IPad opinions?

[drewbles]

2 month old iPad - they'll most likely refer you to the Apple store. And I don't blame them either... Apple doesn't make life easy for retailers at all.

The law doesn't make life easy either. The retail store is legally obliged to deal with the issue.

Having said that, it may be quicker to deal directly with Apple.

Take it to an Apple Store.

You can quite happily take it to any Authorised Repair Centre, but why would you if you do have access to an Apple store.

Book an appointment at Apple Retail Store with a Genius Bar at a store near you for your iPad. Take it in, they'll see it's dead, and chances are, replace it on the spot. They keep separate stock of Service models to Sales models, so whilst they may not have stock available for sale, chances are they'll have Service stock.

The Genius Bar are a much easier solution than service centres if you can manage it.

 

[cove]

Thanks for the Genius lead at Apple.
I now have a new Ipad as the dead one was dead.
Call first to make an appointment.
I went standby for waiting and was helped by the alarm system going off which helped in creating a no show for an appointment.

 

[drewbles]

Thanks for the Genius lead at Apple.
I now have a new Ipad as the dead one was dead.
Call first to make an appointment.
I went standby for waiting and was helped by the alarm system going off which helped in creating a no show for an appointment.

You can book it online at that link I gave you.

If it's urgent and you can't get one online, you can go in and ask if they can fit you if there's a no show; they usually can.

 

[cove]

Yes Apple allow 20 minutes per appointment so that is possible most days.
Thanks for the help on this because we are travelling on Thursday thru Monday this week.

 

[munitalP]

You can book it online at that link I gave you.

If it's urgent and you can't get one online, you can go in and ask if they can fit you if there's a no show; they usually can.

Good tip Drew - if I need it in the future, it will save some heartache

cheers



munitalP

 

[ozavanti]

I'm looking to get an iPad on my trip OS at the end of the month, but haven't read much on peoples opinions as to whether to go for the 3G version vs Wifi only... anyone with thoughts?

 

[samh004]

I'm looking to get an iPad on my trip OS at the end of the month, but haven't read much on peoples opinions as to whether to go for the 3G version vs Wifi only... anyone with thoughts?

Thoughts other than the 500+ replies here?

Well to start with, do you already have an iPhone, and if you do, have you ever downloaded things on the go, when away from wifi? If you’ve had the experience, you’ll know the difference.

It depends what you’ll be doing with your iPad too, for the most part, videos, music, even books, can be done at home, synced from a computer, or on wifi. You can download so much literature you wont need to look for more while on the go.

The web though, well you’d need an internet connection for that.

 

[drewbles]

Thoughts other than the 500+ replies here?

Well to start with, do you already have an iPhone, and if you do, have you ever downloaded things on the go, when away from wifi? If you’ve had the experience, you’ll know the difference.

It depends what you’ll be doing with your iPad too, for the most part, videos, music, even books, can be done at home, synced from a computer, or on wifi. You can download so much literature you wont need to look for more while on the go.

The web though, well you’d need an internet connection for that.

And if you're travelling overseas through various countries, you'll need to keep in mind you'll need a micro SIM for the 3G iPad if you want access away from wifi.

Micro SIM's are getting easier to find, but you'll not get them in many places still. If you want to use a SIM in these places, I suggest you buy a micro SIM cutter like this one DealExtreme: $15.18 Stainless Steel Micro Sim Card Cutter with Micro Sim Card Adapters for Apple iPad/iPhone 4 (note it may take up to a month to arrive from these guys but they are cheap). You can then use that SIM on a decent data plan/pre-paid plan to use your iPad. You'll need to be a little tech-savvy to make some setting changes on the device when you do this though (Change the APN, it's easy enough to do you just need to know what it is).

As sam said, there's lots of responses here, and do a quick google search on your question. There's a dedicated AU Apple/Mac forum with people who will be able to help you on this stuff as well

 

[ozavanti]

Thoughts other than the 500+ replies here?

Thanks for the :shock:.... ummmm (sarcasm) reply Sam - i do understand what the iPad does and even have managed to be able to read.

Specifically i am trying to ascertain if people find themselves using the 3G functionality a lot vs just waiting until they find a wifi spot... which is something that i have not been able to find in online reviews.

Have owners of the iPad found that their use of the device after owning it for a period of time is different to what they expected it would be before purchase?

 

[markis10]

Thanks for the :shock:.... ummmm (sarcasm) reply Sam - i do understand what the iPad does and even have managed to be able to read.

Specifically i am trying to ascertain if people find themselves using the 3G functionality a lot vs just waiting until they find a wifi spot... which is something that i have not been able to find in online reviews.

Have owners of the iPad found that their use of the device after owning it for a period of time is different to what they expected it would be before purchase?

The 3G version does have GPS as well as the 3G capability which probably explains why the integrated 3G versions have been selling out very quickly. Sure you can tether the unit or use a router but you are going to impact the battery drain on two devices rather than one, which can make a difference on the road.

Please excuse some of our community members at times, they often forget to analyse the value add of their posts before submitting responses .

 

[simongr]

You'll need to be a little tech-savvy to make some setting changes on the device when you do this though (Change the APN, it's easy enough to do you just need to know what it is).

Not sure this is correct - I didnt have to do this when I took my iPad to NZ and got a micro sim there or when I cam ehome.

I am overwhelmed with how easy it was and how useful the iPad was in NZ on 3G.

Thanks for the :shock:.... ummmm (sarcasm) reply Sam - i do understand what the iPad does and even have managed to be able to read.

Specifically i am trying to ascertain if people find themselves using the 3G functionality a lot vs just waiting until they find a wifi spot... which is something that i have not been able to find in online reviews.

Have owners of the iPad found that their use of the device after owning it for a period of time is different to what they expected it would be before purchase?

I am very happy with the 3G - just makes like so much easier. I am on a post paid paid plan in Oz with 3 (my provider for iPhone service as well) and I get 2gig for $15/month due to being an existing customer.

I am using it everywhere - on the train, airports (QF do not make it that easy to connect in the QP). I will soon be handing back my Blackberry and if I have a meeting filled trip to the UK then I wont be taking my laptop AT ALL and will get prepaid sim in the UK and use webmail.

I just still wish there was a good and easy handwriting/stylus combination.

 

[drewbles]

Not sure this is correct - I didnt have to do this when I took my iPad to NZ and got a micro sim there or when I cam ehome.

I am overwhelmed with how easy it was and how useful the iPad was in NZ on 3G.

I should have worded that with 'it helps to be tech savvy'.

You're right of course. Most SIM cards should have the APN correctly set and 'just work'

 

[markis10]

You're right of course. Most SIM cards should have the APN correctly set and 'just work'

Unless a provider has two APNs or more, one for prepaid and one for postpaid for instance.

The other important question of course is where are you going to use it, a 3 SIM is useless for regional operations despite the merger with Voda, that may change but then again the Voda network has its weaknesses as well.

 

[drewbles]

Unless a provider has two APNs or more, one for prepaid and one for postpaid for instance.

The other important question of course is where are you going to use it, a 3 SIM is useless for regional operations despite the merger with Voda, that may change but then again the Voda network has its weaknesses as well.

SIM's should store the APN in their profile. Carriers often will setup different SIM cards for retail purposes, and each will have the right APN.

Of course if you change from pre-paid to post-paid or vice versa, the APN will change and you'll need to do it manually (or apply a carrier update via iTunes if that is available).

The question was about travelling with it, so I assumed overseas. If in AU, Telstra is the way. Their data plans are actually competitive (I just swapped back to them after a nearly 10 year absence) and they're now reasonably priced and *very* fast.

 

[markis10]

The question was about travelling with it, so I assumed overseas. If in AU, Telstra is the way. Their data plans are actually competitive (I just swapped back to them after a nearly 10 year absence) and they're now reasonably priced and *very* fast.

Ironically their iPAD pricing is 50% cheaper than their normal SIM rates, I wonder how long it will last!

 

[drewbles]

Ironically their iPAD pricing is 50% cheaper than their normal SIM rates, I wonder how long it will last!

Considering their new Next caps they recently released for iPhone 4 and other HTC handsets, i'd say David Thodey has had enough of losing customers and decided to be competitive, unlike Sol. I'd say they're here to stay!

 

[oz_mark]

Considering their new Next caps they recently released for iPhone 4 and other HTC handsets, i'd say David Thodey has had enough of losing customers and decided to be competitive, unlike Sol. I'd say they're here to stay!

Bigpond have been lowering prices and/or raising the limits across many of its plans in the last few months.

 

[markis10]

Bigpond have been lowering prices and/or raising the limits across many of its plans in the last few months.

AFAIK Bigpond dont do iPAD, only telstra (which means no free sites ).

 

[serfty]

OT:

I have certainly noted the $180* per month unlimited deal with Telstra Business post-paid that was to expure July 31st is still being offerred.

*$150 if BYO phone.

 

[oz_mark]

AFAIK Bigpond dont do iPAD, only telstra (which means no free sites ).

Telstra have been dropping prices as well, largely in step with Big Pond.