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Wi-Fi only or 4G?

H

highlights

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 31, 2005
29
0
I've read some of the general threads about this, but was wondering if anyone had thoughts on my specific situation.

I currently have an iPhone 4 and am thinking about getting an iPad3. I use my iPhone to make calls about once a week... if that. I do use it frequently to check my email, social networking, browse specific web sites, play the occasional game, etc. Most of the places I use my phone have Wi-Fi, but not all, and I do a bit of traveling where "free" hotel internet sucks or fancy conference hotel internet costs $15/day (um, I'm a poor grad student, and we cram 4 of us into those fancy hotel rooms!).

So, I can keep my iPhone, get a wi-fi only iPad, and I guess that would work. Seems like I could tether when I absolutely had to (i.e., those conferences or other travel).

OR I could sell my iPhone, buy a cheap pay-as-you-go phone which I estimate will cost less than $10/month in calls, and get an iPad w/ 4G and pay the $30/month for data. Is this crazy? It seems like that would cost *less* than what I have to pay now for the iPhone (since there are no cheap calling plans). Are there any big limitations I'm not thinking about? I already carry my macbook around quite a bit, and the iPad would replace that (getting an iMac for home, which is what is preempting these changes!), so I don't think there are too many times when I would want to carry just a phone and not the iPad... but maybe there are? And then if I can tether from my iPhone, maybe that is the way to go? See my confusion? ;)
 
I would go wifi only, unless you do business or something that requires 24/7 internet access I don't see most using their ipad outside their house or wifi hotspots.

For me when I go out I am too busy to be playing with the iPad outside of the house so the ridiculous data rates the cellular plans offer are definitely not worth it to me.

In your case I would be even less inclined for the 4G since you have a phone for internet emergencies.
 
I had the same delima and I ended up getting the 4G version because I travel twice a month and the hotel's wifi suck (the ones I stay at).
 
Thanks! Great to hear some other thoughts. I'm still somewhat up in the air, but leaning towards wi-fi only and tethering in those hotel situations. Unfortunately I use AT&T so no reverse tethering from iPad to iPhone.

I guess one cost-saving measure is that if I get any iPad right now I can't/won't get the newest iPhone when it's released (I have an iPhone 4 and have been upgrading on the two-year cycle). At least in my head, I can put the money from an iPhone upgrade towards the iPad...
 
4G for sure....I was traveling this weekend in an area with great cell phone coverage, but everywhere I went barely had wifi. If I did find a spot with wifi, it was turned down so slow that it was barely useable.

Lately I find that in most places the wifi is inadequate, especially hotels. some hotels have a "high" speed option but those can be expensive too.....
 
I was on the fence with this same issue, I went 4G. Always having my iPad connected is a huge plus in my book.
 
I went with the 4G because I'd rather have the cellular option and not need it, rather than need the cellular option and not have it.

So far, I haven't used the 4G at all, but will be on a business trip soon and will likely try it for the first time while away.
 
highlights said:
Thanks! Great to hear some other thoughts. I'm still somewhat up in the air, but leaning towards wi-fi only and tethering in those hotel situations. Unfortunately I use AT&T so no reverse tethering from iPad to iPhone.

I guess one cost-saving measure is that if I get any iPad right now I can't/won't get the newest iPhone when it's released (I have an iPhone 4 and have been upgrading on the two-year cycle). At least in my head, I can put the money from an iPhone upgrade towards the iPad...
Click to expand...

Why do you have to have AT&T for both iPad and iPhone?

Nothing wrong with having AT&T iPhone and Verizon iPad. Better that way IMHO, because you will have more diversity of coverage in low-coverage areas.
 
A cheap prepay phone for occasional and emergency use, along with an "4G" iPad with what is essentially pre-pay internet use, isn't a bad combo. In fact, it is the only rational choice for those who do not want to pay for far more than they use.
 
sbddude said:
Why do you have to have AT&T for both iPad and iPhone?

Nothing wrong with having AT&T iPhone and Verizon iPad. Better that way IMHO, because you will have more diversity of coverage in low-coverage areas.
Click to expand...

Hah, it hadn't even occurred to me that I could do that. Now I'm back leaning towards wi-fi + 4g. Also still considering dumping my iPhone at some point for a prepaid cheap one if I find myself using the phone even less than I am now.
 
highlights said:
I've read some of the general threads about this, but was wondering if anyone had thoughts on my specific situation.

I currently have an iPhone 4 and am thinking about getting an iPad3. I use my iPhone to make calls about once a week... if that. I do use it frequently to check my email, social networking, browse specific web sites, play the occasional game, etc. Most of the places I use my phone have Wi-Fi, but not all, and I do a bit of traveling where "free" hotel internet sucks or fancy conference hotel internet costs $15/day (um, I'm a poor grad student, and we cram 4 of us into those fancy hotel rooms!).

So, I can keep my iPhone, get a wi-fi only iPad, and I guess that would work. Seems like I could tether when I absolutely had to (i.e., those conferences or other travel).

OR I could sell my iPhone, buy a cheap pay-as-you-go phone which I estimate will cost less than $10/month in calls, and get an iPad w/ 4G and pay the $30/month for data. Is this crazy? It seems like that would cost *less* than what I have to pay now for the iPhone (since there are no cheap calling plans). Are there any big limitations I'm not thinking about? I already carry my macbook around quite a bit, and the iPad would replace that (getting an iMac for home, which is what is preempting these changes!), so I don't think there are too many times when I would want to carry just a phone and not the iPad... but maybe there are? And then if I can tether from my iPhone, maybe that is the way to go? See my confusion? ;)
Click to expand...

This is exactly what I do. I barely text/call, so I have a cheap prepaid (Page Plus - FYI they have a 1200 minute, 3000 txt, 100 MB data on VZ for <$30 a month) and an iPad 2 with a data plan. If you wanted to cut your monthly costs even more you could just use a texting app on the iPad.

Figure out what your current data use is on the iPhone, and purchase the corresponding iPad plan (with a bit of extra data, since apps are more graphic-intensive and Safari won't load mobile websites). No contract, you can always jump ship and switch to WiFi.
 
highlights said:
..... I use my iPhone to make calls about once a week... if that. I do use it frequently to check my email, social networking, browse specific web sites, play the occasional game, etc. ..
Click to expand...

Big question - if go dumb phone. Would you always be carrying your ipad around to do the above things? Thinking social gatherings, bars, restaurants, etc.
 
highlights said:
Thanks! Great to hear some other thoughts. I'm still somewhat up in the air, but leaning towards wi-fi only and tethering in those hotel situations. Unfortunately I use AT&T so no reverse tethering from iPad to iPhone.

I guess one cost-saving measure is that if I get any iPad right now I can't/won't get the newest iPhone when it's released (I have an iPhone 4 and have been upgrading on the two-year cycle). At least in my head, I can put the money from an iPhone upgrade towards the iPad...
Click to expand...

unless you jailbreak it ;)

----------
jwjsr said:
is there any advantage to have iphone and ipad with att vs iphone att ipad verizon?
Click to expand...

depends on your area, but in general att is much fast on their speeds.

----------
nostresshere said:
Big question - if go dumb phone. Would you always be carrying your ipad around to do the above things? Thinking social gatherings, bars, restaurants, etc.
Click to expand...

my problem there. to bulky to take out. i like being able to fit my phone in my pocket :)
 
christophermdia said:
4G for sure....I was traveling this weekend in an area with great cell phone coverage, but everywhere I went barely had wifi. If I did find a spot with wifi, it was turned down so slow that it was barely useable.

Lately I find that in most places the wifi is inadequate, especially hotels. some hotels have a "high" speed option but those can be expensive too.....
Click to expand...

This ^^
 
I like the GPS functions that are only available on cellular models. I live in tornado alley, where the power/cable sometimes goes out during bad storms. I like the security of knowing I can still use my iPad to check radar, get news updates, etc, even when the broadband is down. Like others have mentioned, I use a dumb phone (prepaid) for my calling needs.
 
well if you have a smartphone you can wifi tether your connection and then connect your ipad... BUT don't forget that only 4g models have in-built GPS
 
nostresshere said:
Big question - if go dumb phone. Would you always be carrying your ipad around to do the above things? Thinking social gatherings, bars, restaurants, etc.
Click to expand...

This is the central point, I think. I have an iPhone 4 and a WiFi-only iPad. I went the WiFi-only route because I knew there would rarely be a time when I absolutely needed to have connectivity for my iPad, since I have a phone for that. Besides, I use the two devices differently, although there is some overlap.

If you really want to save money and can forego always-on connectivity, then just get a cheap phone and a WiFi iPad. You'll be fine (we somehow all survived the days before cell phones and tablets, and even back when cars ran on leaded gas and we never wore seat belts). I feel that having an iPhone and a WiFi iPad gives you the best flexibility for the price, but it is certainly more expensive than cheap phone/4G iPad or cheap phone/WiFi iPad.
 
Update: this message is coming from my brand new wifi only iPad 3 :)

Thank you all so much for your advice. I realized that, while I will probably toss my iPad in my purse 90% of the time, there are situations (walking the dogs, hiking, biking, etc.) where I probably do want my iPhone and not the iPad (and those are situations where, especially if I'm alone, I do want some way of being connected and having gps). So keeping my iPhone and going a little cheaper with the wifi only iPad seemed like the most sensible solution.

The tougher decision was white or black ;)

P.S. I went with the white 32gig model.
 
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