IPad opinions?

[Skoogle]

Depends on what 3G frequencies will be supported, optus use 900MHz and 2100Mhz HSPA.

I recall hearing about the iPad using a MicroSIM, which are not readily available.

 

[Mal]

I recall hearing about the iPad using a MicroSIM, which are not readily available.

Wiki does back that up. I hadn't even heard of Micro-Sim until you mentioned that, and had to scurry to find out more information about it.

Also, in the iPAD write-up it does indicate that it will be unlocked, but in the U.S, you will be pushed towards buying AT&T plans.

markis10 does make a good point - Hopefully the iPad will be quad band (or whatever is required these days) to be a truly global 3G device. Other phone and device manufacturers can do it, and the parts required aren't significant!

 

[samh004]

I'm thinking of pre-ordering an iPad for pickup when I'm in the USA in early April. They are available in USA 3 April, Australia is slated as 'late April')

If I buy the Wi-Fi + 3G direct from Apple (Apple - iPad - Get your hands on iPad. On day one.) is it going to work with the Optus network when I get it home?

I'm thinking that it might come locked to a US network.

Thoughts appreciated.

I recall hearing about the iPad using a MicroSIM, which are not readily available.

As has been mentioned, only the Wifi models will be available in April, while the 3G models use MicroSIM so you need to get a MicroSIM from your carrier to use the 3G.

It also appears that AT&T will have a built-in app that allows users to switch between the 250MB and unlimited plan and also see how much usage they have gone through. No doubt when it’s released in Australia the carriers here will have a similar system.

See here for more details.

Wiki does back that up. I hadn't even heard of Micro-Sim until you mentioned that, and had to scurry to find out more information about it.

Also, in the iPAD write-up it does indicate that it will be unlocked, but in the U.S, you will be pushed towards buying AT&T plans.

I believe the issue is that Verizon operated on a different band and they don’t offer MicroSIM, but AT&T does.

 

[ozscot]

Radio wise, there's presently only one type if iPhone sold around the world so presumably the iPad will be the same and will work here. The iPhone is quad band GSM and tri-band 3G (850, 1900, 2100) It doesn't work with whatever T-Mobile use for their 3G frequency.

Verizon doesn't use GSM at all so none of their handsets will be supported here.

The iPad uses a microSIM card which I'm not sure is available from any of the local networks. Interestingly this has exactly the same electrical connections as a regular SIM card and there's accounts online of people physically trimming their SIM cards to microSIM format if you're game!

They've not announced any iPad 3G plans here yet. They're unlocked, contract free and pretty cheap in the US for unlimited so hopefully we'll get some correspondingly good plans here too. It's not known if you'll be able to buy these plans on their own though if you bring your own iPad. I'd think probably but who knows.

Another option for 3G wireless is to use a non-3G iPad with a MiFi. This connects to 3G and provides a personal mini Wi-Fi hotspot. I've got the Virgin one available from **** Smith on PAYG. Works really well and lets you hook up multiple devices at once - so could connect laptop, iPhone, iPad, wife's iWhatever etc all at once. It also uses a regular SIM card so easy to swap out when traveling overseas to a local PAYG data SIM though is an extra little gadget to carry,
charge up etc.

Given the exchange rate, I'd buy one myself if traveling in the States at this time.

Cheers,
Steve.

 

[simongr]

They've not announced any iPad 3G plans here yet. They're unlocked, contract free and pretty cheap in the US for unlimited so hopefully we'll get some correspondingly good plans here too. It's not known if you'll be able to buy these plans on their own though if you bring your own iPad. I'd think probably but who knows.

I seriously doubt that there will be a decent plan available for the iPad given how bad the internet plans are here in Oz.

I am tempted to buy my iPad in the US when I am there as I assume it will be marginally cheaper. I still can't decide on wifi only or 3G. I am currently paying $79 with 1G of data for my iPhone and am loathe to cop another 30-40 per month for the iPad.

Just looking at the wi-fi option through Virgin - it is an nice idea. Pricing though looks a bit rough.

Modem - $199
Monthly $15-$30 for .5/1G of data

If the iPad sells with a plan that has .5G for $15/month I will be very tempted. Above that and I will have to consider sticking to wi-fi only and possibly jail breaking the iPhone to use that as a mobile hotspot...

 

[Mal]

Modem - $199
Monthly $15-$30 for .5/1G of data

That's horridly expensive for data. Optus do have some ok options in the prepaid space for their Broadband Wireless plans - eg 9.2Gb with 6 months validity for $130 +$30 Sim cost (incl 1Gb in 30 days). But they seem to meter the data weirdly (incl charging for uploads and downloads). Also, 3G coverage on Optus isn't superb.

3 also offer 12Gb with 12 months validity for $150 - but again coverage isn't that great and if you go outside of their coverage and are roaming - then it really starts to cost big $.

 

[simongr]

My current provider is 3 and I find where I go the coverage is fine and they have some good overseas arrangements for calls in some countries but data is very expensive overseas.

I just wish Apple would pull their fingers out and announce Oz pricing and data plans.

 

[markis10]

Radio wise, there's presently only one type if iPhone sold around the world so presumably the iPad will be the same and will work here. The iPhone is quad band GSM and tri-band 3G (850, 1900, 2100) It doesn't work with whatever T-Mobile use for their 3G frequency.


Cheers,
Steve.

Not sure if the IPAD will use the same radio as its likely to be a slot in card, hopefully that will mean 900MHz 3G is supported otherwise Optus/Virgin/Boost users will have no data outside of metro areas. Voda have confirmed microSIM support and stock for the launch while Optus are testing, Telstra is a maybe??

 

[Skyring]

I have no interest in purchasing iPhones, iPods, iPads, Macs, iNotebooks, iTablets or whatever else is produced by Apple.

That sounds like someone caring too much.

Apple, like any other major player in the computer industry, has had its ups and downs. Its lovers and haters. Sometimes lagging behind the technology, loving when they should be hating and vice versa.

Sun, *nix, MS, IBM, Apple - all at one stage thought they would rule the world and their competitors crumble before them. Hasn't happened. Won't happen.

Computers are like cars. Or beer. Or cigarettes. Or politicians. Or football teams. The brand loyalty is artificial because the products are far more similar than they are different.

The various brands cannot and will not capture all the market, so they focus on different niches. Apple happens to aim for the educated, high-end, artistic market. That doesn't mean that a night cabbie like me can't use their products, just that I'm not their target audience.

I see the same deal here. Qantas, United, Lufthansa etc. They all get you from A to B and your bags to C. Realistically, any differences between airlines are minor. You get more difference between First and Economy than you get between Tiger and Lufthansa. Which is why we see frequent flyer programs.

A strong declaration for or heated rejection of a particular brand in a tight marketplace says more about the person than the brand, I think. And often it's just a matter of happenstance. Your parents raised you in one religion out of dozens, or your first vote was for one party out of two, so you just kept on doing the same thing. If you aren't careful, you wind up becoming the products you support.

Like me. Might as well tattoo my Qantas FF number on my forehead.

 

[ozscot]

Modem - $199
Monthly $15-$30 for .5/1G of data

I got this when it launched and they had an offer on. Can't remember the details but it's PAYG and was something like $80 for 5Gb, maybe 10Gb which doesn't expire for 12 months. I've not had to recharge since as only use it occasionally when no WiFi is available. I guess that shows that a WiFi model will be fine for me.

Once you've recharged $80 bucks or thereabouts Virgin will give you an unlock code so you could use a different SIM card in the device if you wanted to. There's a large thread on this on Whirlpool if interested.

Cheers,
Steve.

 

[Skyring]

I am not thinking so much about what the iPad can't do - more what it will do.

And finally as much as the name is not good I stopped making tampon jokes when I was 12.

So many people said when it was announced, "Didn't Apple have a woman on the naming team?"

As if a product taking years to develop, manufacture and market didn't have every angle of the names scrutinised. I think Apple was well aware of the lame jokes that could be made, but rightly figured out they'd fade.

I'm all for it, actually. I love my iPhone, but the tiny touch keyboard is not good for entering text, and though the display is crystal clear, it's hard to watch movies or videos on with full satisfaction.

But the best part about it is the size. Just right for reading books. If they get the implementation right, this will kill Kindle - a book-viewer that can do a lot of other stuff. Really good for flights long and short.

 

[samh004]

If they get the implementation right, this will kill Kindle - a book-viewer that can do a lot of other stuff. Really good for flights long and short.

I’m thinking it’ll kill the Kindle very quickly, especially as Kindle sales are estimated to be 1.5 million so far, while Apple sold 50,000 within 2 hours of pre-sales!

 

[samh004]

For anyone seriously considering an iPad, or discounting it’s capabilities, the first video has been posted (if your computer slows down it might be on HD) and it looks pretty cool.

Also a few reviews have pegged the battery life above 10 hours for watching video, one even saying it got 12 hours

 

[Mal]

Some mixed reviews of the Ipad Apple's promising iPad revolution starts with a whimper

What I am impressed with is the battery life. I didn't think it would be that high.

 

[djfuzz]

Some mixed reviews of the Ipad Apple's promising iPad revolution starts with a whimper

What I am impressed with is the battery life. I didn't think it would be that high.

The reviews have been anything but mixed.

I was pretty disgusted when I saw this article - basically the equivalent of a NoNews QF bashing article. Regardless of the number of people at the store at 4pm (obviously low as they were warned away by security until after 5pm), by all accounts the launch was huge. And despite cherry picking the few negative comments from each review, most of the reviews have been overwhelmingly positive.

That said there is one unforgivable flaw - they haven't announced the local release date yet!

[edit] A counterpoint also from Fairfax:
http://www.theage.com.au/digital-li...tten-with-ipad-20100402-rj6d.html?autostart=1

 

[markis10]

I think the "late april" announcement is because they are not really sure how much stock will be available, judging by the early reports and the great battery life I would not be surprised if its delayed again owing to stock issues.

 

[Mal]

I always get a laugh out of the "Will it Blend?" series of videos.

Here's the one for the IPAD:

YouTube - Will It Blend? - iPad

 

[djfuzz]

I think that was a foregone conclusion - surprised it fit in the blender though (that was cheating a little )!

PCWorld also did a stress test which shows that it's not as hardy as the iPhone - as you'd expect given the much increased surface area.

Apple iPad Stress Tests - PCWorld

 

[samh004]

Well they announced they sold 300,000 over launch weekend, so as long as they have good supplies, they should have enough for a worldwide launch I think.

 

[simongr]

I am liking the review so far. I just want local pricing so I can work out whether I buy this in SYD/LON or NYC...

However I still can't decide on 3G or not - that will be determined by local pricing sadly..