Posts Tagged ‘iPad’

get with the program: Part 2. More about the iPad 3G.

last weekend, in my rush to join the rest of the mac enthusiasts to pick up my pre-ordered iPad, i almost made a big purchasing mistake.

you see, the largely well received iPad that just came out on the market is lacking in one major area. this inaugural iPad model has no 3G capability.

“what do you mean?” i asked a friend of mine late fri. night when he warned me to be patient about buying. he then explained to me that the current iPad only has wi-fi capabilities. in other words, if there is internet access where you are, you can get it. if there’s not, you’re out of luck.

if i can hold on three more weeks though, there’s a better iPad option coming up. the upcoming version will provide both wi-fi capability plus 3G features. unless one is only using the iPad at Starbucks or at home, i see major advantages in waiting for the iPad that offers 3G capability.

what do you get with the 3G feature and why is it worth the extra $130? (regular iPads w/wifi cost $499; other models with 3G features begin at $630). the answer is that the iPad with the 3G capability allows you to access the web and email anywhere that has at&t wireless coverage. this means you have internet capability practically anywhere. what’s also great about activating the 3G capability is that you’re not tied down to a contract.

there are two 3G prepaid options available. the first is a $15 per month option that allows you 250 MG of data per month. the second plan is $29.99 and it gives you unlimited access to the data. what’s so cool about these options is that you can prepay a month in advance. if you decide that you don’t need the access the following month, you can cancel.

i find that most hotels charge anywhere from $10 to $15 per day for internet access, so if i see i have business or personal upcoming trips that would require a hotel stay, i would most certainly opt for the unlimited plan during those months.

what it boils down to is that while i’m “pressed

for my new iPad, i need to slow my roll and be patient for a few weeks longer. for those of you who haven’t yet bought the iPad, i’d advise you to do the same.

i’ve never been a gadget girl. but lately i’ve been soliciting conversations with strangers when i overhear them talking about being part of the 300,000. the 300,000, that is, who will pick up their iPads this weekend.

“are you getting one saturday?” i’ve asked several folks. when i find someone committed to buying this iPad, i immediately break out into a full fledge conversation. i explain that while i’m getting an iPad, i don’t plan to use it as a gadget. instead it will be my outside communication device. i then go on and on about how the one and a half pound weight of my new toy (i mean, important business tool) is easy on a woman’s back.

at home, i spend numerous hours in geek-like behavior, researching everything there is to know about the iPad. it’s amazing to see me, this woman, who has never even set up her previous phone or computer functions, now reviewing all of iPad’s capabilites.

nonetheless, my macbook pro will be missed. what will i miss about keeping my laptop at home? first, i’ll miss the opportunity to video skype calls to loved ones far away. now my day calls will be made via old school audio. i’ll also miss the ability to use a spare battery as the battery in the new iPad is not removable.

my biggest concern about the new iPad is wondering how difficult it would be to write on a device that lacks physical keys. can i learn to maneuver touch keys with comfort?

nagging doubts about the IPad won’t deter this new fan. what i’m most excited about my upcoming iPad purchace is having the ability to see a screen without lugging around a computer. i’m at the stage in life where reading glasses have become a necessity. i wish i could remember that fact every time i leave home without them. while i love my iPhone, i don’t like squinting while sending a text or navigating online. with the iPad, i’ll never have to worry about text being too small. nor will i be caught in my handbag fumbling around for reading glasses. what this means for baby boomers and seniors is that we can do away with our reading glasses in public other than a quick glance at a restaurant menu. what a cosmetic treat!

saturday morning can’t come quickly enough for me.