I am sitting here in a doctor’s office with time to kill and no broadband. I spent a half hour on Google Reader on my Android Phone and now I’m seeing things blurry from straining my eyes too long. Wouldn’t it have been great if I had the iPad with a 3G connection?
Not really. I had my MacBook with me, so what I really needed is a 3G connection not a third device. And 3G connections costs money which I can’t justify based upon the amount I would use it with my laptop (only occasionally). I already have a $100 bill for my cellphone out of which probably $40 can be attributed to the data connection.
For me, and I suspect for a lot of people, the iPad is going to come down to how they answer these questions:
– Of the three devices – smart phone, laptop and tablet – do I need all three or will two do? I can see some people saying I need to stay with my company’s Windows laptop but I’d really love to have something from Apple for browsing, entertainment and light work, which is most of what I do at home. iPad could be it for those people.
– But for most people just three devices will be too many. If two will do, what are those two devices? My guess is the iPad is not going to find a place in the top two, too often.
– How many 3G connections can I afford and which devices should have them?
On the second point, Apple can’t do much. It also doesn’t need to since it practically owns the smart phone category and has a growing MacBook franchise.
But the cost of 3G plans is a big hurdle for the iPad. And with its clout with mobile operators, it can do something about it.
I think that it’s safe to say that without a 3G connection, the iPad is much less useful. It then becomes more of a bulky iPod – a gaming and entertainment device that you can’t put in your pocket – than a constant companion that saves you from squinting at your smartphone screen while waiting in doctors’ offices.
But if every 3G connection is going to cost me $30 to $60 extra, I don’t think it works, at least for my MCIM (middle-class Indian mentality).
But it doesn’t have to be that way. Why can’t I get a 3G plan that is just variable – it bills me by the MB across all devices I use?
Now that’s a plan that would make it easier for me to go for the iPad. I’d probably still wait for the price to come down and the specs to go up, which will happen in a year for sure.
Update: But maybe the iPad is actually a Kindle replacement, except that it can turn many tricks that the Kindle can’t. Really? A backlit screen for reading books? Not for me, though. And someone who agrees with me.
Photo Matt Buchanan
6 am pacific 
I guess AT&T is offering a limited dataplan (<250MB) for $15.
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As somebody said "The Ipad is a netbook without the usable keyboard. It is an Iphone without the phone. It is a games machine that can't do graphics well. It is an e-book reader without the e-ink to make the print easy to see. In short, it is the veritable chocolate teapot of hardware…."
BTW— Why can't we connect our IPhone to the Ipad and get 3G?
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@Sarvesh – Tethering is typically not allowed. But if it is, why not allow it from multiple devices for the same account? Per MB pricing would make it so much easier.
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the key is the corporate-employees market.. which is getting into virtually a huge issues with data security etc including ur smartphone.. with the way things are moving on.. this market would buy ipad to stay connected in the virtual-social world with somehting like ipad and take it wherever they go… ha.. i cant believe i just wrote a point for Apple…
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@kannan – interesting take. But if the company is not paying for it – iPad and 3G – will the offtake be anywhere close to the iPhone?
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the key is the corporate-employees market.. which is getting into virtually a huge issues with data security etc including ur smartphone.. with the way things are moving on.. this market would buy ipad to stay connected in the virtual-social world with somehting like ipad and take it wherever they go… ha.. i cant believe i just wrote a point for Apple…
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Couple of things that I miss most in iPad
– Camera (hence no option for video chatting)
– USB port (looks like it was so obvious that they forgot about it)
– Still no multi tasking! Isn't iphone getting enough flak for this, already.
iPod reminds me of the first year of iPod launch. It was criticized too for lack of features. SanDisk and Creative already had MP3 players in the market and iPod was no better than either in feature to feature comparison. But then came iTunes store and iPod was a hit. So its all about the content! I am pretty sure that Steve & co is busy working out creative deals with publishers and media houses…
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¡¦m not so sure, as everyone else is, that this essentially kills the Kindle right away. It¡¦ll actually create anyone considering buying a Kindle hold off till the iPad is released. However Apple only indicated that the battery life would be 10 hours, and didn¡¦t say whether or not it¡¦d be to any extent further if you¡¦re just using it to browse iBooks. To me, the fact that you’ll go an entire week without needing to charge your Kindle is its big selling purpose, and what makes it better for travel. I can hang on to mine for now however I¡¦ll be interested to see.
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At last the much awaited Apple tablet is out please don't listen to does critics who are ready to produce than to condemn the only technological company that is willing to give the masses what they need, the unique features of this iPad is some thing you can't be heard from people rather you need to experience it
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