iPad 2

[E.J.]

Think I am going to pick one up for Michelle today. She has wanted one and with a vacation planned, it will be a nice distraction for the Little One.

I had sort of settled on the 16GB wifi model with a cover, face shield ect....

Is there a big reason I will regret not getting the 3G? I guess you don't have to buy a data plan, but it is an option if you run into a need.... That is appealing, but long story short, is it worth the extra $130 for that insurance?

Thanks in advance for the input....

[Scottw]

I have the wifi version and it's just fine for me. If I need to get online in an emergency, I use my blackberry. No sense having another bill imo.

[McSmokey]

My wife and I have been discussing purchasing an iPad 2 as well and our outlook on it is if we ever find a need to have internet in an area where there is none is to get a tethering plan for our iPhones. For our situation it would be cheaper than adding another dataplan just for the iPad.

[LasciviousXXX]

Just an FYI but supposedly the iPad 3 is going to be announced on March 7. Food for thought

[mmblz]

http://www.dailytech.com/Reports+iPa...ticle24036.htm

[Digs]

My wife has the Ipad 2 I purchased for here at Christmas, she has the WiFi version as well like other said no need for an additional monthly bill! I tether my Thunderbolt if on the road with the Ipad

But like LasciviousXXX said the Ipad 3 is coming, either get the 3 OR the original Ipad and Ipad 2 will be reduced in price?

[CigarNut]

I got my wife one of the original iPads shortly after it first came out. I got 64GB model with 3g. She has a data plan that costs $15/month -- 250MB/month. I am glad that I did that. We are AT&T customers and tethering is very expensive.

Also, while there is free wireless in many places the performance is inconsistant and there are many places we go were there is no free wireless and cell service is available. So I am glad that I have the 3g to supplement the WiFi.

I am going to get an iPad 3 when it comes out for my own use and I am going to get the 3g model as well.

[Ogre]

Should be a big price drop with the 2 when the 3s are released

[shilala]

Yeah, absolutely don't do it. You'll get a much better machine at the same or lower price in 2 or 3 weeks.
I'm planning to upgrade my ipad as well, just playing the waiting game.
Tyr is right, I heard the same release date of March 7th. Rumors are rumors, but the timeline is right compared to what's happened in the past.

[E.J.]

Originally Posted by shilala

Yeah, absolutely don't do it. You'll get a much better machine at the same or lower price in 2 or 3 weeks.
I'm planning to upgrade my ipad as well, just playing the waiting game.
Tyr is right, I heard the same release date of March 7th. Rumors are rumors, but the timeline is right compared to what's happened in the past.

Question is, will I actually be able to get one in 2-3 weeks? In a perfect world, she'd have it for a few weeks prior to the trip, which is the last week of March....

If it is one of those wait in line things....I can't see that happening.

Hummmmm....that news is kinda a bummer....thought I was buying a new toy today....

[LasciviousXXX]

Just as an aside, I have purchased both the original iPad and the iPad 2 when they came out. Both purchases were wifi only as the majority of use was at home or when there was a wifi available (work etc). However, we do tether the iPad to the iPhone when 3G is required and it has saved us quite a bit of $$$. I don't know what type of smartphone your wife has but tethering may be an option for you as well. Especially if 3G use will only be required on occasion.

[aich75013]

We currently have 2. An iPad and an iPad 2. Neither has 3G.
I did have my phone jailbroken for a while and tethered it to my iPhone, but we rarely ever needed it.
The kids use them more than anyone, although I do use it quite a bit.
I rip a bunch of the kids DVDs using Handbrake and put those on the iPads.
It worked great for our flight last year to Puerto Rico.
If you have a young one, I would recommend the Otterbox case. Our iPad 2 was dropped by my 2 year old on day 2. I was fortunate that Apple replaced it for free. Both now have Otterbox cases.

[Sauer Grapes]

Originally Posted by LasciviousXXX

Just an FYI but supposedly the iPad 3 is going to be announced on March 7. Food for thought

Originally Posted by mmblz

http://www.dailytech.com/Reports+iPa...ticle24036.htm

Originally Posted by Ogre

Should be a big price drop with the 2 when the 3s are released

Even if you have no interest in the iPad 3, wait until it comes out and then buy a iPad 2 new, or second hand. You'll save a bundle.

We are buying them for our mothers for mother's day so that they can facetime with us and the yet to be born grandchild when we move across the country.

[MurphysLaw]

Originally Posted by E.J.

Question is, will I actually be able to get one in 2-3 weeks? In a perfect world, she'd have it for a few weeks prior to the trip, which is the last week of March....

If it is one of those wait in line things....I can't see that happening.

Hummmmm....that news is kinda a bummer....thought I was buying a new toy today....

If they are announced and will be on sale in march, I highly recommend pre-ordering online. I did that with my iPhone 4 and had it in hand the day before it was available in the stores.

[gnbikes]

I am using mine to reply. I have the 32g w/ 3G. I do use it more with the wifi at home, but do want the 3G for traveling. I am going to get my lady a wifi version when the new ones come out next month. I hope the 2's have a good Clarence price.
Garry

[shilala]

EJ, maybe hold off the purchase until right before vacation? Then if you have to get an iPad 2 you can always return it if the 3 is a big difference to you.
I already have an ipad so it's an easy call. If Michelle wants this for vacation, just go get it. You'll be giving up a higher resolution screen on a device that's already awesome, and some processing power. I'm guessing the 3 will have Siri as well, since it'll be outfitted with the processor to handle it.
If those things matter, wait as long as you can. Or let Michelle know and let her decide.
There's really no learning curve, and if she's ever used an i-anything she can jump right in and go.

Usually they announce one day and start shipping within the week, taking orders a couple hours after the announcement. I can't guess on when it'll ship, but I'm thinking I'll have one in my grubby little hands by mid-March. If it was a month from today I'd think that was long.

I'll definately order mine online. No 3G. I have no use for it, and I can always tether to Lisa's phone if I ever needed to. Which I never have.

[E.J.]

Thanks for all the input! I'm going to wait... I'd REALLY like to have it before we leave, but we'll see what happens on March 7th. If I can order that day and it is relatively the same price, I'll do it....

Which brings me to this, I assume the pre-order is done directly with Apple?

[junkinduck]

+1 on what everyone else said. Next month you will buy the 2 at a reduced price or a 3. I currently have a 16g 2 with wi/fi. Only been a couple of times I would have used 3G but am not really into paying for it so I just use the iPhone. I can't see what they could make the 3 do any better than the 2 but apple usually amazes me (except for that 4s thing really wanted the 5).

[JenksAnejo]

Agreed I would wait until the 3 to come out for a nice discount on the 2.

[Remo]

My wives is just the Wi-Fi and is just fine for most everything, uses the Iphone if she can't get Internet, no sense in both plans