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iPad 32 GB Wi-Fi or 16 GB 3G?
- Thread starter furcalchick
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If you really are going to use the 3G a lot, then get the 3G ipad. I bought the 16 gig 3G last year, with the thought that I might use the 3g when I'm traveling, and ended up never using it. So it was a waste of 130 dollars.
So i'm going with just a wifi one this time, and I'll just jailbreak my phone with the mywi if I really want to use the ipad in spots that don't have wifi.
So i'm going with just a wifi one this time, and I'll just jailbreak my phone with the mywi if I really want to use the ipad in spots that don't have wifi.
I will get the 32gb w/ 3G. However, for your needs, I suggest you get the 16gb w/ 3G. Yes, some games are big but just delete them once you finished it.
i'm starting to have some second thoughts on the 3G. maybe it's the fact that i'm about to plunk down 600 bucks on this thing, or maybe i'm thinking about if all that extra cash is worth sacrificing 16 GB of data. i'm still leaning towards the 3G, but i'm a bit less sure at this juncture.
one question. could i artificially add more space to my ipad with flash drive sticks (jailbroken or not)? thanks.
one question. could i artificially add more space to my ipad with flash drive sticks (jailbroken or not)? thanks.
This is the truth. If you have an iphone, you don't need 3g. Maybe it would be nice sometimes, but unless you just have extra money falling out of your pockets then it's not necessary.
If you have no smart phone, I'd get 3g without flinching.
I don't agree. Not every person has the same use of 3G... I have an iP4 (w/ 6Gb plan and tethering) and will buy a 3G iPad anyway for a lot of different reasons.
I have an iPhone 4, so I was thinking about getting a wifi only version and paying for the Hotspot data plan, but I don't want to have to pull my iPhone out of my pocket and open preferences every time I need a data connection on my iPad. On a monthly basis, paying for two separate data plans will come out to nearly the same amount as the hotspot plan.
I'm just saying you don't need it. You way want to double up and spend the extra money for it, but you won't be missing anything critical if you don't.
Now, if you don't have a smartphone, then a 3g ipad would be much more useful. But with an iphone, having 3g on an ipad is not critical.
Again, it may be preferred, but it's not critical.
I have a gen 1 iPad 32GB Wifi and looking to sell it to buy a 3G model iPad 2. I would like the 32GB model again, but can't justify spending the extra money so it seems like I am going to pick up the 16GB 3G model. Even though this means I will have to remove some stuff that I am accustomed to having on my iPad, I think it will be an upgrade in terms of usability. I don't bring my iPad along with me to as many places as I'd like to because I can't get online. Now I also have to decide between black or white 
People seem to be making a lot of assumptions about other people's uses. Here are a couple items to consider about 3G:
1) How often will 3G be needed? It's not overly complicated, but can be a pain to get on your phone, turn on the hotspot, connect the iPad, THEN do what you need to do. If you do this several times a day, it's a nuisance. With 3G on the iPad, it's there when you need it.
2) How long will you need 3G. Hotspot drains the phone and doesn't last 4 hours. 3G on the iPad lasts as long as the iPad is charged. No need to worry about finding a plug for your phone as you've drained the battery tethering and can't even using it for a phone as it's got no power. If you are near a plug, most likely you are near WiFi.
3) How much mail do you have? Every time you connect, you have to download your mail that's waiting which means slow internet speeds doing what you were trying to do in the first place. This can be fixed by putting mail in manual mode, but again, another item you have to change depending on where you are.
As far as space, it really depends on what you want. Games can be huge. Among those already listed (Rage, Infinity Blade, Hot Pursuit, GTA being over 3GB), you also have Splinter Cell at 523MB, Spiderman at 492MB, Lego Harry Potter at 454MB, Real Racing 2 at 403MB, etc. I have 22 applications over 200MB, 16 of those are over 325MB. I don't think it's been mentioned that with some if not most, you need double the space free for upgrades, sometimes more. I personally don't add pictures to my iPad as I don't have a need to look at 4GB of pictures if I don't have my computer. I have a very small subset of music on it. Not for daily use, but for trips so I don't have to have both the iPad and iPhone out on a flight. If I listen to music, normally it's on the iPhone. I have several videos. Some for the kids if we are out, some for me on trips. Most could be eliminated if necessary.
With all that said, there is no way I could work with a 16GB. I tried, but in reality, it only has around 14GB. Add a few apps and just one or two videos and your full. Every time I wanted to do anything, I had to go through the iPad to figure out what I wanted to remove. I could probably be fine with 32GB, but I went ahead with the 64GB just to be safe. I would not depend on jailbreaking as for one, it's not out yet on the iPad2. Also, you have to have the adapter and usb stick which is both awkward and can make it difficult to hold in landscape.
For the 3G, I ended up getting it. My original iPad was WiFi with a MiFi for connectivity. It worked, but wasn't convenient. I feel it's much more productive with the built in 3G for the reasons I mentioned above and I use the iPad much more than I did before.
In my opinion and my situation, spend the extra $100 and get both. You are already spending $600, make it much more convenient and pony up the extra cash.
1) How often will 3G be needed? It's not overly complicated, but can be a pain to get on your phone, turn on the hotspot, connect the iPad, THEN do what you need to do. If you do this several times a day, it's a nuisance. With 3G on the iPad, it's there when you need it.
2) How long will you need 3G. Hotspot drains the phone and doesn't last 4 hours. 3G on the iPad lasts as long as the iPad is charged. No need to worry about finding a plug for your phone as you've drained the battery tethering and can't even using it for a phone as it's got no power. If you are near a plug, most likely you are near WiFi.
3) How much mail do you have? Every time you connect, you have to download your mail that's waiting which means slow internet speeds doing what you were trying to do in the first place. This can be fixed by putting mail in manual mode, but again, another item you have to change depending on where you are.
As far as space, it really depends on what you want. Games can be huge. Among those already listed (Rage, Infinity Blade, Hot Pursuit, GTA being over 3GB), you also have Splinter Cell at 523MB, Spiderman at 492MB, Lego Harry Potter at 454MB, Real Racing 2 at 403MB, etc. I have 22 applications over 200MB, 16 of those are over 325MB. I don't think it's been mentioned that with some if not most, you need double the space free for upgrades, sometimes more. I personally don't add pictures to my iPad as I don't have a need to look at 4GB of pictures if I don't have my computer. I have a very small subset of music on it. Not for daily use, but for trips so I don't have to have both the iPad and iPhone out on a flight. If I listen to music, normally it's on the iPhone. I have several videos. Some for the kids if we are out, some for me on trips. Most could be eliminated if necessary.
With all that said, there is no way I could work with a 16GB. I tried, but in reality, it only has around 14GB. Add a few apps and just one or two videos and your full. Every time I wanted to do anything, I had to go through the iPad to figure out what I wanted to remove. I could probably be fine with 32GB, but I went ahead with the 64GB just to be safe. I would not depend on jailbreaking as for one, it's not out yet on the iPad2. Also, you have to have the adapter and usb stick which is both awkward and can make it difficult to hold in landscape.
For the 3G, I ended up getting it. My original iPad was WiFi with a MiFi for connectivity. It worked, but wasn't convenient. I feel it's much more productive with the built in 3G for the reasons I mentioned above and I use the iPad much more than I did before.
In my opinion and my situation, spend the extra $100 and get both. You are already spending $600, make it much more convenient and pony up the extra cash.
Good post. I pretty much agree with everything you said.
I have a 64GB Wi-Fi + 3G version of the original iPad and whilst I had several gigs left neither the 32GB nor the 16GB models would have sufficed. Further more here in London whilst Wi-Fi is quite widespread there are still a lot of places I go where it's not available and having 3G as an option does come in handy.
Of course it all also depends on your budget and what you can afford. For me though having both 64GB and 3G is a must. Having both built into the iPad is far more convenient.
All I can say is that you will be amazed at the places that don't have WiFi. Plus, it is highly annoying to deal with logging onto random WiFi networks at coffee shops, you have to pay at hotels and airports.
I personally say just get the 3G.
I personally say just get the 3G.
It depends on the needs of each person. I use the hotspot feature of my iPhone and I tether with my iPad. It works pretty well and it is a very good alternative to the 3G model.
(OP's first post was almost 2 months ago... I wonder if he made the decision already?)
To those pondering this issue, I would also prefer the 3G version over one with more space. If you fill up an iPad, you can always take off some of your songs or movies to make more room. You can't add-on 3G connectivity.
You're also getting GPS with a 3G iPad. GPS navigation apps are great for the iPhone but they look REALLY nice on the iPad (plus the voices are louder and clearer).
I'll say this: when I bought my iPad, I bought the 3G option to hedge my bets. I bought it thinking I would probably never really use it, and only activate a 3G service plan once in a while: when I went on long trips, for example.
As it turns out, I use 3G connectivity pretty much every single day. Once you get used to having it, it's awfully convenient
Meanwhile, my 16 gig iPad is nowhere even close to full, so space has not been an issue for me at all.
To those pondering this issue, I would also prefer the 3G version over one with more space. If you fill up an iPad, you can always take off some of your songs or movies to make more room. You can't add-on 3G connectivity.
You're also getting GPS with a 3G iPad. GPS navigation apps are great for the iPhone but they look REALLY nice on the iPad (plus the voices are louder and clearer).
I'll say this: when I bought my iPad, I bought the 3G option to hedge my bets. I bought it thinking I would probably never really use it, and only activate a 3G service plan once in a while: when I went on long trips, for example.
As it turns out, I use 3G connectivity pretty much every single day. Once you get used to having it, it's awfully convenient
Meanwhile, my 16 gig iPad is nowhere even close to full, so space has not been an issue for me at all.
For those arguing for MiWi with an iPhone on Verizon, isn't there a limitation that you can't talk and surf at the same time with your iPhone? That would be a dealbreaker for me.
I have a 64G+3G iPad1 on AT&T. I don't need all the space, but got it because I thought I would need it for movies and the like. It turns out I don't download nearly as much as I thought. Most of the space I do use is taken up by music (~26 GB), but I rarely listen to any of it. If I didn't have extra space I wouldn't miss the music if I took it off.
I have 85+ apps on my machine and they take up <9GB. A couple are near 2 GB (car and airplane navigation apps with large map databases), but most are below 20 MB, with many below 10 MB. There may be some games that are large, but not all of them are. Without the mapping apps, I'd probably only use <5 GB of space.
As it is now, I still have 21.5 GB free. If I took out the music, I'd have almost 48 GB free.
For me 3G would trump the extra storage. I got 3G mainly for the GPS. However, one month I decided to try the data connection, fully intending to turn it back off. Well that was almost a year ago and it is still on. It is very convenient. I mainly use WiFi at home, but almost everywhere else I don't find WiFi available as much as I'd like it to be. I travel a lot and many hotels don't offer it free, plus I often need Internet access while in the car. The GPS was a requirement for me anyhow so my mind was made up by that. I only had to decide just how much storage I would spring for.
Location based services are also nice when you're out and about and need information about things near you. Of course they also usually require a data connection.
Only you can decide exactly what is right for you. It seems in your case 3G connectivity would also be more useful than a lot of storage space. For others storage may be more important.
I have a 64G+3G iPad1 on AT&T. I don't need all the space, but got it because I thought I would need it for movies and the like. It turns out I don't download nearly as much as I thought. Most of the space I do use is taken up by music (~26 GB), but I rarely listen to any of it. If I didn't have extra space I wouldn't miss the music if I took it off.
I have 85+ apps on my machine and they take up <9GB. A couple are near 2 GB (car and airplane navigation apps with large map databases), but most are below 20 MB, with many below 10 MB. There may be some games that are large, but not all of them are. Without the mapping apps, I'd probably only use <5 GB of space.
As it is now, I still have 21.5 GB free. If I took out the music, I'd have almost 48 GB free.
For me 3G would trump the extra storage. I got 3G mainly for the GPS. However, one month I decided to try the data connection, fully intending to turn it back off. Well that was almost a year ago and it is still on. It is very convenient. I mainly use WiFi at home, but almost everywhere else I don't find WiFi available as much as I'd like it to be. I travel a lot and many hotels don't offer it free, plus I often need Internet access while in the car. The GPS was a requirement for me anyhow so my mind was made up by that. I only had to decide just how much storage I would spring for.
Location based services are also nice when you're out and about and need information about things near you. Of course they also usually require a data connection.
Only you can decide exactly what is right for you. It seems in your case 3G connectivity would also be more useful than a lot of storage space. For others storage may be more important.
Even more elementary than that, if you tether or MiWi, then you can't use the iPad on a data connection unless your iPhone is with you too. Maybe not a concern for most people, but if you ever expect to use the iPhone and iPad in separate locations, you can't tether.
Heh... exactly my experience as well.
I can't wait for a version of the 13" MacBook Air with built-in 3G. That would be the perfect mobile laptop.
def 3g 16gb unless u only use it at home or u have loads of good wifi (free) signal in ur area but another plus point on 3g is that its much saver than using public wifi, people cant hack ur credit card info and other personal details