It looks as though roughly 20 to 25 percent of iPad buyers are opting for the model w

EddieC 0 432 Views

As the world awaits for the release of Apple's Next Big Thing, developers are putting the finishing touches on applications to be ready for iPad's April 3 ship date. And Apple is getting ready too. The company yesterday began accepting submissions for iPad App Store, its online application outlet for iPhone and iPad. According to a report on engadget, the deadline for having apps available on opening day is March 27 at 5:00pm PT; that's 8:00 pm in the Eastern U.S.

If you're on the buying end, you'd better get your order in. Apple opened the gates to pre-orders on Friday, and according to this ArsTechnica story, they're selling at about 25,000 an hour, fast enough to sell through its initial production run by the end of this weekend--almost two weeks before they even hit store shelves.

I'd call it common sense to figure that most iPads sold will be of the $499 (cheapest) variety, but the ArsTechnica story also estimates that perhaps as many as a quarter will include the 3G/GPS option for another $130 plus $29.95 a month for unlimited data transfer. There's also the $50 Verizon MiFi that sets up a mobile WiFi hotspot for up to five computers. But to get that price, you'll have to sign up for two years. It otherwise costs $250.

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A short, practical primer to the Wi‑Fi vs cellular question mentioned by — and a quick tie‑in to ’s point about smartphones like the HTC EVO. The thread so far notes strong demand and that some buyers picked the cellular model. The real decision for most buyers is use‑case, not hype: how often will the iPad need independent, reliable data without relying on a phone?

  • Make the decision from use first. If the tablet will live mostly on home/office Wi‑Fi, skip the extra cost. If it will be used daily on trains, in taxis, or at client sites, cellular removes friction.
  • Test tethering before you buy. If a current smartphone can act as a hotspot, try it for a week: watch battery drain, speed and how convenient it really is. That experiment often settles the choice.
  • Think about multiple devices. If you frequently need to connect several gadgets at once, an independent hotspot or built‑in cellular is more convenient than tethering a single phone.
  • Watch data habits. Heavy streaming and large downloads push you toward a dedicated data solution. Light email, occasional browsing and offline apps favor Wi‑Fi.
  • Check international and carrier rules. If you travel, confirm roaming, SIM policies and whether you can add or remove a plan without long contracts. Cellular convenience can become costly if roaming isn’t handled smartly.
  • Account for battery and simplicity. Built‑in cellular is seamless but can shorten battery life; tethering spares purchase cost but ties you to a phone.

Practical pre‑order tips: pick capacity by how much media you keep locally, verify return/upgrade windows, test activation and data while still within any return period, and consider whether an external mobile hotspot might give the best mix of flexibility and cost. This keeps the choice practical rather than emotional.

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katarakz 0 Newbie Poster

Hmm.. can you compare with this HTC Evo. Since the market for Android Phones is expanding, HTC Evo is a bliss to people because it has features and performance capabilities of a rockstar. Nothing less could have been expected from HTC.

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