Would you buy iSlate WITH or WITHOUT a contract?

[marksman]

I am not envisioning it with any sort of contract at all.

Even if they came out with an iphone type and itouch type (with and without), I think it would turn me off altogether.

They don't need to focus this as some sort of app that is subisidized or requires agreements with cell phone companies. Just make a wifi device that can also sync with an iphone (which then if people want to use it with a cell data plan they have to get an iphone too) and be done with it.

I will honestly be disappointed if cell phone carriers have anything directly to do with this device, and I think it would be a mistake on Apple's part.

 

[agkm800]

BTW, iSlate sounds more like online version of the Slate magazine.

 

[Ca$hflow]

Absolutely no contract for me. If the price is too much, I won't be getting it at all.

+1

 

[appleguy123]

I can imagine all these threads wastelanded if there's no Tablet.

I want to see the tablet (probably won't buy one) but I also want to watch MacRumors pull this section of the forums.

 

[CylonGlitch]

I will honestly be disappointed if cell phone carriers have anything directly to do with this device, and I think it would be a mistake on Apple's part.

The only thing that I hope happens with the carriers is that they all can now have access to the iPhone, and the data plan for all of them allows for the iPad (whatever) to be tethered to the iPhone. This is a Win-Win-Win situation. Consumers win because they don't pay anymore for the data plan. Carriers win because they will get a large influx of customers. Apple wins because the not only sell the iPad but also, if the iPad can ONLY tether to an iPhone, iPhones. And the Consumer wins because of competition between Carriers trying to get our contracts thus driving prices down.

 

[marksman]

The only thing that I hope happens with the carriers is that they all can now have access to the iPhone, and the data plan for all of them allows for the iPad (whatever) to be tethered to the iPhone. This is a Win-Win-Win situation. Consumers win because they don't pay anymore for the data plan. Carriers win because they will get a large influx of customers. Apple wins because the not only sell the iPad but also, if the iPad can ONLY tether to an iPhone, iPhones. And the Consumer wins because of competition between Carriers trying to get our contracts thus driving prices down.

I agree. At first I had been against the loss of exclusivity with AT&T, but now I realize that was a dumb and selfish view. The more people who have iphones the better it is for me. The more chances of updates, the more chances of software etc etc.

I agree 100% it is a win-win-win to just offer it as a tether option. I don't think Apple wants to intentionally get into partnerships with cell phone companies unless they have to, and with a cell phone it is necessary evil. With this device it is not a necessary evil, so I think the best bet is to take a hands off approach and just make it trivially easy to work with the iphone.

 

[bossxii]

AT&T has enough data issues without dropping a few hundred thousand iPad/iTablet devices on their system with more users. I hope the T mobile/VZW rumors are true and we actually have a choice in carrier.

However, I'm thinking no contract until one of those carriers can show me a data plan with consistent speeds over 4 or 5mb, until then... I'll pay full price, assuming that's below $1,000.

 

[wingnut8]

Won't be buying it if you have to have a contract.

 

[capitanbuzo]

For me, if it requires a data contract, its going to be a no deal.

 

[sushi]

What if you could tether the iSlate with the iPhone, and thus use the iPhone's 3G connection?

 

[Cougarcat]

If apple wants to push this on college students for the textbooks, it had better have an unsubsidized price that isn't crazy. Most college students have no need for 3G because we're either on campus or at home 95% of the time, both of which have wifi.

 

[bzollinger]

I have no desire to own a tablet in either way. It's a new mac pro, then a mac book pro for me!

 

[alphaod]

I'm impressed. I will now buy one.