You have the Wi-Fi Model. Did you/are you getting the 3G model?

[chadman]

Many folks bought the Wi-Fi only model when the iPad launched. Do you regret your purchase? Have you since picked up the 3G model?

Are you finding time when 3G would come in handy?

 

[jjustice]

My answer's a bit more complicated =] When the Wi-Fi came out, I really wanted to try it, but I thought I might eventually want the 3G. So I bought the Wi-Fi to review for a month and then raffle off for charity. During that month, I became convinced that 3G would be much more useful, so a few months after that we bought a 3G. I couldn't use a wi-fi after this: it's so useful for my wife to look up things while we're driving around in the car.

 

[rotchcrocket04]

Absolutely no regret here. For my needs and uses - the 3G model wouldn't be worthwhile. If I'm anywhere that doesn't have wifi available, I probably don't want to be on my iPad anyway lol (the lake, woods, picnics, etc) or if I would want to use it, I would download the podcasts and/or apps that will pass my time. And if it happens to be a dire need, I have my iPhone 4.

I actually can say (for once) I'm glad I didn't go with the top model of something (because I usually do and regret the excess money spent later). That's a rarity for me haha!

 

[Bluesoftail]

I started with a wifi and ended up buying a 3g, now the kids share the wifi so it all worked out.

 

[zachslusser]

I bought the wifi model based on price. I really wish I hadn't been so cheap and just got the 3G model. It is really just a pain to carry around my Verizon mobile hotspot all the time. But I guess I already pay for it. But it would just be nice to have the 3G.

 

[chadman]

True that Wi-Fi is near me 80% of the time, but it is that 20% that 3G sure would be useful... hmm.

 

[west3man]

I started with a wifi and ended up buying a 3g, now the kids share the wifi so it all worked out.

Me, too, minus the kids. Wifi-only and wireless tethering made Netflix and YouTube all but useless.

Plus, more and more apps seem to assume or require an internet connection.

 

[west3man]

I bought the wifi model based on price. I really wish I hadn't been so cheap and just got the 3G model. It is really just a pain to carry around my Verizon mobile hotspot all the time. But I guess I already pay for it. But it would just be nice to have the 3G.

It probably wasn't just cheapness. Many of us were impatient eating for, not just the release of the 3G iPad, but for Apple to even give us a hard release DATE.

 

[west3man]

True that Wi-Fi is near me 80% of the time, but it is that 20% that 3G sure would be useful... hmm.

Yep. I mean, I surf the web all day long, but beyond that there are random times throughout the day that I want or need web access - often beyond what my mobile phone provides.

Also, there are a select few places whose wifi is inaccessible to iPads. I've tried unsuccessfully on multiple iPads and successfully on multiple other types of devices - phones, laptops, etc. In these situations, 3G is a godsend.

I may not like AT&T, but I love that I am grandfathered into their unlimited data plan.

 

[chrisinvermont]

I bought the wifi even thought the 3g was available when I purchased. Having a jailbroken 3GS with MyWi eliminates the need for the 3g.

 

[jhamilton3]

There have definitely been a few times where I've needed the 3G but I make do just enough with the WiFi only version.

 

[impaler]

Glad I showed patience and waited until April to get my 3G 64GB iPad. Love it! Would hate to go back to WiFi only.

 

[mobile79]

Getting my 32gb wi-fi + 3G delivered tomorrow. Real excited.

 

[chadman]

So, I made the plunge, I got the 32GB + 3G. I am so happy now! Having the ability to connect wherever you go is awesome!

 

[lawls]

I originally bought the wifi only model, but three days later i went back and exchanged it for the 3G. Now i can use all of the iPad's features everywhere.
I'm very happy with my decision

 

[cjdaniel]

I was not over excited when news of the ipad came out.
Work got me one for evaluation and I ordered the Wifi model.
I love the iPad, and am blown away with the ease of use, and capabilities.
I can tether for free with my phone but when facetime model comes out I will probably go with 3G for ease of connection, and battery savings on my phone. (yes I understand I will have to use facetime with my phones tethering mode or wifi)

 

[Lotus Esprit V8]

Many folks bought the Wi-Fi only model when the iPad launched. Do you regret your purchase? Have you since picked up the 3G model?

Are you finding time when 3G would come in handy?

I actually waited and got the 3G before they changed the unlimited plan to 2GB per month. I have had it for about 3 months now and I have used the 3G only about a dozen times as most of the places that I go to have WiFi. On the other hand it is handy when you are in the car and need to get something done.

 

[dan1431]

Looking at this thread reminded me of a few weekends ago when my co-workers (Wi-Fi iPAD owners) and I (a Nexus One owner) attended a conference at a hotel in Denver, CO.

Side-Note: That weekend was my first time with any meaningful hands on experience with the iPAD and I was (and still am) impressed with the device.

At the conference itself (the meeting rooms, etc.) Wi-Fi was provided free of charge and my co-workers were able to use their iPADs to surf the net and do all the cool things one might do with their iPAD. The hotel rooms were a different story as the hotel only provided wired internet and to my (and my co-worker's) knowledge there is no RJ-45 to iPAD adapter, thus I had to use the hotspot feature of my Nexus One (a Google Product) to supply internet to the iPAD (an APPLE product) which actually worked fairly well (granted my co-workers did have to sit in my room when they wanted to access the net on their iPADs).

I questioned my colleagues that if they had it to do over again would they have purchased the 3G model and almost unanimously they answered YES. One of my colleagues said, while he has Wi-Fi in most places it would be nice to have the freedom that 3G provides.

In truth, I guess I would agree with them, I really enjoy the HotSpot feature on my N1 as well as the ease and convenience of my work provided 3G Mobile Broadband Card.

Dan

 

[nore03]

I purposely bought the wifi only version because i have an android and i can just turn on the hotspot and use that.

 

[ChrisGonzales90]

Sort of. Though I could just buy the clear spot and get unlimited data fo 25 bucks a month and be on no contract and also be on my areas new 4G network.