Hi Chris The microSIM that goes into the iPad will let you access data, but it won't work as a phone. The iPad doesn't have any "phone features". Though if you install Skype on it, then you can use a headset to "make a call". However, on a SIM network, you'd want to watch the costing. As though the Skype to Skype call would be free, you're still using SIM network data, and that can add up. Although the iPad does have Mail (similar to OSX), you can't just copy your Mail folder over to it and have it access it. You have to remember that's it's not "really a computer" in the way that you can grab and move files to locations like OSX. Long day and I can't really think off the top of my head, how you'd get your InBox over. Bar sending it all to yourself again. Not sure even saving it as an .mbox file archive and sending it would work really either. Would need to test that. But yes, you'd certainly be able to set it up with Mail, so you could get "new mail" and reply to them. Also, the above depends on whether you're using POP or IMAP setup for email. One is easier to work with the other. Most of my accounts are IMAP for ease of use and access to past email from all devices. (Though I really use it more just for daily emails across all devices and the laptop as the main device).
In answer to your PS upgrade query. Odds on yes you'll see "something" upgraded by September. That's a long way away,..so pretty good odds. Exactly what it will be,..only Apple will know. (And some of the rumour sites once they look around,...lol). MacRumors run a "reasonable" Buyers Guide, which gives you an idea when things *MAY* get upgraded. <http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/> Bear in mind, it's all based on rumours and past upgrade times/life spans of products. You have to take it with a grain of salt and work out when you "need" to upgrade. If you look at the last MacBookPro upgrade they said it would be upgraded early January. Lots of people waited. And it didn't show until March/April. That's around 2-3 months "waiting". The "it's going to happen next week", went on for quite a few weeks. Unfortunately like anything in the computer/electronic industry (and others),..there's always something better just around the corner. And no matter when or what you buy,..something will always change. You just have to the homework and work out how long you want to wait, how much you want to spend, how much you need or want it, and how much are you better off upgrading now versus waiting. (eg some industries waiting for an upgrade slows down production. Upgrade now and risk it not being the latest and greatest versus time and money saved in speed of production etc,.. May outweigh the time spent waiting even longer.. (Hope all that makes sense. I know what I mean,..it's sometimes just a matter of trying to get that into intelligible English,..lol) :o) Hope that helps somewhat. Kind Regards Daniel On 27/6/10 10:23 AM, "Chris Burton" <c...@it.net.au> wrote: > > Hi Robin, Daniel and Alex > > Thankyou all very much for your very helpful suggestions regarding > maintaining email contact while in Europe. > > Daniel, you say I can buy and install a local sim card into the ipad? > That sounds great, and does it mean it can be used as a phone, and as > a 'laptop' to do my emails? Does it have the Mail application on > there, and if so could I transfer my Mail 'inbox' etc from my laptop > onto the ipad so that I would then have an uninterrupted mail trail, > and could refer to previous emails if need be? > > If not how would email work on the ipad? > > I had thought of using Westnet's web mail while away, but like you > said am limited to internet cafes and having access to another > computer. I could set up the web mail to store all incoming and > outgoing messages until I get back, then access them through Mail so I > would have that continuous thread I spoke of? > > Robin and Alex your advice on the phone is greatly appreciated, as I > had thought of using a phone (would like an iphone) but agree that > telstra's roaming is not that good, and expensive. > > If like Daniel says I could put a Sim in the ipad and use Mail I would > be laughing. > > I will have to think about everything a little more and do some > investigating > > Kind regards and thanks heaps > > Chris > > PS is there any likelihood of upgrades to any of apple's gear by > September, ie another big media event? > > > On 26/06/2010, at 5:14 PM, Robin Belford wrote: > >> >> Just got back from a month in France. >> All hotels I stayed in, in many parts of the country, had free >> internet connectivity, mostly WiFi, in all rooms. >> Telstra Roaming had issues with congested networks in Paris, i.e. >> every day from noon to 6 pm my iPhone would have no service, fine >> every where else in the country. (Telstra have had no sensible or >> intelligent comment on this issue.) >> >> If you have an iPad take that otherwise if you have the fortitude >> and the space, take your laptop, a laptop is the most convenient >> option for managing your photos, posting to web sites, etc. >> Don't plan on buying an iPad in France unless you want to pay more, >> as they are more expensive there than here. >> If your phone is unlocked you can easily get a prepaid SIM from >> Orange or an other carrier in France, there are three carriers. >> You can buy an unlocked iPhone 4 in France right now. >> >> hope this helps. >> >> regards, >> >> Robin >> >> On 26/06/2010, at 1:18 PM, Daniel Kerr wrote: >> >>> >>> Um. Not entirely correct I'm afraid. Not all iPhones are sold >>> "unlocked" by >>> default. If you buy the iPhone on contract then some of the phone >>> companies >>> lock them to their network, and you have to pay to get it "unlocked". >>> Certainly if you buy the iPhone outright from some places, then yes >>> it is >>> unlocked for any network. But you have to make sure before you buy >>> it. >>> The iPad is unlocked for any network. >>> >>> If you're mostly looking at the email point of view Chris, then I >>> think >>> you'd be fine with an iPad. It will handle your email perfectly and >>> they >>> work very well. And you'll find you use it more and more for lots >>> of other >>> things as well. >>> Either the WiFi model would be fine (depending on situations) or if >>> you >>> wanted to cover all your bases then the WiFi+3G would be better. >>> That way, >>> as other have said previously and here also, you can buy a local >>> SIM to keep >>> your costings down. If you're in a hotel or café (or anywhere) that >>> has >>> WiFi, then that's always your best option as it will be a lot >>> cheaper. But >>> if you're out and about and wanted to just double check something, >>> or send >>> an urgent reply then you know you've got the 3G to cover that as >>> well. >>> >>> They are very lightweight and compact, yet the larger screen makes >>> it much >>> easier for emails etc. The iPhone is good, but for some things, the >>> iPad is >>> just that much better. >>> >>> Your other option also, if you're watching your costings, is to >>> just use >>> webmail. Most hotels (or internet cafés) should have computers that >>> you can >>> use for a little cost, then log into your webmail to check emails >>> and reply. >>> Yes, you don't have the convenience to do it when you want to (or >>> as private >>> or back in your hotel room etc), but it's one less cost. So that >>> can be an >>> option as well. And sometimes easier as you then spend more time on >>> your >>> "holiday" and less time always "just wanting to check that one last >>> time for >>> an email". (Or maybe that's just the work-a-holic in me,...) :o) >>> (Besides,..remind me again,..what's this thing you call >>> a,...um....a...holiday?) :o)) >>> >>> Hope that helps. >>> >>> Kind Regards >>> Daniel >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On 26/6/10 1:04 PM, "Alexander Hartner" <a...@j2anywhere.com> wrote: >>> >>>> >>>> You are in luck. iPad and iPhones in Australia are sold unlocked, >>>> so you can >>>> always get a local sim card with some data on and use that then >>>> the expensive >>>> hotel wifi. >>>> >>>> Really depend how many emails you got to send / receive. The >>>> iPhone is great >>>> for on the road, but not ideal for daily work. The iPad and the >>>> Air are >>>> better, but obviously much larger. While traveling you might be >>>> tempted to >>>> take some photos, again here the iPhone is very nice. The iPhone 4 >>>> is already >>>> available in Europe and should be coming out in July (maybe. who >>>> knows) here >>>> as well. >>>> >>>> Definitely go with a local sim card as it's cheaper and also works >>>> outside the >>>> hotel. >>>> >>>> Alex >>>> >>>> On 26 Jun 2010, at 12:49, Chris Burton wrote: >>>> >>>>> >>>>> Good afternoon muggers >>>>> >>>>> We are heading to France and Italy for a first time holiday in >>>>> September with >>>>> some friends, all of whom have never been there. Should be great >>>>> however... >>>>> >>>>> I am worried that I wont be able to keep up with work commitments >>>>> back in Oz >>>>> via email over there, and would like some advice from some seasoned >>>>> travellers about how I can best do that, by either taking a light >>>>> weight mac >>>>> laptop (Air), or perhaps an iphone or ipad? >>>>> >>>>> At the moment I use Mail on a macbook pro (10.5.8) but am not >>>>> sure if an ipad >>>>> would allow me to use that software? Im thinking I will need >>>>> something light >>>>> to carry around, and not be an obvious target for those pesky >>>>> thieves ie an >>>>> iphone or ipad or possibly the Air? Or just take my trusty >>>>> MacBook Pro and >>>>> use in hotels when ever I have internet. >>>>> >>>>> I see from some previous posts there are pros and cons with using >>>>> a phone >>>>> overseas. Some recommend actually buying a local Simm card to put >>>>> in the >>>>> phone. >>>>> >>>>> I just dont know which would be the most convenient and effective >>>>> way to >>>>> proceed on this. >>>>> >>>>> Thanks for any suggestions and kind regards to all. >>>>> >>>>> Chris >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- >>>>> Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> >>>>> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> >>>>> Unsubscribe - <mailto:wamug-unsubscr...@wamug.org.au> >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- >>>> Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> >>>> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> >>>> Unsubscribe - <mailto:wamug-unsubscr...@wamug.org.au> >>>> >>> >>> --- >>> Daniel Kerr >>> MacWizardry >>> >>> Phone: 0414 795 960 >>> Email: <daniel @ macwizardry . com . au> >>> Web: <http://www.macwizardry.com.au> >>> >>> >>> **For everything Macintosh** >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- >>> Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> >>> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> >>> Unsubscribe - <mailto:wamug-unsubscr...@wamug.org.au> >>> >> >> >> >> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- >> Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> >> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> >> Unsubscribe - <mailto:wamug-unsubscr...@wamug.org.au> >> > > > > -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- > Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> > Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> > Unsubscribe - <mailto:wamug-unsubscr...@wamug.org.au> > --- Daniel Kerr MacWizardry Phone: 0414 795 960 Email: <daniel @ macwizardry . com . au> Web: <http://www.macwizardry.com.au> **For everything Macintosh** -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> Unsubscribe - <mailto:wamug-unsubscr...@wamug.org.au>
