Poll: What configuration of iPad should I buy?

In My Humble Opinion
1

After much consideration, I realized that the way I use my Macbook made an iPad a more logical and useful device for me. (I am Mac to the core and while I believe that Android may in fact be “better” when compared in isolation from all other considerations, compatibility with my desktop and iphone applications is non-negotiable, so there’s no need to pitch other tablets to me.) I use it primarily to watch movies and websurf, and I would use it read except that it’s ridiculously cumbersome, so I’ve been using my iphone, because the backlight is fantastic and makes reading less painful than its’ been in years. (I’m old, have presbyopia, comfortable reading is an ongoing struggle).

I don’t have extra money to indulge myself, so I just sold my Macbook on Ebay for $580, $522 after my charitable donation.

Since I can’t have everything within that budget, I have to decide what’s most important. It seems obvious that because I use it primarily for media, and I spend 95% of my time at home, that 3g is really not necessary, and more space to hold more books music and video would probably be the more sensible bang for my buck.

BUT BUT BUT- having just returned from a train trip to Mexico (to see a dentist, and I’ll be going back, AND I liked the train so I might start taking it more to visit friends AND I’m considering giving up my car altogether for a variety of reasons…) and having my iPhone with me that only has phone access, no data, I found that restriction stifling and I can imagine being very frustrated finding myself out in the world with my iPad and no way to access the net.

So I’m conflicted. (Although typing this out is helping)

If you were me, given these factors, which would you prioritize?

16-32-64 gigabytes of storage

or

8, maybe 16 gigs of storage, and 3g capability?

Keeping in mind that I’m home most of the time and adding and subtracting content is pretty easy.

But then again, god forbid I should plan a long trip and blow through all my content too fast! (is there anyway to transfer video specifically between an iphone and an ipad if you are the legitimate owner of both devices? I can imagine using my iphone as a sort of backup if that were possible, just to carry extra video, then I could transfer it to the ipad to watch…)
So tell me your vote, please! And any additional considerations I havent’ thought of.

2

And as usual I forgot to hit the “poll” button. Mods? just the two choices, please:

  1. Bigger harddrive, WiFi only

  2. Less storage, 3g capable.

THanks!

3

Wait about 2 months for the iPad 2, which will have a higher screen resolution and a camera.

Seriously. WAIT.

The rumors are that there will be a model that has the Verizon 3G connection built in, rather than buying the separate mifi hardware from Verizon.

The advantage of the 3G connection (on either network) is that you can get a data connection from anywhere with a cellphone connection. HOWEVER, and I keep pointing this out to people, a 2gb data plan costing $25 means you damn well better be very careful with what you are downloading. The typical movie is roughly 2gb. Download ONE MOVIE and Congratulations, you just paid $25 to download a movie!

The other side of it is, don’t plan on using that 3G connection outside the country. I have no idea what Verizon’s roaming charges are, because they’re CDMA and not compatible with a lot of other country’s phone networks, but the international data roaming charges from AT&T come to about $5 per megabyte. That is just ludicrously expensive.

4

I would never download a movie via 3g, I know better than that!

5

Step one is definitely to wait until the new iPads come out. Even if you don’t need or want the new features, the older ones will be significantly cheaper.

I have a 32GB non-3G iPad, and I think it was the right decision for me. It has more than enough room for all the apps, books, movies (and TV shows) and music to keep me entertained and interested without needing a persistent data connection.

Sure, there have been times when it would have been nice to be able to hop on the Internet to check something out, when I didn’t have a Wi-Fi network nearby. I rationalized that at the time of my purchase by telling myself I have an iPhone (with data plan) that I can use to check my email or do anything for which an Internet connection is necessary.

Most of the time it is connected – home network, work network, coffeeshops, etc., but I find that when it isn’t I can usually plan for it in advance. I took a train trip over New Year’s Eve/Day. Made sure to update all my apps and sync before I left. I keep a selection of music on it, I swap movies and TV shows in and out based on what I’ve watched recently. I use Instapaper (www.instapaper.com) to collect longish articles I want to read, and I make sure that’s updated before I go. I have a limited (but growing) collection of ebooks through both Apple’s iBooks app and the Kindle.

So, there’s plenty to do there. But, like I said, I have the security of being able to check my email or Twitter or whatever from my phone if I feel the urge. If I couldn’t do that and it was important or necessary to do that, I’d probably have shelled out the extra cash.

I suppose it comes down to if you’re the sort of person who’s happy to make a decision about how to be entertained before you’re on the trip, or whether you feel uncomfortable if you don’t keep your options open.

One thing you may consider is a standard iPad with a portable hotspot. That would let you connect both the phone and the iPad (and is flexible, if you’re traveling with someone else or you get a new laptop after all). There are various kinds and plans out there, and Verizon’s iPhone’s software will let it act as a hotspot (you’d need a data plan for that, but it’s an option) too. You’d have to make sure coverage was good where you’d be traveling though.

6

If you have an iPhone, Garfield226, then you’ll be in luck when iOS 4.3 comes out, bringing the Portable Hotspot option with. I’ve seen that on a couple of tech boards discussing the 4.3 beta. Just hot spot your iPhone, connect up the iPad, and surf from the iPad with the bigger screen.

7

I also have an iphone, that’s what led to my realization about the iPad being a better idea for me than the Macbook.

Chimera, can you please clarify the portable hotspot concept? I don’t really understand it. I also don’t understand how the ipad could “connect up” to the iphone at all?

One thing that bugs about the Mac products is the strict control Apple exerts - I understand it, but it is still maddening. Having to use iTunes as a conduit for almost everything imaginable… grrr. I finally found out, thank god, that I wasn’t limited to email to get my damn pictures. That seemed really lame and too stupid for Apple. In fact it IS too stupid, and so was I for not figuring it out sooner.

I’m also no great fan of the touchpad for actual writing, so I’m getting a keyboard. But one of the big reasons I upgraded my iPhone was to use Dragon Dictate which actually works! The problem with using voice memos was always that you had to listen to them. Being able to speak my notes, then READ them later is PERFECT.

8

And I’m not going to wait. I thought a lot and that was my original plan, but a large part of the reason I’m doing this is because I have a lot of important technical books I need to read and use and I need to do it now, and I’m going to do it on the iPad.

Also, I prefer to jailbreak, and I won’t do it to anything under warranty, so better to buy used out of warranty or close to out of warranty.

9

+1 on the wait comment. The iPad 2 should be officially announced on the 9th or 10th of February, or somewhere thereabouts. It’s also supposed to have an SD card slot, rendering the 16-32-64gb discussion moot. You can at least wait 2 weeks to see what the official specs and release date are and then make a decision.

10

Why do you say 9th or 10th of feb?

And the SD slot seems unlikely for exactly that reason: why would Apple cut itself off?

But your source for info would be much appreciated. I might be tempted to wait just a couple of weeks to know if the 2 is going to be profoundly different in ways that I would find compelling.

11

The SD slot seems unlikely to me as well, but it comes from Engadget:

Since they moved to a Qualcomm chip, it’d be trivial for them to implement, and maybe for once Apple is listening to their customers? I dunno.

Supporting the Engadget source are several cases that are coming out with holes where Engadget proposes the SD card will go:

Other improvements, as noted in the first link, are an improved screen, Verizon/AT&T compatibility, dual cameras, and it should be much faster.

http://www.padgadget.com/2011/01/13/ios-4-3-beta-reveals-a-verizon-ipad2-a-camera-and-iphone-5/

The Feb 9/10 announcement is a bit more nebulous, and it’s admittedly based on some questionable info. Proponents of the Feb 9th date cite the screenshots of the Ipad2 that show a “9” on the calendar icon. The Ipad1 had a 27 on the calendar, and it was announced on Feb 27th. Sketchy at best. The Feb 10th proponents just say that it coincides with the Verizon iPhone release. Even more sketchy. But it does look like the new iPad will come out in early April, meaning they’ll need to announce it shortly.

http://www.padgadget.com/2011/01/13/ipad-2-to-launch-in-the-u-s-on-april-2-or-9/

12

Even if it has an SD slot, there’s no guarantee that iOS will support it as expandable storage space. It might just be so you can transfer pictures or something.

I do think that there’s a good chance we’ll see streaming movies from your iPhone to your iPad in the near future (if that doesn’t already exist)

13

As I understand it, the iPhone will create an ad hoc WiFi network that your iPad can connect to. It will use the iPhone’s data plan to connect to the Internet. Possibly (probably?) for an extra fee.

It’s the same functionality I mentioned at the end of my previous post. There are standalone devices that do the same thing, but with the Verizon iPhone, it’s baked in (presumably the option will be there for AT&T to enable it too).

I think you can use Dragon Dictation on the iPad too, though I haven’t. Probably works better with the headphones + integrated mic.

The keyboard works great, but it’s a little annoying too – you have to type, then move your hand to the iPad if you need to do something the keyboard can’t. I hadn’t been a fan of writing on the iPad, but then I got a stylus, which for me made a world of difference (from trying to use my finger). I prefer it now.

14

I use a stylus instead of a mouse all the time because of repetitive stress injury. Even without the pain I can’t imagine going back to a mouse - any time I do now it feels clunky and awkward and imprecise. So I gather there are styluses for iPad? Are they for iphone as well, because they are so tiny and my fingers are so fat…

I think what you’re talking about is called “tethering” - using the phone to create a network connection, and i think I’ve been stumbling across posts saying that carriers hate that. But my view is: if I pay you for data, why the hell do you care what i do with it? Especially if there’s a specific limit!

15

Keep in mind, at least with the current version, that if your phone didn’t work on your trip to Mexico, the iPad won’t either. They’re the same 3G.

Also, you sold your Mac, do you have any other computers at home? The iPad really does work best when occasionally connected to a computer. Yes, they’ll activate it for you at an apple store if you ask, and you can buy music/movies/apps directly on the device, but backups an other transfers almost necessitate access to a mothership.

16

Couple of things - I would go for the 3G, you don’t have to keep a plan active on it when you’re not traveling and the ability to add one when you need it is huge.

3G plans for out of the country - first stop is to buy a SIM card in your new country and then you can enable a one month data plan for that country. In the US, in order to do this you need a credit card with a US address. Annoying but doable (prepaid mastercard, register an address online with a US zip code. I’m fond of using the White House)

Re: Jailbreaking - my coworker has had his jail broken from the day he got it and a couple months ago developed an entire line of dead pixels. He clicked the “Restore to factory settings” button and they replaced it under warranty. Easy peasy.

17

I spend 95% of my time at home too and got myself an iPod Touch. Totally eschewing smart phones as long as I can because I cannot justify paying a minimum of $30/mo for data when I am not away from home enough to need cellular data access.

When I got my Touch I went on vacation to San Francisco. Had WiFi access in the hotel, at my friend’s house and even on the streets of the city at various cafes.

I went to an event at a college the other day, and had my Touch with me. Free WiFi at the college, no username or credentials required.

With the proliferation of WiFi - especially in hotels and tourist spots - I don’t really see 3g as a necessary thing for someone who is either at home or on vacation.

FWIW I filled up my 32GB Touch with movies and podcasts before I went on vacation, too. About 14 hours in airports and on the plane, I used about 3 hours of media and otherwise read magazines. Books and magazines are well smaller. I don’t think you’ll run out - at least not before you can find WiFi and “charge up” again.

18

I would want this very badly. I really want an iPad, but I can’t justify paying for a data plan for an iPhone AND an iPad. If I could physically connect the phone to the pad and surf on 3G that way, I’d be happy. Probably bad for AT&T and whoever, but seriously, why should I pay for more than one data plan? Especially if they charge by GB anyway.

19

I would like to know why you think 9th or 10th for the announcement. I’m debating waiting to get one. My employment has a computer benefit, but I have to use it by mid April. I can’t tell if I should just get an iPad now, or wait. If the new iPad isn’t released until mid April, I may as well get an iPad now.

20

Jailbreaking does not void warranty. The only thing is that the apple store employee will do is nod and go “there are no hardware related issues on this device. Take it home, back up your data and rest it to factory settings… If that doesn’t fix your issue, come back in and we’ll see what we can do.”

Yes, I’m quite positive about this.

Don’t get the 3G version, and frankly you don’t need more than the 16GB version under most circumstances. You already have an iPhone to put your music on, and 16GB is lots’o’movies. Books are a few megs a pop, and full length feature films can be compressed–in decent quality–to 700 megs or less using hand break.

Save yourself the cash, split library and selectively sync your music to your iPhone and your movies to your iPad.