Advise buying a iPad 3

[Tab373]

Hi I am thinking about buying the wife a iPad 3 for Xmas just need help on what I need. I want a black iPad 3 32g with wifi and I think cellular. She want to be able to use it at home via our wifi and out in cafes and work being able to get on the net when she likes. I don't mind spending nearly £600 for the cellular pad but don't want a monthly contract so think I need a SIM card which some are apparently free O2 3 pay as you go. Now she has a iPhone 5 and I'm told she can tether pad to phone I haven't a clue what that means.can anyone help me.

 

[G1BB0]

I got a free ipad on a contract, costs me 25 quid a month for 24 months, ipad was free and get unlimited 3g... no brainer for me really.

to tether you can link the ipad to the phone and use the data allowance/3g from the phone. I am sure theres plenty of how to's via google that will fully explain it.

 

[Dellboy]

Just a IPad 3 last weekend, cracking bit of kit, got it at PC world as was the best deal going. Got the 64gb and a free sim, it's with the Three network and gives me 2 gb per month (more than enough for me) for £2 per month going up to £5 per month after 6 months, but they also told me it was a rolling contract so could stop it after the 6 months and then shop around again.

 

[G1BB0]

that sounds a great deal tbh

 

[dufferman]

To tether to your iPad from your iPhone is pretty simple.

If you go to the settings app on the iPhone, you'll see an option called 'Personal Hotspot'. This is basically allowing your iPhone to become your wifi connection. When you turn it on, you can either choose to allow 'cable' connections (e.g. plugging your PC into your iPhone) or bluetooth connections (for iPads and other wireless devices). Once you turn this on, you can connect the iPad to it by going to the settings app on the iPad and looking for the name of the phone (iPhone 5 is the default I think). You connect like you would connect to any other wifi connection.

In the iPhone, you usually need to set up a 'passcode' for your phone, which you should be able to do when clicking on the Personal Hotspot button on the iPhone.

One thing to remember though - you need to make sure you have enough data allowance on the iPhone contract to use your iPad and iPhone. If you go over your allocated amount, the charges can get pretty high pretty quick, and some providers wont tell you until you get the bill.

I would say that, if you are going to be watching YouTube videos and use BBC iPlayer or ITV Catchup etc, you need 750mb per month. That's normally the standard amount you'll get with a phone contract these days - some will give you 1gb which is 1000mb (sorry if you know all this and I'm sounding patronising!) which is more than enough!

 

[jimbob.someroo]

There is a rumour that apple are going to hold another event at the end of October (maybe the 23rd?) where they may be releasing the smaller version of the iPad. Not a great deal of use if she's already got the iPhone 5 other than that it will probably come with the new lightning charger which would be the same as the iPhone 5.

Might be worth holding off a week just in case.

​edit - the event is confirmed for the 23rd.