higher gigs are needed by those who do LOTS of internet gaming, video streaming, movie watching and the like.

I agree Janet, that WiFi will be commonplace everywhere in just a short time. As I mentioned to Judy though, I think the $14.99 per month AT&T data plan would allow you to be on the internet anywhere through the phone lines would be more than adequate for our needs (including mine). But when I signed up the only plan available was the $30 unlimited plan. I could switch now, and I probably will one of these days.