To 3G or not to 3G?

If you think you will use the 3G after you get back, go ahead and by that one. You do not have to make an ATT contract for the 3G, meaning you can buy the 3G iPad, cancel the ATT 3G service when you leave for Europe, and then restart the service once you get back (you don't have to pay for the service you won't be using while you're over there).

I do understand that, I guess I'm just wondering if it is a mistake to not get the 3G? I really don't know how much or for what I will use it when I get back, and if I'll regret not having it in the future. Do most of you get the 3G or just the wifi?

You can get an international data plan for an AT&T 3G ipad. You can purchase it for a month. In general you can turn the data plan on and off by the month as there is no contract. If you don't have 3G you can Connect over wifi. If you are out and about or commute with your iPad a data plan is a god idea if you use it mostly at home wifi only is fine.

I think you will be fine with just the wifi version. You'll only be able to use it for internet access in areas where there is wifi, but all other functions will be the same. The only thing you will be missing is the ability to get online anytime, anywhere (which is what costs money, sometimes inadvertently). Particularly since you don't know how/how much you will be using it after the trip, and you aren't addicted to smartphones with their constant online connection, you won't be missing anything.

Because you don't have data phones and have just now gotten an iMac, I'd say don't worry about not having 3G. Try out the iPad on wifi and see how you like it. By the time you've decided you just have to be connected to the Internet at all possible times, you can upgrade to the iPad 3.

Honestly I can't say whether you will want 3G in the future or not. That is your preference. If you are happy just using it around wifi hotspots back home (think of where there would be available wifi: at your house? at the nearby Starbucks? etc). If you're not up on technology, you may not ever want the 3G. But after using it often in Europe, you may want to be able to constantly use it back home with 3G once you return. This is a completely personal question, it differs so much between people. Personally I would want the option of switching to 3G someday if I wanted to. But you may not care.

Susan, Do you have wifi at home? If you do I wouldn't bother with the 3G. We took our netbook with us on our last trip, and iPod Touches on previous trips. We almost always had wifi available everywhere we have stayed. If you don't have wifi at home and want to use your iPad there you might want the 3G.

I got my iPad last May with 3G but have never enabled it. In Italy we had wifi just about everywhere we stayed (one exception) so I never missed the 3G.

If you have a wi-fi only device then you can always connect to a 3g or 4g data source by using an external device. The options range from a USB dongle to a MiFi device that creates a wi-fi network usable by 1-5 devices in close proximity to the MiFi device. If you have an unlocked iPhone, there is even a program called MyWi that does essentially the same thing as a separate MiFi device, allowing you to tether your computer(s) or iPad to the iPhone. I'm sure there are many other tethering programs for Android and other phones too. The downside while traveling is that you have another gadget, but it also allows for the most flexibility for providing data to one or more devices. If you don't want more than wi-fi at the hotel, then it is a non-issue.

Right now I can't imagine that I will miss the 3G, but I have never used a device with that capability. I assume we will use our ipad at home just as another computer (we do have wifi at home) and then in Europe use the wifi in our hotels. My friend is trying to convince me that I may regret it if I don't get it now. My main opposition is just spending $130 dollars more if I don't need it, and then I'm also opposed to a monthly bill for the 3G service. I do understand you can shut it off. But then who knows, maybe if I got it I'd find all kinds of needs and uses for it! Plus, when your spending so much money, what is a bit more? I think I confuse myself the more I think about it. I'm leaning toward not getting it. By the time I may want it, they'll have new products anyway. I appreciate the responses, it does help to make up my mind.

I like having the 3G option for things like Internet access at the airport, hotels where you have to pay for WiFi, data access during a power outage, and sometimes carry it with me in the car to access the Internet if I'm out for the day - I don't have an Iphone or Android. If I'm traveling in Europe, I always make sure to turn off the data option. I use WiFi whenever it's available. I have a basic plan and pay $14.99 per month - so far, I haven't exceeded amount of time on the plan. I'm happy that I have the 3G option.

Susan and Monte, tell your family and friends your good-byes; the link below will make your heads explode. (sorry 'bout that - I really like you): http://www.tcgeeks.com/ipad-2-data-plan-pricing-and-options-comparison-guide/ When I got my Kindle I had to choose between Wi-Fi only or Wi-Fi + 3G. I decided that Wi-Fi was enough; I'd have plenty to read on it at all times, and if I really needed to download something (an 'emergency' guidebook, etc.) I could wait until I had access to Wi-Fi. THAT $50 saved has already been spent on beer LOL! (cont.)

(cont.) BUT, with an iPad...(inhales and exhales slowly...)...since it's an actual computer, the choice is harder. I've only had my hand-me-down iTouch since November (thanks, Sweetie!) but I can't count the number of times I've started to pull it out and check on something and realized I had no 'net' LOL! My 'net' is at home, or at Borders, or Panera Bread (when are they gonna start paying us for advertising?!?), but it's not in the car, or at most restaurants, or at Target, or Safeway, or at my car repair shop...I'll start to look up an address (doctor, restaurant, movie theater) on a website or from an email and realize, 'nope, can't do that here!'. If you're at your doctor's waiting room and want/need to do some work...you can't. Is it a bit frustrating? Yes. Has it ruined my life? Ummm, no. Is 3G necessary - honestly - for practically everybody on this planet? No. Neither are cellphones...but they're darned handy. It's very easy to say 'oh, I'll NEVER use my iPad 'here', or 'there', of for 'this' function...because you've never had one! My first car came with a CD player option - who'd need a CD player in their car?!? I would, 12 months later (duh)......If there's ANY chance that perhaps Santa might bring a 2nd iPad to you in a year or two, then I'd recommend the Wi-Fi only version for now. IF you find yourself really wishing you'd bought the 3G version, you can always ask Santa for one ;-)

My wonder is, if once you've had a 3 or 4G iPhone, could you really go back to wifi? I love the ability to not have to worry about a hot spot with my iPhone. I'm thinking about getting an iPad for a couple of reasons. First, I think it would be a better native for photo management while I'm in Europe. Second, I'm moving to NYC and am having to get rid of most of my books in order to have room for chairs, a bed and a table in an NYC apartment. LOL. I was thinking about a Kindle, but I think the iPad would address two needs and reduce the number of devices. (Yes, I know I can't read it at the beach.) So all that is to say, I agree with Eileen and I think I'll end up with the 3G. Pam

OMG I just looked at Eileen's Link and I can feel my head expanding. I'm working on an antidote. Pam

Well....this morning I broke down and ordered the 3G. Could be a wasted $130 but maybe we'll love it so much we'll want the 3G. We hold on to all our electronics, cars, furniture, etc. in favor of saving for vacations, so this ipad will not be replaced for years to come. At least now we will have the option, even if we don't actually use it for a very long time. Thanks for all the opinions!!

Susan, I'll be interested in hearing if you really use the 3G. As we discussed at our last meeting, I am considering buying the iPad 2 before my trip next fall. When do you expect delivery?

It would have been April 26, but getting the 3G moved it to May 5. So, I'll have three weeks to figure out how to use it!

I think you'll be happy you have 3G!

I hope you bring it to the May meeting so I can check it out! :-)

I'm soooooo glad your heads didn't explode!!! And yeah - we wanna play with it when it gets here! We'll bring lots of hand sanitizer ;-)

I just looked at Eileen's link - very, very briefly. My eyes! My eyes! That's it - I'll stick with my 3G phone and keep my wifi netbook.