ipad with Cellular or just use mobile as hotspot?

lmfy2k

lmfy2k

lmfy2k

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Joined
12 Feb 2004
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Manchester
in a dilemma, would like to buy an ipad soon and thinking about getting it with Cellular. I have unlimited tether contract on my mobile contract (s3) so do you think it be just better using that when i out and about? or get an ipad with cellular built in? and get one of them t mobile year internet sims?

any experienced ipad users advice much appreciated!
 
I was in a similar situation and decided to get the the cellular version. I don't regret my decision one bit. My iPad gets a far better signal than my phone and it's so much less faff.
 
I went for the cellular version myself, like Tunney says much less of a faff and sometimes (well most actually!) my wife takes it so it would be too annoying having to keep setting up hotspots and all that. Also when I went to America I took it with me, got a AT&T sim with data on it and used it when about and also used it to tether to my phone and then used to call home via skype.

I usually get those three mobile sims preloaded, they work very well I find.
 
I went for a wifi iPad and tether. Seems like a no brained really.

If you have a phone that can do it, why not?

On the iPhone it's not a faff.
 
the cellaur version is £100 more than the wifi version

hence my dilemma

may just get the wifi version and hotspot when i need it
 
I went for the WiFi version and when on the move I use a 3 MiFi for internet. However, I think next time I will just go with the cellular option so I don't have to carry more than one device around.

I don't tether as I'm usually on long journeys and may not have access to a power point to charge the phone.
 
I also like having the separation between the devices; means I can use the GPS and data for routing on my ipad and still have juice in the phone at the end when I need to use it to actually make/receive calls and stuff without the battery in it being on its last legs.

Whether that convenience is worth the extra cost to you or not (not just in the 100 quid, but also in the extra sim tariffs) only you can really tell though.
 
Logsi said:
I went for a wifi iPad and tether. Seems like a no brained really.

If you have a phone that can do it, why not?

On the iPhone it's not a faff.
Click to expand...

Drains the phone battery and many providers don't let you tether so for someone like me would need to jailbreak my iPhone before I can tether to my iPad.
 
Realistically most people will keep an iPad for two years. So that's ~£4 a month extra for the device. In terms of a mobile provider 3 do some good deals and you can get that T-Mobile SIM for £10 with a years free internet on iPhone 4/4S but it works on the iPad if you activate it in an iPhone first.

So in terms of monthly price it can be done for less than £5 per month. You also save battery life / data allowance on your phone or don't have to carry a mifi.
 
I have found the Apple Maps turn by turn navigation to be excellent.
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+1. Think they have partnered with TomTom.

Get the iPad with Cellular & GPS, £100 more is worth it for something that you may keep for a couple of years.

Tethering is fine for occasional use with a laptop, but much of the iPad's beauty is in it's cellular capability, the flexibility it gives you is fantastic.

It's one of the most useful devices that I have bought. I also use mine for navigation.
 
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