Really, that is not a lot of money. I suppose that everyone's definition of what constitutes "a lot" is different, but, if you're living in a modern western country, and you have a job, even a low paying job, you can probably afford $30 per month for anywhere, always on Internet, if you really want.
Do you ever order pizza? A large, multi topping pizza, with a side or two, and a soda will cost over $20 with tax and tip. Cut out one pizza per month. Problem solved. If you aren't working, then you're probably at home a lot, so Wi-Fi will work just fine for you. I think that some people would be upset with a free lunch, because someone else wasn't going to eat it for them. Your cell phone, with a good calling package, unlimited texts, and an unlimited data plan can cost well over $100. People pay $60 - $80 for broadband at their home. Seriously, if you can't afford an average of $20 to access the Internet from anywhere on a futuristic touch-controlled tablet computer, then said computer is probably not really in your budget in the first place. I'd prefer to be able to tether, but I understand why I can't. Further, why would I want to? I have a Nokia phone, and it has an app that will run it as a mobile hot spot for its 3G data connection. I could use that with the iPad's Wi-Fi, but I won't do that. There is a huge battery in the iPad. Browsing via my phone's 3G connection would suck up that little phone battery before the iPad had barely begun to drain. And my phone has a really good battery. The number one problem with the iPhone is the poor battery. How long do you really think that your iPhone would last as a wireless hot spot? Besides, who wants to bother with starting up phone hot spot apps or getting some cell company hot spot setup and connected every time they need to check something quickly on their iPad? I'd rather just take it out, turn it on, do what I have to do, and put it away. Unlike a laptop, the iPad doesn't need to waste time going in to, or coming out of, hibernate. It is immediately on and immediately connected. Messing around with tethering solutions takes all of that quick and easy on/off advantage away. It isn't always worth saving a dollar to waste your time. Bryan -----Original Message----- From: macvisionaries@googlegroups.com [mailto:macvisionar...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Cody Sent: Wednesday, April 07, 2010 5:20 PM To: macvisionaries@googlegroups.com Subject: Re: considering an iPad but have questions Do you realize how big your bill would be if you did a pay as you go? as I said, the iPad will bring many other things e.g. apps, 3g service and other things that might cost you more than the device ----- Original Message ----- From: Chris Blouch <mailto:cblo...@aol.com> To: macvisionaries@googlegroups.com Sent: Wednesday, April 07, 2010 5:15 PM Subject: Re: considering an iPad but have questions Data plans are required for the iPhone. It's only the iPad that lets you go ala carte with ATT. Must be pretty bad service if you're willing to pay 2-4x for Verizon to avoid ATT. Not unsurprising though. I know one person that used to have to leave their apartment and go to a nearby shopping center before she got service, and that was just for phone calls, not to mention any 3G data service. CB Larry Wanger wrote: I understand the iPad data plans and their costs. However, I'm not a fan of AT&T, I have found places with terrible 3G access and I don't want to pay them for 2 data plans. I'd ultimately like to cancel the iPhone data plan if it is possible and just have the Verizon Mifi for data. However, my question is whether or not the data plans are required for the iPhone and or if they have a lower priced option even if it has data limits. Thanks. -----Original Message----- From: macvisionaries@googlegroups.com [mailto:macvisionar...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Ricardo Walker Sent: Wednesday, April 07, 2010 2:05 PM To: macvisionaries@googlegroups.com Subject: Re: considering an iPad but have questions Hi, The data plans for the iPad are pay as you go. There is no contract. You can get the $15 250MB plan as well as the $30 umlimited plan. hth On Apr 7, 2010, at 4:52 PM, Larry Wanger wrote: Hi, So, I think I'm going to get an iPad but have data related questions. While wifi is probably a good option, the fact is that free and reliable wifi is not as available as we might hope. I often find myself on the train, a bus, waiting at a business, Etc. where wifi is not available. Both the iPhone and iPad are very data centric devices and most of the apps I use require an Internet connection. Therefore, I can easily see situations where the lack of Internet access is going to be a problem. Yet, I absolutely hate the idea of paying for a data plan with AT&T when I'm already doing so with the iPhone. My iPhone is not jail broken so tethering really isn't a good option for me. I've looked at purchasing a mifi from Verizon as another option. The cost is $50 after a rebate and either $40 or $60 per month on a 2 year agreement depending on the data plan I want. I'm finding that I'm very mobile and not at home much of the time now days and am considering canceling or sharply cutting back on my broadband costs there so that would offset the cost of the access through a mifi. For those who don't know, the mifi is a device a bit larger than a credit card that provides Internet access via the Verizon 3G network. Ultimately, there is a question here which relates to the requirement of having a data plan on the iPhone. Is a data plan required? Does AT&T offer a limited data plan at a lower cost or is the $30 unlimited plan my only choice. I really don't want to pay for multiple data plans if I can get out of it. Thanks for any thoughts. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. 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