It is 03.37am and it is time I think, to write something about the iPad.
So, I have been going through the ‘Apple Saga’ of late… initially with the iPod Classic for more than several years through several generations and the iPhone 3GS last year. Latterly, with some high-speed-high-spending in the Apple Store with the purchase of the MacBook Pro, iPod nano and last but not least the iPad.
I made my first purchase of the iPad approximately one month ago. My nice shiny purchase was the iPad 32gb with wifi and 3g at £599 and the understated but ‘most useful’ Apple iPad case. I came home satisfied, happy and contented. I had spoken to friends about the best Apps to make the iPad ‘work for me’ and spent some time in the AppStore making my choices. The next few days I enquired about data tariffs for the iPad and the niggling doubts began to creep in to my senses. All the networks wanted ‘too much money’ in my opinion for the iPad tariff in comparison to broadband or mobile phone data tariffs. The best deals to be had were the purchase of the Three Mifi and an ‘Ebay’ data tariff but I would be required to unlock the Mifi into the bargain. The doubts increased about my purchase, its viability and how effective it was going to be with the cost of a further monthly tariff. After more consultations with networks and more of the same information, my iPad became distasteful to me. I would pick it up to use but then feel more and more as if it was turning into a money-grabbing monster. I eventually decided, what was the point of having an iPad if when I wanted to use it I could not because I had no network connection. Day 5 arrived and I had made up my mind – the iPhone was going back to Apple and I duly returned it.
My journey home was sad and forlorn. I really did love the iPad and l loved the things I could do on it but it was not to be… Fast-Forward and a week later I caved in and re-purchased the iPad. This time putting my student ‘hat’ on, I went for the 16gb instead of the 32gb and went for wifi only. I figured that if I did not have 3g I would not be harassed or worried about having to buy the tariff. Also if the 3g versions offered me this facility I would want to have it so this way was the best route. My new purchase cost £429 and I consider that I have saved nearly £300 due to the difference of the £599 version and what it would have cost me for the data tariff per month of £10 totalling £120 over twelve months added to the £599 making it a cumulative total of £719.
Second time around I am again very happy with my purchase but this time I am ecstatic. I have what I wanted without being tied to another monthly-obligated tariff. I have not got 3g and do not miss it as I have wifi at university and home and have found that I can tether my phone to the iPad via JoikuSpot to enable me to access the 3g network when wifi is unavailable. (This option is also available via the purchase of Three’s mifi and in-store data tariff or the cheaper option via Ebay).
Having backed-up my previous purchases from the initial iPad, I was able to re-install them on my new iPad and have only had one problem to date – that of a round ‘spot’ on my iPad display which remained despite all my cleaning and I brought it to the attention of the Apple Store Genius’ only to be told ‘madam, no amount of rubbing will remove that ‘spot’ as it is the light sensor’ 
Keep an eye out for further stories of ‘my iPad escapades’.
Tags: apple, iPhone, iPod
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