Ipad 2 >>> 3G or not 3G ?? that is the question

[nigelandjan]

Hi all techi buffs

Ok hands up I am Mr clueless as regards mobile internet in Thailand ,, and as we are on the cusp of spending some serious spondolacks on a 9 by 7 inch bit of kit I would like some advice as to the one to buy , so we get it right first time . Money ISNT the issue here , getting the right bit of kit is .
Now allthough our main base in Thailand is reet ooop north in the hot Issan dust about 45 mins N/E of Udon ( 17 Mins if my police captain BIL is driving ) we also travel around a hell of a lot ,, so whatever we have it needs to do the business in a variety of area,s . Presumably we need a Thai dongle etc to hook up , so now is this where the 3G bit comes in ??

If anyone can explain in lorry drivers lingo a bit about 3G / wi-fi / ipad 2 - 3G or not 3G ??
I would very much appreciate it

[harrybarracuda]

Look on the Android thread about the Acer Honeycomb tablet.

[nigelandjan]

Looks like I am not alone in this 3G or not 3G ipad 2 mystery ,,,,24 hours 42 views and not one reply ,,, mystical

[harrybarracuda]

Looks like I am not alone in this 3G or not 3G ipad 2 mystery ,,,,24 hours 42 views and not one reply ,,, mystical

I take that back, maybe the iPad and you are made for each other.

[Butterfly]

if you don't know the difference, then you shouldn't even consider the iPad with 3G

get the regular iPad, it will be enough to look like a retard, no need to add 3G for that

[Blake7]

^the question is, do you have wifi in your home/office? If so then get a wifi only ipad.

[larvidchr]

^ Yes thats the point, if you need it to be able to connect to the net independently everywhere you go out in the sticks etc., then you need the 3G, if it is only to connect to WiFi networks where available, home, hotels, airports then the WiFi option is enough.

[Blake7]

But is there 3G coverage in the sticks?

[Travelmate]

If exclusively for home use then just get the WiFi iPad.

But if you intend to wander around gay bars and coffee shops like Butterfly then get the 3G. HOWEVER 3G in Thailand is not yet nationwide.

So if I were you and I'm not, I would get the WiFi iPad and leave it on the coffee table to collect dust.

[Butterfly]

^^ probably not, so no point for taking 3G

[larvidchr]

^ Yes thats the point, if you need it to be able to connect to the net independently everywhere you go out in the sticks etc., then you need the 3G, if it is only to connect to WiFi networks where available, home, hotels, airports then the WiFi option is enough.

But is there 3G coverage in the sticks?

Sorry - yes where there are 3G coverage of cause, I suppose that is steadily expanding.

[Little Chuchok]

Go for the 3g. Great product.

[nigelandjan]

if you don't know the difference, then you shouldn't even consider the iPad with 3G

get the regular iPad, it will be enough to look like a retard, no need to add 3G for that

And if you can contribute nothing more usefull than that to a perfectly sensible question / request that may also be of use to other members ,,,,,,,,,butt the fuck off out of it

[nigelandjan]

Thanks Lardv ,thats what I was looking for ,infact I did make the point in my OP it would be used as we go a roaming as we do ,, I neither have or ever would an office with a fixed line

[funfun123]

Thanks Lardv ,thats what I was looking for ,infact I did make the point in my OP it would be used as we go a roaming as we do ,, I neither have or ever would an office with a fixed line

i havent had an i pad yet, one of the things that puts me off i had an early version of the iphone when they first came out and altho it is a terrific gadget over here i was plauged with problems with it, thai sim card getting locked out cos i went online and it connected with itunes or somthing in america, trhat wiped out everything on the phone.

now again everytime somthing has a problem your taking it back to an iphone type shop to get ripped off again, real hard work.

just another thing may interest you to look at the ipad dosnt have a usb port (i think) so just putting films music programs from your own collection now wont be that easy, they may be ways around it, but most stuff these days have a usb port.

if your gonna get one id prob get the best 1 if price isnt an object cos sonner or later you will be in an area with 3 g etc, and not forgetting the resale value with it on.

keep us in formed if ya get one, it may persude or otherwise on weather i get one.

chris

[blue]

Well, as the pros are quiet on this one I'll throw my very amateur view in.

Unless you got your heart set on the touch screen ipad,
you might consider just getting a netbook- same size screen as an ipad , but with a proper full size keyboard and folding lid, so it props up on the table or your lap nicely, and you can use a mouse or the touchpad .

I have a Toshiba one which has 10 hour battery ,like the ipad.

It connects to wifi hotspots ,or you can buy a dongle to get broadband internet access, probably best to get a pay as you go one , so if your coverage is bad you're not tied into a contract .
.Have not taken it to Thailand yet, but in Britain it works like this ,you buy a dongle, then pay for the data allowance , and top up when it expires,unless you download big files, like movies, it's a reasonable cost .

[nigelandjan]

Chris this is the ipad2 so I think its gone throu the pre gremlin stage .
My mate here has got one and its a beaut , its great as its so portable .
I think you will find also Chris the ipad2 will dock via an Apple lead to usb into your lappy , so transfer / download etc is not an issue.
Blue we have between us 2 notebooks ,, 1 netbook and use them wi-fi etc infact we took the netbook on our last hol with us MSN,d back home to Thailand etc uploaded facebook pics etc but it is soooo slow compared to the ipad2 .
Now I think you will find the lid/cover you have to buy seperately acts /doubles as a rest for it , the guy infront of me on the plane had it on his seat tray for most of the 8 hours .

It really looks a nice piece of kit to me , as I love me photos / videos etc and they look great on the quick and easy touch screen , very fast and you dont have to run anti virus with them which is a bonus .

In the Uk the ipad 2 3G 32 gig is retailing at about £580 and about £615 in Thailand.
Went on sale in China yesterday sold out in 24 hours !

[Mr Earl]

Currently in Thailand there are are only 2 places which provide 3G. Siam Center and Hua Hin.
That may change as soon as the service providers sort it out.

So far I've tried both AIS and DTAC gprs service and they both suck the big wazoo! Maybe DTAC is slightly better if I had to choose.
Mobile internet here in Thailand is pretty much pathetic.

[baldrick]

Currently in Thailand there are are only 2 places which provide 3G. Siam Center and Hua Hin.

wtf is this 3g you talk about ?

HSDPA ?
HSUPA ?
EVDO/CDMA 1.x ?
802.16f ?
850 , 900 or 2100 Mhz ?

I have gotten HSUPA 2100Mhz in a variety of places in BKK , quite removed from Siam Centre

and out in the country EVDO/CDMA 1.x works quite well

[Gerbil]

Go for the wifi only.

When 3g is available in your area, get a mobile 3g hotspot. It's a device about the size of a pack of cigarettes, you slip a 3g sim into it, then your wifi devices can connect to it just like any other wifi access point.

lots of new cell phones will be coming out with that feature built in as well.

[zingerhk]

3G in Thailand means 3 guesses. Even when you get a 3G connection, the speed is terrible...

[Butterfly]

When 3g is available in your area, get a mobile 3g hotspot. It's a device about the size of a pack of cigarettes, you slip a 3g sim into it, then your wifi devices can connect to it just like any other wifi access point.

you are assuming that the iPad has a USB port,

does it ?

[Gerbil]

you are assuming that the iPad has a USB port,

I was assuming you can read, I was wrong.

It's a device about the size of a pack of cigarettes, you slip a 3g sim into it, then your wifi devices can connect to it just like any other wifi access point.

PHS300 Personal WiFi Hotspot - 3G/4G | Cradlepoint Technology
Create Your Own 3G Hotspot with a $99 Wi-Reach: Mobile Technology News

(Those two utilize an existing 3G dongle/stick if you have one - have seen versions that have the 3G circuits built in, so you only need a SIM instead, plus there are a number of phones out there which have the mobile hotspot functionality built in)

[Butterfly]

thanks for the link,

so it's a 3G/Wifi Gateway, not a device for the iPad

quite convenient,

[Gerbil]

^ yes.