iPad: wifi only vs 3G version?

[exexpat]

I'm thinking of getting an iPad as a sort of family Christmas present, but can't work out which one to get.

We have broadband/wifi at home, so was thinking of just getting the wifi version, but I'm not sure... I know 3G might be useful when we're travelling or out and about, but I don't want to sign up for a monthly contract when a lot of the time we wouldn't be using it. Is there any kind of PAYG contract for iPads that makes sense?

Also, 16gb vs 32gb - does it make a huge difference in terms of how many apps, movies etc you can store?

I cannot imagine my iPad without 3G. It is so portable - slip it into your handbag - and you can use it anywhere. Home networks sometimes go down, so the 3G becomes useful there too.

Um, you can store twice as much on 32GB as you can on 16. ;)

we've got a 32gb, as obv it stores more, and ours is wifi only, we download all games, podcast, books etc at home/where there'sa wifi conecction and then use the other stuff when there's not.

Obviously if you want to be able to use the internet on the move then 3g is the way to go!

Depending on how your mobile works you could tether your iPad to your mobile's data connection when you're out and about. Why pay for data twice?

Personally I think my WiFi iPad is a real luxury, adding mobile data to it is just a luxury on top of a luxury. To be honest it hardly ever leaves the house anyway.

I have a wifi only iPad and it's fine - I can tether it to my iphone on the few occasions when I've wanted to go on the internet when I've been out and about and there isn't a wifi connection

and definitely go for the 32gb rather than the 16gb if you can afford it - dd's just downloaded a film which is 1.62gb, that's fine because I've got plenty of space but you'd very quickly fill up a 16gb version

If you have a smart phone then wifi only would be fine. I don't, and bitterly regret not getting 3G. I got it engraved too, so I can't even gift it and get myself an upgrade

I think you're probably all right that I should go for the 32 rather than 16 - things do always seem to fill up faster than you expect.

DS & I both have smartphones (android not iPhones), so have mobile internet access already. I think the iPad would be used for internet stuff at home but we could mainly live without it on journeys - more useful then for films and games, I suspect. But if there was an easy way to just get occasional 3G access that would be even better. I hadn't heard of being able to use your phone to get data access for the iPad - will look into that. No suggestions about PAYG options, anyone?