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Sprint Rolls Out Combination iPad '4G Case' to Promote Overdrive Mobile Hotspot

Why is everyone complaining about the price? This isn't a device for just anyone. It's for a niche market. Those people such as real estate agents, that are using iPads to show pictures of homes to people. Now, as long as they're in Sprint coverage, they can get online and be able to access a lot more information.

There are many people that this would benefit and I'm sure they would love t pay for. As for the problems with the device...they need to get that working if they plan on marketing this in a large scale.
 
goobot said:
get over being a dumb fan boy
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When you just throw that around that randomly, it confirms that the "fanboy" invective has lost all meaning. It's an easy enough slur to throw, as it attempts the dismissive illusion that you're the only one being thoroughly reasonable, when really you just disagree with them. In a boringly garden-variety manner, since it's not like you could ever be accused of being an AT&T "fanboy" given how easy it is to just crank it out. And like throwing a pumpkin at someone, they either duck or they catch it, but either way, you've made them flinch.
 
Clear Wireless is cheaper and on the same network

If you're in a 4G enabled market, the Clear 4G service is only $40/month and no contract necessary. They have a similar setup that you plug their 4G USB modem into a little wifi router they call the "Clear Spot". Their service is actually unlimited too, no 5GB caps. The USB modem can also be plugged into your Mac directly if you want.

I'm debating waiting for a 3G iPad or getting a WiFi one and Clear 4G. I just wonder if carrying around the extra device would be cumbersome.
 
I just got an overdrive and am trying it out. I did look at Clear, and they have an interesting product offering.

I didn't like the Clear Spot + USB WiMax modem setup tho. A friend of mine has it and it becomes two devices to carry around. The Spot sells for $139 IIRC. I think the Clear Spot battery life would be better than the Overdrive tho, just looking at volume of the comparative LION batteries - the Overdrive is about one third to one quarter the size of the Spot, especially when you add the USB WiMax dongle.

To be clear, the 5 GB cap is for the 3G service of the Overdrive - the 4G service is unlimited. I did like the idea of having the "fallback" to 3G on the Overdrive - 5 GB should be enough for a mobile weekend or so once a month in an emergency. I didn't see that Clear offered anything like that - perhaps someone knows if they do?

There are some interesting selling points of the Overdrive. It has a GPS receiver built in... and it is not a based on cell towers at all from what I can tell. It picks up the satellites and gives you latitude/longitude/altitude readouts. It can be turned on or off as needed. There is a micro SD slot on it that can be used to store files... like a NAS. It can be directly hooked to a USB port if you don't want to use WiFi for access, or don't need to share the connection.

Speed wise, it is pretty darn quick in my area. I did some testing and it gets 2.5 to 3mb/s down and 500 to 1.3 up with about 50 to 200ms of latency. It gets much better the more towers it sees. I haven't tested it in downtown yet.

For me, the Overdrive seems like a good fit. It was $49.99 at Best Buy... I am a rewards zone customer so I burned a $45 certificate and called it a day. I think if you do the math, you get $10 back in certificates if you buy the low end iPad ($500). If you're smart and patient, you can get the Overdrive device for free using the rewards program.

I have used AT&T's 3G network in my area with the iPhone a significant amount and have been somewhat frustrated. I do like the special pricing deal that AT&T has for the iPad, but it is just for the iPad. It does nothing for my MacBook and other wireless devices. Unless AT&T starts allowing tethering for 3G devices, the iPad pricing seems like a hollow concession.

Plus, consider that with the Overdrive and an iPad 3G, you have the option to access WiFi, 4G (Clear), 3G Sprint and 3G AT&T. It seems to give you the most options in my opinion.

eric_n_dfw said:
If you're in a 4G enabled market, the Clear 4G service is only $40/month and no contract necessary. They have a similar setup that you plug their 4G USB modem into a little wifi router they call the "Clear Spot". Their service is actually unlimited too, no 5GB caps. The USB modem can also be plugged into your Mac directly if you want.

I'm debating waiting for a 3G iPad or getting a WiFi one and Clear 4G. I just wonder if carrying around the extra device would be cumbersome.
Click to expand...
 
I got about 2 hours of web surfing in and it went down to half battery. That was with one laptop connected via 802.11g and it saw two 4G towers. I wasn't streaming video or anything like that. GPS was turned off.

It is defintely not all day power from the battery. It should be fine for a commute, charge at work and return commute. You can also directly hook it to the USB port of your laptop to charge if needed, or some sort of USB portable charger.

The battery seems pretty generic... possibly one seen in a major brand cell phone.

Hope that helps!

zaphoyd said:
Can anyone with an overdrive device comment on the battery life?
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Why price is important and most on these forums won't agree

Here is what I see many comments missing:

Price matters. While most of us on these forums can compare speed and coverage and factor those benefits into the price, the AVERAGE consumer will just look at price. AT&T has really challenged the market to compete on price - nothing else. Look at this from the AVERAGE consumer point of view:

AT&T - as low as $15/month, no gear to buy and NO contract.

Sprint - $60/mo, have to buy gear ($100+?) and a contract.

Bottom line is MANY will see AT&T based solely on price.
 
batchtaster said:
When you just throw that around that randomly, it confirms that the "fanboy" invective has lost all meaning. It's an easy enough slur to throw, as it attempts the dismissive illusion that you're the only one being thoroughly reasonable, when really you just disagree with them. In a boringly garden-variety manner, since it's not like you could ever be accused of being an AT&T "fanboy" given how easy it is to just crank it out. And like throwing a pumpkin at someone, they either duck or they catch it, but either way, you've made them flinch.
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my post had nothing to do with being a att fanboy or not. it just showed that att was a way better deal in every way and that you would get this cause your a fanboy of sprint.
 
Stupid

Really? :p Sprint's 4G coverage is comparable to a grain of sand and the cost for the service and hardware does not make it worth purchasing over the AT&T's 3G plan.

Is Sprint out of their minds? :confused:

I'd take the case though; put my iPhone where the Overdrive is!:D
 
CPPhoto said:
So I may be one of the only few (on here at least) that HAS an iPad AND an Overdrive:

The biggest thing for me is that they were promoting this, when the Overdrive ITSELF is flawed!!!! The overdrive has MANY documented problems connecting to iPads (mine included..its a P.I.T.A) where it will drop connection, ask for passwords constantly, etc. This is some sort of compatibility issue on the Overdrive's end because the iPad works fine with other Wifi signals I've tried in various places...
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Even as a :apple: fanboy, and one who wants all things iPad to be flawless and right with the world, I have to disagree with your troubleshooting methodology. If you've spent any time at all in the past week reading the Apple iPad support forums, you would know that dodgy Wifi connectivity on the iPad has reached the level of an epidemic. Don't be so quick to trash Sprint just because you couldn't get your iPad to work with the Overdrive, or because your iPad seems to work on everything else.

I run my own personal MacBook Pro, my iPhone 3G, my work-issued Dell Latitude D620, my father's iPod Touch, my Mother's PowerBook G4 (yes, they still exist), and at least a half dozen of my friends' devices on an Overdrive, and I've never had a problem with it's wifi end. Is it possible you got a defective Overdrive? have you tried connecting anything else to it wirelessly before assuming the iPad is beyond reproach?

Either company is obliged to stand behind their product, but so far, I think the evidence pointing to a flawed wifi implementation on Apple's part is piling up too fast to be ignored.
 
I have a feeling sprint might have a leg up once 4g comes around fully but for them moment they seem like they are fighting a losing battle. 2 steps forward one step back kinda thing.
 
macnews said:
Here is what I see many comments missing:

Price matters. While most of us on these forums can compare speed and coverage and factor those benefits into the price, the AVERAGE consumer will just look at price. AT&T has really challenged the market to compete on price - nothing else. Look at this from the AVERAGE consumer point of view:

AT&T - as low as $15/month, no gear to buy and NO contract.

Sprint - $60/mo, have to buy gear ($100+?) and a contract.

Bottom line is MANY will see AT&T based solely on price.
Click to expand...

Sprint are idiots. They need to price this at $39.99 or less. At $30, surely they will get more than double the number of customers in their 4G areas, so they'd do as-well-or-better revenue-wise vs. a $60 price point, while building up their customer base and hurting their competitors.

The limited 4G coverage areas mean that they wouldn't be taxing their network overall, and it's not like Apple really cares if you use the Overdrive, as long as you buy an iPad.
 
Where is the good case at????

I went to Best Buy to get the Overdrive and free case and they don't have the cool, nice looking case that is being seen everywhere (At least not here in Vegas). They only have some trashy looking zipper top thing and no one seem to know anything about how to get the other case. The dude at my Best Buy didn't even know the facts about the deal and said I had to buy an Overdrive AND an iPad or laptop to get the case.

It's getting pretty deflating....:(
 
ATT 3g on ipad is limited to prevent video streaming uses

Now that the 3g ipad is actually out, look at the net forums all over the web. When on att3g, the ipad is programmed to downgrade youtube and netflixt to point of poor pixelation and unwatchability. It is programmed to not run the app video viewer programs period -- abc player displays message saying to use it, you have to be on wifi. So, what good is $30/month price point and unlmited data cap for 3g if ATT and Apple won't let you use the 3g for videos? The Verizon mifi and Sprint overdrive are seen by ipad as wifi devices, and the video programs work fine on them (up to the data limits per month; 4G side has no data limits with sprint). Seems question really is: Do you want to pay 30/month for limited att 3g that lets you surf but not video, or do you want to pay 60/month for full net use when not in wifi location?
 
chiuser said:
Now that the 3g ipad is actually out, look at the net forums all over the web. When on att3g, the ipad is programmed to downgrade youtube and netflixt to point of poor pixelation and unwatchability. It is programmed to not run the app video viewer programs period -- abc player displays message saying to use it, you have to be on wifi. So, what good is $30/month price point and unlmited data cap for 3g if ATT and Apple won't let you use the 3g for videos? The Verizon mifi and Sprint overdrive are seen by ipad as wifi devices, and the video programs work fine on them (up to the data limits per month; 4G side has no data limits with sprint). Seems question really is: Do you want to pay 30/month for limited att 3g that lets you surf but not video, or do you want to pay 60/month for full net use when not in wifi location?
Click to expand...

The downgrading of video is frustrating. The only advantage that AT&T has is that you can cancel the service any time and use it only when you need it.
 
We share the Overdrive between two iPads and two MBPs. (It supports up to 5 devices.) The cost per device is $15/month for truly unlimited 4G. That's a bargain. If each of those devices had its own AT&T 3G connection, the cost would be $30 to $60 per device.

In other words, we pay a total of $60/mo for 4G broadband wireless support from Sprint for 4 devices instead of $180/mo for 3G broadband wireless support from AT&T for 4 devices.
 
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