Thinking of getting an ipad - 3g or not 3g?

[VivaLeBeaver]

Want it for a bit of web browsing, playing on apps, etc. Will be at home most of the time but do go camping, etc and it would be nice to have it working then.

However I do have a smartphone that I could go on the internet with on weekends away so its not vital I suppose for that. Plus my android phone has the capability to turn itself into a wifi hotspot for other devices. I've tried it once and it did work, not sure how reliable it is though as not really tried it out.

I think the main thing I wanted to check was - am I right in thinking once an app/game has downloaded you don't need wifi to play it. Unless its something like a "find the nearest supermarket to my current location" app.

Has anyone got a wifi only one and then wished they'd got a 3g? Or has anyone got a 3g version and never used the 3g and wished they'd not spent the extra?

[niceguy2]

I have the wifi only one and I think there's been like 1 time where I wished I had 3G.

That said my Ipad rarely leaves home and like you I also have a smartphone so when out & about, I just use that.

I'd suggest saving the cash.

[RustyBear]

i have 3g and found it very useful when Orange screwed up their broadband upgrade and left us without internet access for 3 days last weekend. it's also good for when I go to my Dad's, as he only has dial up, or to MIL's as she doesn't have the internet (or a computer) at all. I have to say i don't ever use the 1GB per month that I pay for though, but on balance I think it's just about worth it - it might not be if we had a more reliable broadband connection.

[VivaLeBeaver]

Mmmmm, well our broadband seems very reliable. And if it goes down there is always next door's unsecured one.

I don't go to anyone's house frequently enough or for long enough to think I'd want to take it with me. Really would just be in the house and weekends away and holidays. I wouldn't even take it to work with me, don't have a train commute so couldn't use it then. I get travel sick if I read when a passanger in cars so wouldn't use it on car journeys.

Think I'm going to get the wifi only version and just use the wifi hotspot on my phone if desperate. Thanks. Excited now.

[5GoMadOnAZ650]

I have the wifi only iPad2 and an iphone4 which I use as a hotspot if we are away and I can't use a hotspot. We are bt total broadband customers so get access to the btfon hotspots so I really haven't needed 3G.

[MadAsASnakeNana]

I'm also about to buy an iPad. Fine on laptop/windows etc., but a complete novice when it comes to smartphones etc. Just use a cheap, pay as you go mobile while in the car (for emergencies). Our mobile coverage - rural SE - is awful, have to hang out of the bathroom window to get a signal. I'm assuming my BT broadband will cover iPad when at home - so no problem there. If I take it out and no wifi available, then I'll need 3G. Will probably go for the combined version. Does anyone know how you go about getting a 3G service - who do you contact, can you get a limited day only service etc., as broadband will be the main service, I don't want to pay for a full 3G service. Thanks.

[Meow75]

The 3G service for iPad is just like having a phone contract. You'll get a dongle that you plug in to your pad, I think.