[Closed] ipad 3G or not?

No big differences between the two. 64GB+3G is the corporate favourite iPad2. You might want to wait a few weeks to see if the rumoured "iPad3/iPad2S" appears in Apple's pre-holiday season announcement. Granted, the 3Gness is an advantage but since 3G in the UK is pretty poor overall you might find yourself getting frustrated out & about.

Have you considered a 'Mi-Fi' device? You can connect several wireless devices to one of these and 'enjoy' the same 3G network performance. Another box, but passengers can use it in the car to connect their iPod touches, iPads, laptop to the 3G network.

prettygreenparrot, I'm looking at this type of solution too and my initial idea was using a smart phone (Galaxy S2*) for creating a wi-fi hotspot. What's the diference between mi-fi and tethering?

*Galaxy S2 has a nice large screen which is what I'm looking for and allows tethering.

My wife has a wifi ipad on a contract through 3, hardly ever uses the 3g option so I wouldn't bother.

Don't you lose the GPS as well?

3G has proper GPS hardware, wifi-only one just tries to triangulate from hotspot locations. Makes quite a difference if you'll be using it for mapping or navigation.

I have a mifi thing but integrated 3G is much nicer for regular travel. If I was doing that less frequently I'd probably keep the £100 and be happy.

Don't you lose the GPS as well?

Yup. Although you could connect via bluetooth to an external GPS module.

Edit: Too slow as usual.

I didn't bother, never missed it. Can use wi-fi hotspot on iPhone if desperate but the majority of places I'd want to kill time at have provided wi-fi cover.

It is worthwhile getting a pay as u go dongle though as allows access to the various providers wi-fi coverage in the included cost as well (depending on which brand u go with) or sign up with a contract with them.

i got a wifi only - you get an hour longer on the battery on the spec sheet and loose a bit of weight

i have an iphone so dont need GPSness or the internet, also have free wifi through my O2 and my Btopenzone with various providers.

got a tidy discount at the airport though 😀

dont like using 3g internet when im abroad anyway so wifi suits me better !

I would think most people who buy an ipad have a phone with gps so I don't think it would be missed.

Although you could connect via bluetooth to an external GPS module.

Anyone know if you can do this to connect to the GPS on the iPhone?

graham sorry but if your sitting with an ipad and an iphone - why would you bother trying to use the ipad to navigate ? surely the logical option there is to take the iphone out and use that.

I have a 3G version supplied by work and to be honest the most use it gets is as a mobile reference when on holiday or travelling for work.

I think if I was paying the data bill I wouldn't bother, but it is a 'nice to have', MiFi is probably all you need if you already have a data contract phone.

I just share my phone's 3G connection with the ipad over wifi or bluetooth if I'm out and about with it (always have the phone, so it's not as if I have to carry anything I wouldn't be anyway).

"I just share my phone's 3G connection with the ipad over wifi or bluetooth if I'm out and about with it (always have the phone, so it's not as if I have to carry anything I wouldn't be anyway)"

glenh - ive not had a proper play with my ipad yet but how do you do this ? im out of country atm so likely wont be able to set it up till im back in 3g land but do i need any apps or owt ?

I got the 64GB with 3G but didn't get the sim card. So when the coverage gets better, or need constant conection, I can take out the contract. Haven't missed it as there is plenty of wifi access about. Wouldn't bother next time as iphone is available when I'm desprate for a conection.

iPad 2 and Mifi from 3 = happiness
No need to get 3g it built in but you do get a gps with the 3g option if that's inportant to you.
Don't hold your breath on an iPad 3 this year - doesn't fit in with Apples normal release schedule and is possibly even more doubtful given the delay on the iPhone '5'.
Will be very interesting to see how iOS5 changes the game.

ive not had a proper play with my ipad yet but how do you do this ? im out of country atm so likely wont be able to set it up till im back in 3g land but do i need any apps or owt ?

Switch on wifi tethering on phone. Go to wifi connection on ipad and select the phone netowrk. Easy 🙂
This is with an android phone, btw, not sure about iphone or other phones.

Will be very interesting to see how iOS5 changes the game

Not sure how it will.
I've had the iOS5 beta on my iPad for ages. It's not really any different. It just adds some Android features, like a pull down notification bar and 'cloud' backup.

Trail rat............

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3574

ah pain - need to get 02 to activate tethering and pay them 5 quid a month for the privaledge ...

ill live without it !

Not sure how it will.

graham sorry but if your sitting with an ipad and an iphone - why would you bother trying to use the ipad to navigate ?

All the same reasons that I might want GPS on an iPad in the first place.

Maybe I want to see the map on a bigger screen to do planning, have it more readable for a co-pilot, use geo-aware apps properly (especially the augmented reality ones that need an accurate position fix), even just to get accurate check-ins for Facebook or whatever.

Anyway, looks like the answer is YES if you tether an iPad to an iPhone then they can share GPS data:
http://www.tabletmonsters.com/news/video-wi-fi-only-ipad-2-gps-navigation

trail_rat - Member
ah pain - need to get 02 to activate tethering and pay them 5 quid a month for the privaledge ...

ill live without it !

iPhone? Either get an android phone or jailbreak your iPhone and you'll be able to tether for free.