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Why do people who have an iPhone 4 bother buying an iPad 2 3G ?

F

freddy-b

macrumors regular
Original poster
Dec 29, 2009
139
0
Lisbon Portugal
Its cause 4.3 has wifi tethering.. so whats the point really?

you can just make your own network using your iphone... and ur online..


Whats the point?
 
because they dont want to be limited to the tether data plan?

They dont want to carry their phone around?

Because its their choice?
 
The point I suppose is freedom of choice. If someone want's an iPhone and a 3G iPad, then more power to them. It should make no difference in anyone else's life if another buy's a WiFi or 3G iPad.
 
Well, first I don't want to give up my unlimited data plan. And second, my iPhone is with AT&T, but I want my iPad to be with Verizon so no matter where I travel, I'll have data service.
 
I personally get the 3G iPad models because I have the unlimited iPad data plan, so I'm not dependent on my phone's data connection to be able to have connectivity. As much as I like to test out different phones (right now I have 5 different phones that I rotate between occasionally), I don't always know that I'll be using a phone with a tethering option. Plus, with the additional GPS option, the 3G model has added functionality that I use anyway. And as a few people here have already said, tethering to the iPhone drains its battery pretty quickly. So I see many reasons to pick up the 3G model, if you can afford it financially.
 
vincenz said:
Because they have extra disposable income.
Click to expand...

Don't you think this is true of anybody who purchases an iPad?

For me it is simply because I am in the States for work rather regularly, and instead of dealing with roaming charges for data and tethering, it is easier to turn on 3G and obtain mobile data via the iPad rather than my phone.

I'd rather pay the $130 and know that I have it when I need it rather than wishing that I had it when I don't.
 
Battery life, ability to view on a larger screen. Tethering costs about the same as just getting the 3G model but I don't want to lose my unlimited data on my iPhone.

Another reason is for the GPS. I'm working on a way to implement it into my car. It would be much, much cheaper than an aftermarket unit. (No I'm not trying to drive and surf the web or watch movies.)
 
freddy-b said:
Its cause 4.3 has wifi tethering.. so whats the point really?

you can just make your own network using your iphone... and ur online..


Whats the point?
Click to expand...

Why nobody care to check if there is a real GPS in 3G version?

Or has Apple changed mind and given GPS to WiFi only iPad?
 
Why do people continue to ask why others buy the iPad2? :D

Life is short. When devices/topics/subjects don't interest me I just move on and spend my time with things that do.
 
Sketchr said:
Why do people continue to ask why others buy the iPad2?
Click to expand...
Probably because they're wondering about making the best choice for themselves.

In my case, some recent changes have caused me to come out slightly ahead, monetarily.

The 4GB tethering plan for the iPhone 4 has caused me to be able to drop my $29.99/month data plan for the iPad.

The recent AT&T changes that allow free voice calls with all other mobile carriers has caused me to be able to drop my voice plan to a lower tier, and I notice that dropping to the lower tier on my family plan has not made the rollover minutes disappear.

So...I'm sort of with the original poster in understanding why we might want to drop the 3G data plans on an iPad now that we can easily tether with Wifi or Bluetooth.

In fact, the iPad 2 that I just ordered is a WiFi model instead of my previously preferred 3G model.

:)
 
The answer is mostly above, some people have the extra income, some don't want to switch to the tethering plan, and some don't want to have to rely on the phone for internet when they're out an about with the iPad.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Why do people who have an iPhone 4 bother buying an iPad 2 3G ?

Because we can.

We do people who have an iPhone 4 with tethering and a wifi iPad care what we do. This is not a question.
 
Nice to have a stand alone device. I thought about this and decided I didn't want to be anchored down to a second device.



freddy-b said:
Its cause 4.3 has wifi tethering.. so whats the point really?

you can just make your own network using your iphone... and ur online..


Whats the point?
Click to expand...
 
Unlimited data plan on my iPhone, battery drain and not having to rely on 2 devices to make iPad work
 
because I have an iPhone 4 and my family will use the iPad. I will not always be there.

Trust me, if you have a 3 year old freaking out and you are in an airport, there is no better life saver than streaming netflix Diego - instant calm.
 
As I posted in the UK iPad 2 thread,

Chapuys said:
I have a iPhone 4 and have ordered the iPad 2 3G


The reason I have is simple. I have an old cut down 3 PAYG sim in my iPhone 4 and when I top up £10 I get 600 texts and 150MB internet for 90 days. I never need to worry about texts, and just top up when I run out of internet - usually after 2 months (depending on usage).

Now to use that with an iPad would mean I have to more regularly topup. I have threfore using an old cut down 3 PAYG mobile broadband sim for £10 gives me 3GB internet for 90 days. I will just top up when I run out like for my iPhone.

Unfortunately 3 have now changed their new PAYG to 30 days from 90 days, but have left it for legacy users!
Click to expand...

Explains my reason.
 
vincenz said:
Because they have extra disposable income.
Click to expand...

Umm, at least on AT&T in the States it costs more to tether.

For example, my wife has the $15 phone data and will likely get the $20 Verizon 1 GB iPad data plan. That's $35 a month for data service.

To tether, however, she'd have to have the $25 data pro iphone package, and pay the $20 tethering charge. That's $45.

Now, granted, if she tethered, she'd have *a lot* more data to use, but that's hardly relevant if she doesn't need/use more data.

So the extra $130 it costs to buy the 3G model is paid for in 13 months by not having to tether. *Plus* we'll make a good portion of that premium back if we sell. *Plus* she doesn't have to drain her battery by tethering.

And perhaps most importantly, she can open up the smart cover and it's on. No need to fuss with the phone. This is after all a convenience device.
 
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