Monthly Subscription Rate is it Mandatory?

[stephenm52]

One bit of info I can't seem to find You can subscribe to a data plan. Is it possible to purchase the iPad and simply use wifi, rather than subscribe to a data plan? In other words the the equivalent of buying an iTouch and using wifi at home or in public wifi spots.

 

[wyneken]

Is it possible to purchase the iPad and simply use wifi, rather than subscribe to a data plan? In other words the the equivalent of buying an iTouch and using wifi at home or in public wifi spots.

No, you don't need a data plan. Yes, you can use the iPad the way you use the touch (though I've read that the wifi capability is more advanced in some technical way I don't understand).

 

[jwc110869]

Apple is going to sell wi-fi only versions, and wi-fi plus 3g versions.

http://www.apple.com/ipad/pricing/

 

[kornchild2002]

I would purchase a wi-fi only model simply because I don't want to pay at&t $30 a month for spotty 3G coverage, that is just me though. That and the wi-fi only models are a lot less money than the wi-fi+3G. I have a 3G HTC Droid Eris if I wanted to browse the web everywhere (I only use it when I am in a pinch, it also helps that Verizon's coverage is a lot better than at&t's everywhere I go).

So, as others have said, you can purchase a wi-fi only model which would be the equivalent to what the iPod touch is (a wi-fi internet browsing device). You can also purchase a wi-fi+3G model and opt not to use the 3G but that seems pointless to me.

 

[hamz9561]

No, you don't need a data plan. Yes, you can use the iPad the way you use the touch (though I've read that the wifi capability is more advanced in some technical way I don't understand).

The advanced wifi that you're talking about is the current version called 802.11n and is capable of moving data at 3X the rate of the older wifi standard, 802.11g. The 3g Touch has a chip that can supposedly do the new standard but it has not been enabled, yet.

 

[kornchild2002]

Given the speed limitations of even fast 30Mbps fiber optic connections, I still fail to see the point of 802.11n. I can see the appeal when it comes to sharing files across a local network but, right now, there just aren't incoming internet connections that can match the theoretical peak speed of 300Mbps and average speed of 150Mbps (that is, unless you are super rich and can afford such an ungodly connection).

It kind of seems pointless to me for the iPad to have 802.11n especially since it will be downloading files from the internet and thus will never attain a 150Mbps connection to a site (again, unless you are rich and have such a connection). It seems like Apple threw that in there just to say that it has 802.11n. Maybe Apple has some plans for the iPad's wi-fi capabilities in the future.

 

[Gospel]

It kind of seems pointless to me for the iPad to have 802.11n especially since it will be downloading files from the internet and thus will never attain a 150Mbps connection to a site (again, unless you are rich and have such a connection). It seems like Apple threw that in there just to say that it has 802.11n. Maybe Apple has some plans for the iPad's wi-fi capabilities in the future.

It is not pointless if every other device on your wireless network does 802.11n. If it was only 802.11g, then when it is connected to your network, the whole network will slow down to capabilities of the slowest device. This annoyed me when I had a Palm TX that only did 802.11b because it would slow down my 802.11g netowrk. This isn't a problem if you have a dual band WiFi router like the newer Airport Extremes.

The question I have is if the 802.11n in the iPad can operate on the 5.4GHz frequency range or is it limited to 2.4GHz? 802.11n can be either.

Thanks,
Steven

 

[astroman33]

stephen, you can absolutely use it just as you do the IPT!

The iPad has wi-fi built in and you do NOT need a subscription to anything to use it! There is no contract required, no monthly fee, to use wi-fi. It works, in that regard, such as the iPod Touch does.

Now, some of the iPad models also come with 3G (a way of accessing the net and data from wherever cell service is available), yet even for those, you do not need a contract, but can sign up monthly for the service. That's only worth considering if you envision yourself roaming around with the iPad to places where there is no wi-fi. Otherwise, you can save $130 and save yourself all monthly charges and get an iPad with only wi-fi.