The last question I posed to the forum was whether to purchase a MINI for use when I was hospitalized for a knee replacement. I elected to buy a wifi only MINI and fell in love with the form and weight. Although I have the iPad4, I find myself using the MINI far more during my recovery. The only regret I am experiencing is that I chose the wifi only model. While we have in home wifi, on the occasions when I go the doctor or therapy, more frequently than not there is no available wifi. I am wondering whether I should sell the 32G MINI and buy a new 64G LTE enabled MINI or wait until the new MINI may be released. I suspect it will be in the fall, but whether it will be retina or other major change is the question. As I say, I am going to keep on with a MINI, but when to buy is my question.
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iPad mini Upgrading my Mini
- Thread starter Macuser1066
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You can get a hotspot rather inexpensively and not have to change your Mini at all until the next model comes out.
http://www.netzero.net/
$50 and data plans starting at $0 a month.
I use the free plan and find it to be adequate since I am rarely without wi-fi. If you are going to the doctor a lot you might need a paid plan.
http://www.netzero.net/
$50 and data plans starting at $0 a month.
I use the free plan and find it to be adequate since I am rarely without wi-fi. If you are going to the doctor a lot you might need a paid plan.
If I were in your shoes I'd wait. In fact, I did buy the 64 gig LTE model and part of me is regretting it because I know I will upgrade as soon as a Retina mini is available. Having said that, I've decided to just enjoy the "overkill" and not think too much about what's to come.
I haven't activated the data on mine yet. I am able to use the hotspot on my phone when I don't have access to wifi and luckily most of the time I have access to wifi.
Do you have the option of activating a hotspot on your phone? Most plans will allow it as an add on for $20/month for 2 gigs I believe.
I haven't activated the data on mine yet. I am able to use the hotspot on my phone when I don't have access to wifi and luckily most of the time I have access to wifi.
Do you have the option of activating a hotspot on your phone? Most plans will allow it as an add on for $20/month for 2 gigs I believe.
I too bought WiFi only, & use my prepaid sim in a mobile wifi which works fine.
However - I failed to realise that to get GPS function you need the cellular/LTE model, as it is incorporated into that chipset.
So I have sold mine & now waiting for the new model (whenever that might be).
However - I failed to realise that to get GPS function you need the cellular/LTE model, as it is incorporated into that chipset.
So I have sold mine & now waiting for the new model (whenever that might be).
Right now, the hotspot is $99 with the free plan. It's also good to note that the free plan expires after a year, and you can't renew it. Pretty neat setup, though.
unfortunately the netzero doesn't appear available to me. I have ATT with my iPhone 5 and may look into that for a hot spot. I am not too concerned about GPS, as my car is equipped with a really good system. Thanks for your advice.
You should be able to jailbreak and install MyWi and share your phone's Internet without a problem or additional costs on your plan.
Or, I have the AT&T family shared data plan and it includes tethering for free as a part of the plan, and that let's me use the apple built-in tethering program, which works great. I tether Internet to my ipad and my Mac air all the time, often at the same time. Essentially, with it I can do everything away from the office that I can do in the office except for hi-speed scanning that I have on my big printer. For slow scanning, I have a good hand scanner and the iPhone camera and a great scanning application for the iPhone and ipad.
Let us know what you're going to do! Best of luck.
Don't sell.
I have the 64 GB iPad 3 4G/LTE but, like you, find my 32 GB wifi only iPad Mini greatly more usable out and about. While I predominantly use the mini as my reader, on the occasion I need wifi access and it is unavailable, I simply turn on the hotspot (AT&T) on my iPhone 5 and use that. Works like a charm but I very seldom have to use that. Hospital, doctor's office, even my grocery store all have free wifi.
I have the 64 GB iPad 3 4G/LTE but, like you, find my 32 GB wifi only iPad Mini greatly more usable out and about. While I predominantly use the mini as my reader, on the occasion I need wifi access and it is unavailable, I simply turn on the hotspot (AT&T) on my iPhone 5 and use that. Works like a charm but I very seldom have to use that. Hospital, doctor's office, even my grocery store all have free wifi.
Strange, when I look at the website right now it still says all hotspot devices are 50% off, and shows $49.98 for the hotspot. Perhaps the Netzero website is detecting our locales and offering different prices in different areas?
Possibly. On mine, it says 50% off select plans, which don't include the free and basic plans.
Oh, you are absolutely right. I didn't dig that far, but yes I see that now.
I took this deal myself in late October last year and at that time the 50% off was applicable to all plans. I'm using the free plan right now for incidental use very similar to OP (doctors visits) so this thread rang a big bell for me.
Thanks for correcting me, I don't like to accidentally misinform people.
No problem, thanks for showing me that product. I'll have to keep it in mind if I decide to get a mobile hotspot.