ipad questions

[sparkle101]

Hi

I am thinking about getting an I pad. I have a couple of questions if I may.

I understand when you are at home you use the wifi for downloading/safari etc but what about when you are out and about without wifi? Is there any way I can link it to my phone so the usage is shared amongst the iphone/ipad? Or do I have to take out a new package for the ipad?

What size ipad do I need in terms of storage. I would like to use it to good advantage, am not interested in storing videos/films on it but may well be using it for music and photos.

And lastly, Ipad air or another one?

Sorry, these are probably silly questions, am off to the apple store in the new year to hopefully purchase one but wanted to get some advice before hand.

TIA.

I've got an ipad mini and love it.
You can use the wifi from your mobile phone when out and about. You need to look for tethering in your phone's wifi and network settings. It then becomes a hotspot you can connect your ipad to. Or you can get them with 3G connectivity.
I'd go for at least 32gb.
Don't know much about the newer models I'm afraid, so don't know how much better they are.

Ah that's brilliant thank you! I take it when I get my iPad I set up something in settings to link it to my iPhone?

Also, (sorry! Last question.... Perhaps) do I need to get an iPad with wifi or with wifi and cellular?

I use my phone as the hotspot all the time (unlimited data).

Really easy to set up - in phone settings set Personal Hotspot to On and Bluetooth to On.

On iPad in setting put Bluetooth to On, it should pick up your phone, click Connect (I think the first time, you have to put in the password that appears on the Bluetooth screen on your phone) and you are good to go.

I have a mini too - I find it a much better size than the full iPad for holding it in bed to read and watch Netflix.

do I need to get an iPad with wifi or with wifi and cellular?

you only need one with cellular if you (a) can't tether it to a phone and/or (b) need it have GPS.

And this is why I love mumsnet!!!! Thanks everyone for your advice and help. Very excited!

Is an air worth it?

I don't use Bluetooth at all for connecting to my phone wifi. I just switch the tethering on and then go to wifi settings on iPad where it shows all of the networks available and pick the right one. Mine's called android something so it was easy to find.
After doing it once it will automatically connect to that, if available, and other networks aren't.
If you do have internet on your phone you could use this way you won't need a cellular one.

I don't use Bluetooth at all for connecting to my phone wifi. I just switch the tethering on and then go to wifi settings on iPad where it shows all of the networks available

The advantage of using Bluetooth is that it's usually kinder to the battery. Running your phone as a WiFi access point while also forwarding data out over 3G will burn the battery quite quickly.

Thanks for the tip friday16.

Make sure your phone network allows tethering as Tesco mobile does not. Some networks now charge for this option too. I have it free on an old T-Mobile plan which is why I will not be changing it!

Photos and videos suck up a lot of space so I would go for 32 g. I've got 16 but I download all my photos to my pc.