Inspired by Jeremy, I dug up an old Facebook tag. For those of you used to expecting distinguished and profound posts from me, you’ll be so disappointed… For those of you who know me, this will assure you that I am still not distinguished and profound. I intercepted a note in 5th or 6th grade [...]
iNeed iNsight about iPhone vs iPad
Posted By Jeff on June 3rd, 2010
We’re almost ready to pull the trigger on an iPad at our house. Carolyn and I are going to “share” one as our 18th anniversary present. But we’re selling stuff first.
Here’s where we need help… With the new data plans from AT&T announced this week for iPhones and iPads, should we:
1. Get rid of one iPhone and get iPad 3G data plan
2. Keep both iPhones and get iPad WIFI with no 3G
3. Get iPad 3G AND get a Verizon mifi which would give us Internet for up to 5 devices (we could also discoonect an iPhone)
4. Jump down, turn wound, pick a bale of cotton.
5. Other
Go.
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Tags: apple, technology
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June 3rd, 2010 at 9:37 am
Go out this weekend, buy and activate new iPad with unlimited data before AT&T makes the shift on Monday.
Or, go with the Wi-fi only iPad, if there’s enough Wi-fi in the life you lead.
Doug
Doug´s last blog ..Book Review: The Last Christian
June 3rd, 2010 at 10:54 am
If you are still jailbroken on your iphone get a wifi ipad and use the myfi app to turn your iphone into a wireless router.
Michael´s last blog ..MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
June 3rd, 2010 at 11:05 am
Hi Jeff.
I know that data plans and pricing will be very different in the US than it is here in the Uk, but this is what we’ve done.
First of all Anne doesn’t have an iPhone, so what to do with two iPhones doesn’t come into our equation. However, I think I would probably have made the same decision even if Anne had an iPhone.
I bought the 32GB wi-fi version of the iPad. In the Uk there is a £100 difference between wifi only and wifi+3G.
The current cheapest data plan that I can find is £7.50 a month. That would add £190 to the basic cost of the wifi only iPad.
I can buy a mifi modem for £50 and a rolling 1Gb a month data contract for £5 a month (1Gb data). That makes… £110 on the capital cost of the iPad and it saves me £80 in the first year and £30 in the second year (12×5 versus 12×7.50).
So that’s how I decided wifi only plus mifi. The advantage of mifi is that you can use multiple devices. So if I’m out with my iPad I’ve got wifi, if I’m out with my MacBook I’ve got wifi, and if I’m out with both I have wifi for both.
So it’s a matter of sitting down and doing the maths to see what is most cost effective.
In the UK my carrier provides me with free wifi through certain hotspots, so 1Gb should be all I need to cover the times I can’t get a free connection.
June 4th, 2010 at 12:22 am
Thanks for such a great, thought out reply, Richard. We’re still mulling over things. Main goal is to cut monthly costs while getting an iPad.
So we’re wondering of the $25 3G plan isn’t the best for us. While the Verizon MIFI. Is great, it’s $60. While it would give us more devices, it still wouldn’t replace our home Internet.
If we dump an iPhone for the time being, we’re still saving $5 a month (data plan is $30).
On the other hand, it would be nice for at&t to wake up and allow iPhone WITHOUT data plan. Since it has WIFI, it would a nice option.
From the iPad perspective, the tech is already there. Why not allow the ipad to send/receive calls with a paired Bluetooth headset? THAT would be great and allow many of is to dump our cell phones.
June 4th, 2010 at 9:46 am
To quote Lucille, “I don’t understand the question and I won’t respond to it.”
whimzie´s last blog ..Same Song, Second Verse
June 4th, 2010 at 9:55 am
Oh, but make the wise best choice, because I usually just piggyback on your research.
whimzie´s last blog ..Same Song, Second Verse
June 4th, 2010 at 9:45 pm
Thanks, Amy. I decided that you should present me an iPad if I beat you in three consecutive games of Words…
June 6th, 2010 at 11:10 pm
I’m doing the MyWi app through the Rock store. It’s 9.99 and allows my iPhone to operate as a wifi hotspot with its own ssid and encryption. I connect my laptop and my iPad to it and get decent speeds on all 3 places in Kentucky where AT&T has 3g data. I’m actually thinking about dumping my $40/mo home internet and just doing the MyWi. If I need to download big stuff, I can just do it at work or at the church.
FYI, last check, i’ve only used 2gigs download on my iphone data since 3.1.3 came out. For me, it’s doubtful I would use 2gigs any month anytime soon through my iPhone/iPad.
TJ Scott´s last blog ..Some gave all