quick question from a complete ipad novice

[kindlefinder]

I am about to start a new job and have just discovered that my new company only uses desktop computers. I have had a work laptop for years and will really struggle without one. I was thinking about buying my own but saw my friend's new ipad yesterday and was very impressed. My question is whether there is an ongoing monthly cost like thee would be with a mobile phone? She says not but that really surprised me. Can anyone clarify?

No monthly cost - just a one off fee the same as a laptop. I don't use mine for working though as I can't use it to edit office documents easily only view them. If you want to browse web you would need wifi access though so you can't just take it anywhere and access Internet unless there is wifi.

thanks mistletoe, so it just runs off the wifi already in the house (or wherever we are)? That makes sense.

Yes if you want to access e-mails or Internet. I do only have an iPad 1 though so don't know if iPad 2 has other options? I can make my iPhone a wifi spot though and then access the Internet on my iPad from that!

Depends which model you have - you can get 3G ones which you get a mobile data contract for, but cheaper to get a wifi only one if you are unlikely to need to use it on the move and away from wifi access.

another friend used hers when we were camping so would hers have been set up differenty or something? Is that to do with her internet provider and 3G rather than being to do with the Ipad itself?

cross posted there exexpat. thanks, that's what I thought. Should be able to cope without since i rarely used 3g on my laptop (although could if I wanted to).

think I might have to buy one. The handbag size is so tempting!!

I have 3G and use iPad camping etc.
I have a monthly contract like my mobile phone, a set fee. I could have chosen to pay a smaller amount for everyday I used it, £2 I think with O2. Therefore some. Pnths would be free and others more.

I just got one and am loving it so far for internet things - iPlayer, Facebook, twitter, etc, and the dcs love the apps, but I still would not be without my desktop and/ or net book with a proper keyboard for typing documents.