iPad mini Buy a Cellular iPad Mini or change unlimited data plan?

Mikhailov said:

I have found myself this past month needing to use my WiFi iPad 3 where no WiFi has been available. I will soon be in that situation again. I want to solve this immediately, so I am looking to do one of two things:

1: Sell the iPad and get a 3G iPad mini. I don't have the money for a gen 4 Cellular iPad, but can switch to a mini for the same price. I'm less apt to do this because I like the size and retina display of the 3. My iPhone 5 and MacBook are also retina.

2: Change my AT&T data plan from grandfathered unlimited to 4GB shared. My wife and I use less than 2GB a month, but I would never be able to get this back. Bill would be $10 less a month.

What do you think I should do?

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Honestly try out the iPad mini for a significant amount of time whether in store or by ordering and testing. I love the size weight convenience but hate the non retina screen. Overall I still like it better than the full sized iPad. You may too. But if you don't.. I wouldn't sell your iPad 3 just yet without trying mini. And I'd hate To give up an unlimited plan.

Mikhailov said:

I have found myself this past month needing to use my WiFi iPad 3 where no WiFi has been available. I will soon be in that situation again. I want to solve this immediately, so I am looking to do one of two things:

1: Sell the iPad and get a 3G iPad mini. I don't have the money for a gen 4 Cellular iPad, but can switch to a mini for the same price. I'm less apt to do this because I like the size and retina display of the 3. My iPhone 5 and MacBook are also retina.

2: Change my AT&T data plan from grandfathered unlimited to 4GB shared. My wife and I use less than 2GB a month, but I would never be able to get this back. Bill would be $10 less a month.

What do you think I should do?

Click to expand...

AT&T "unlimited data" is now throttled at 3gb, and is even capped for LTE.

http://mashable.com/2012/03/01/att-limits-unlimited-data/

Mikhailov said:

Do you think I would be better served changing my data plan then?

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Not much difference unless you want to use Facetime over cellular (AT&T doesn't allow customers in unlimited data plan to use Facetime over the network). Not sure if switching would solve your issue. Check with AT&T to see if they would force you to pay for tethering.

Mikhailov said:

Do you think I would be better served changing my data plan then?

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If you decide to switch your data plan, know that you can actually sell your unlimited data plan for a hefty sum still.

barkomatic said:

If you decide to switch your data plan, know that you can actually sell your unlimited data plan for a hefty sum still.

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barkomatic, how does that work?

I finally switched from my unlimited data to 5gig with tethering. The way I looked at it was that AT&T was going to throttle you back after 5gig anyway so what's the point of "unlimited" data if its capped?? This way I can tether LTE to my iPad without having to wait for a JB and not worry about it... If I go over its $10 for each gig opposed to getting throttled back. Yeah they (att) won but my data plan is now more usable for my needs.

Mikhailov said:

I have found myself this past month needing to use my WiFi iPad 3 where no WiFi has been available. I will soon be in that situation again. I want to solve this immediately, so I am looking to do one of two things:

1: Sell the iPad and get a 3G iPad mini. I don't have the money for a gen 4 Cellular iPad, but can switch to a mini for the same price. I'm less apt to do this because I like the size and retina display of the 3. My iPhone 5 and MacBook are also retina.

2: Change my AT&T data plan from grandfathered unlimited to 4GB shared. My wife and I use less than 2GB a month, but I would never be able to get this back. Bill would be $10 less a month.

What do you think I should do?

Click to expand...

Oooh, tough call. Personally, I'd never voluntarily give up my unlimited data plan. You're right. Once it's gone, it's gone.

The only reason to keep an unlimited plan is if you're actually making use of it.

Otherwise you're spending a lot more to use a normal amount.

Personally, I get by with 1GB/month. I switched from unlimited to a shared plan, and while I'd prefer unlimited, the new plan is not only significantly less money a month, but I get more usability out of it with tethering and facetime on 3G.

I am getting a refurb iPad 3 wifi only. My iPhone 4 can be used as a hotspot. I am going to try using it when no wifi is available. It will not cost me additional money to do it. If it works decently I will be thrilled.

Mikhailov said:

Checked with them. I would switch my wife and I to a 4GB shared plan which would enable wifi hotspot and FaceTime over 3G.

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Given that I'd probably switch.

Awakener said:

AT&T "unlimited data" is now throttled at 3gb, and is even capped for LTE.

http://mashable.com/2012/03/01/att-limits-unlimited-data/

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Actually, I believe you are mistaken. That article refers to phone plans and not to data plans tied to At&t. I have the unlimited data plan with At&t and never have been throttled. Last month hit 7gb with no slow down on LTE. I plan on transferring my plan when my new iPad Mini arrives later this month.

Apple163 said:

Actually, I believe you are mistaken. That article refers to phone plans and not to data plans tied to At&t. I have the unlimited data plan with At&t and never have been throttled. Last month hit 7gb with no slow down on LTE. I plan on transferring my plan when my new iPad Mini arrives later this month.

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Right now I'm at 6.5 gb 21 days in and I haven't been throttled. Last month I was throttled at 7gbs but it was like having 3G. So it wasn't that bad.

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Ever since I got the lte on this iPhone. I have consistently been going over 5gb and I'm trying to be conservative. I have 16gb iPhone so a lot is on the cloud maybe that's why.

Dunno 30 bucks and not have to worry? Seems like a great deal. I don't think att is worried too much anymore since the number of unlimited users probably has significantly decreased.

Mikhailov said:

1: Sell the iPad and get a 3G iPad mini. I don't have the money for a gen 4 Cellular iPad, but can switch to a mini for the same price. I'm less apt to do this because I like the size and retina display of the 3. My iPhone 5 and MacBook are also retina.

2: Change my AT&T data plan from grandfathered unlimited to 4GB shared. My wife and I use less than 2GB a month, but I would never be able to get this back. Bill would be $10 less a month.

What do you think I should do?

Click to expand...

I would certainly go check out the iPad mini before you sell you iPad 3. I am on the road a lot with family at home. I was fortunate and did sell my iPad 3 and got most of my money back. I purchased a iPad mini and I am a bit disappointed with the display resolution, but the device overall quickly became a keeper for me. I love it, it works great in my car via the audio system and it light and thin for taken with me on the road. Once I used it awhile the display became less of any issue. I think the initial shock of basically down grading is tough.

I also went through the should I get a cellular iPad last year. I opted not too because previously I had and rarely used it. This was prior to all these new shared plans. What I opted to do is give up my unlimited AT&T for a 5GB plan that allowed for hot spots. This has worked great for me when I need Internet on my iPad. The throttling also became an issue occasionally on the unlimited. Though I only went a little over the 3GB at which point throttling starts a few times.

I think you have to weigh it out. It's only me on my plan so I am still on an older plan which is not shared, but its cheaper. For me to do a shared plan would cost me about $20 a month more and then $10 to add the tablet.

Good luck!

Mikhailov said:

This is how I feel too. I'm paying the money for the data plan anyway. Thinking I'm definitely gonna go the "switch to hotspot" route. It will save me money in the end as long as we don't go over the 4GB (which we won't).

However I have to admit, I LOVED playing with the iPad mini in the store. The display was definitely a very noticeable step down from my iPad 3, especially for watching video, but the one handed operation and uberlightness of it were really really damn freaking cool. I even used the split keyboard and it still felt comfortable. If only it was retina...

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It made the most sense for me to get a wifi only model and to use my phone as a hotspot. My partner and I have had the phones for about a year. We average .5 gb combined a month therefore 2 GB works for us. Getting a cellular version of the Ipad would have just been a waste of money for us. Most places I go to have wifi and if they don't my phone can provide all that I need.

Waiting for the Ipad to be delivered reminds me of being a child at Christmas time.

Mikhailov said:

What do you think I should do?

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Determine the highest of your priorities and decide based on that. Seems like it's down to keeping unlimited or keeping the full size iPad. Which is more important to you? I dropped unlimited but unlimited wasn't a priority for me. YMMV.

You save $10/mo and let something much more valuable expire

Could have transferred billing responsibility to someone who would have loved unlimited and paid more for it. Instead you let it evaporate into thin air.

Smart

AT&T is happy

Mikhailov said:

I have found myself this past month needing to use my WiFi iPad 3 where no WiFi has been available. I will soon be in that situation again. I want to solve this immediately, so I am looking to do one of two things:

1: Sell the iPad and get a 3G iPad mini. I don't have the money for a gen 4 Cellular iPad, but can switch to a mini for the same price. I'm less apt to do this because I like the size and retina display of the 3. My iPhone 5 and MacBook are also retina.

2: Change my AT&T data plan from grandfathered unlimited to 4GB shared. My wife and I use less than 2GB a month, but I would never be able to get this back. Bill would be $10 less a month.

What do you think I should do?

Click to expand...

Sell your unlimited grandfathered AT&T data plan. You will make tons of money on it.

lyngo said:

Sell your unlimited grandfathered AT&T data plan. You will make tons of money on it.

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Wow first time I heard an unlimited data plan can be sold..... Is this true?