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Wi-fi Only iPad, will I regret it?

My philosophy on the whole thing:

I end up using my iPad a majority of the time in places there is wi-fi. A few times that I need the internet, I can use my phone. In the car? Well if I'm driving, my eyes are on the road. If I'm a passenger, I'm usually enjoying the company. If I'm out of the middle of nowhere? It's probably to relax and have a technology shut down for a little bit.

LTE does change the game, but being limited to such little usage makes it not a viable alternative.
 
rneglia said:
Guys, I just got my first iPad, due to arrive on Friday. It's a 64gb with wi-fi only. I went with that because I sort of hate Verizon and AT&T and don't want to pay them any money all all.

I know the iPad data plans are month to month, so I realize I could turn it on and off when needed.

Did I make a mistake getting wi-fi only?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I have been debating this one as well...my original iPad is 32gb, wifi only and I havent had a real need for data...then the new iPad comes out with 4G and LTE capabilities...I currently have Verizon but I don't want to pay an extra $100 for the capability( knowing I could turn data on and off) and then it dawned on me!!!! if the next iPhone is 4G and LTE, I will just use my iPhone as a hotspot and use my iPad that way if no wifi is available. so now I am debating on what size to get and leaning more towards 64gb because of going back to school. the 32gb is fine but I don't want to have to worry about books and stuff taking up much needed space. decisions decisions....
 
I travel quite a bit, and many times, the wifi signals in various spots are pretty weak. My original iPad and my iPad 2 are both 3G models, and my new iPad is the LTE model. I don't regret spending the extra money for the added functionality.

Sent from my hotel room, from my iPad 2
 
I have the 64gb+3g iPads 1 and 2 (and preordered 64gb 4g)

I used the 3G feature probably one month on each device...When I went on vacation the airports had ****** wifi, and the hotels signal was almost non-existent. The 3G came in handy for that trip.

I've used the 3g on my iPad 2 when I did a lot of work in NYC one month, and there was a lack of consistent wifi..

IMO it was worth it to have the option. I have the unlimited plan on my iPhone and dont want to lose it to gain tethering functionality.

I haven't needed to use the 3G a lot on either device, but it bailed me out when I did need it.
 
If you ever really need 3G for a trip of something you can always just buy some 3G mobile hotspot device and use that to get access... then you'd have it for all your devices rather than buying 3g for each of them.

Obviously if you use it all the time its probably worth it to have it built in though.
 
I have it on my iPad 2 and got it on my new iPad. I only activated it twice in a year on the 2 but it is still nice to have when traveling. I also am now grandfathered into the $25 2 gig at&t data plan on my phone and don't want to have to go to the $30 plan either when switching to tethered and back.
 
DS3 said:
If you ever really need 3G for a trip of something you can always just buy some 3G mobile hotspot device and use that to get access... then you'd have it for all your devices rather than buying 3g for each of them.

Obviously if you use it all the time its probably worth it to have it built in though.
Click to expand...

Verizon LTE iPad support personal mobile hotspot. It could be huge selling point. AT&T is "working on it".

I was thinking of getting a mifi device but Verizon iPad will double as hotspot.
 
No brainer

If you don't have it when you need it, you'll miss it. Big time. If you can afford it getting the 3G/4G version is the way to go. Plus, it expands resale opportunities.
 
I had the wifi only iPad and iPad 2. Most of the time I didn't mind it, but traveling I found it to be an inconvenience. It was enough of one to encourage me to buy the 4G version this time around.

It just boils down to what you use it for. I hope it works out for you!
 
I pre ordered the same model you did.
I have my iPhone with me wherever I go with an unlimited plan.

I pondered as to why I would want to spend more $$$ just to get online with my iPad...when my phone is right in my pocket.

Also- I see the iPad as much more than a simple online surfing device.
Writing, reading, photo album, games, and with 64gigs- easy to rotate in and out plenty of movies and shows to watch without relaying on a stream.
I assume streaming video eats up most data plans anyway.

And now you have an extra $20 a month to download goodies from iTunes.....via a wifi connection of course.....enjoy!
 
I have been debating this also. I found that I have a little bit of extra money and don't know what I want to put it on. Either a 16GB 4G ipad or the 32GB ipad wifi version. In the end I decided that I am going to go with the WIFI model. I already have a galaxy nexus 4G grandfathered in with unlimited 4G/LTE so if anything I will just use a wifi tether and use my phone as a hotspot and use up as much internet as I want for my iPad. If I still had my iphone I might have gone with the 4G version but since I have a 4G phone, I might as well just use that. :) That's my plan for Friday when I pick up the iPad.
 
I ordered a 32GB wifi iPad. Almost bought the 4G I decided not to because

`1. dont have it yet where I live
2. I figure I could just use my personal hotspot if I was desperate. :)
 
I don't know if I'd even buy an iPad if it wasn't 3G. That's just me though. Maybe you don't need 3G for your kind of use... Good luck, hope you get what you need!
 
It really just depends on your use! I got the Wi-fi only because my primary use of it will be at my house or at work, where there is Wi-fi. I pretty much won't carry my iPad anywhere that I don't have Wi-fi, but in the event that I am, that's what the trusty iPhone is for! :)
 
If I'm not near WiFi, I'm either really getting away from it all or I'm dead.

I've had a WiFi only since the iPad 1 and it's never been an issue at all.
 
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPod; CPU iPhone OS 5_0_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A405 Safari/7534.48.3)

I rarely used the 3G on my iPad 2 I think I used well 2 months of service spaced apart I ordered 3rd gen 4g 32 gb Verizon in white my iPad 2 was a 64 gb 3G Verizon in black I didn't come close to using the entire 64 gb so I just did 32 gb and I wanted to give the white a spin I liked the idea of 4g and Verizon letting you tether your new iPad to other devices I don't think any one can regret buying a shiney new iPad 3G 4g or just wifi it's a magical device I use it everyday my netbook and Sony vaio I rarely use any more
 
As most have said it depends on your daily habits. If you always have wifi available then you may not need 3G. Or if you can tether and only need to once in a while then why spend the $$$

For me, I knew immediately I would use it because I don't have wifi access a lot when I travel and tethering all the time is a PITA.

It seems to me that if you are even asking the question you probably can get by with just the wifi.
 
I pre-ordered the 32GB Wifi only model, but now I want to get the 4G LTE... whether you travel alot or not, I think The 4G its good thing to have! lets say your out playing golf and you want to upload a video of your swing onto Facebook or Youtube...

there's 2 Starbucks near my place within walking distance, have Wifi at home, and Super Fast Wifi at the State University...
 
eagandale4114 said:
Wifi ipad + sprint unlimited data for my 4s + jailbreak + mywii 5= bliss
Click to expand...

sprint-iphone-4s-slow.png


NO BLISS!
 
the only thing i won't be able to use effectively on the wi fi model is gps as i won't be able to use it in the car however if i had bought the 4g model i can't be bothered to take my sim card from my iPhone every time i want to use gps in the car and i definitely don't want to go on another contract i got enough bills with internet phone etc and besides 4g won't work effectively as Aussie telcos haven't perfected a 4g network as yet.
 
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As a pilot I use the iPad mostly for navigational purposes and it is very nice to have that GPS in there. For me it is worth it, but like everyone else is saying it depends on how you intend to use it.
 
Lots of good points already, just wanted to add a few things from personal experience:

1) If you have unlimited data on your ATT iPhone, and switch to their official tethering plan, you cannot switch back to your unlimited data plan. It will be gone for good. I was hoping to "toggle" tethering through the iPhone as needed, but since I would be losing my $30 unlimited data plan, this changed my opinion of the official tethering route.

2) I've used MyWi, a $15 commercial app through Cydia (Jailbreak) to turn the iPhone into a hotspot. It works, but makes your phone run hot and my old 3GS froze a few times and needed a reset or two. But I'd think the 4S should handle it just fine. Keep in mind that ATT busted a few people who have used MyWi, and charged them extra fees for tethering. Don't know if the latest version of MyWi has found a workaround.
 
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