I forget, I think it's an extra $20 a month and it adds 2 GB to my data plan. I do enough work around sites and airports that don't have free WiFi that it makes sense for me. I also use it to get my MacBook Air online quite a bit.

tiggy,

I was just thinking about this issue yesterday while driving around. First, I think the 3g plans for the ipad (at least on AT&T) is highway robbery, so I have always felt that I should own a wifi ipad so I'm not tempted to spend myself into oblivion.

There are times I miss 3G, but with light planning, I can be pretty much set. For example, I make sure that I sync my ipad properly and most of my syncing includes dropbox, goodreader, instapaper, and some web pages through diigo browser. On vacation, I'll also make sure I have video synced.

For the circumstances where I want to move documents/files to the ipad (to the apps that support it), I use AirStash. It works well enough.

I think 3G might impact battery life, so between price and this, those are the two things to consider.

I do think my next ipad will be larger than 16GB. I definitely will go for a 32GB.

On TMobile I don't spend anything more in order to be able to use my phone as a hotspot.

yeah well, those of us on AT&T are charged for every damn thing.

On TMobile I don't spend anything more in order to be able to use my phone as a hotspot.

Yeah, I feel like since I don't have an unlimited data plan, I should be able to do this without an extra charge--in most cases, I'm doing the exact same data-downloading as on my phone, just want the bigger screen size! If I'm allowed 2GB or 250MB or whatever, I should get to use that however I want. Hrmph.

those of us on AT&T are charged for every damn thing.

I might be joining you soon...

I got my iPad just before my trip to France, so I didn't get the 3G. I wanted to make sure I wouldn't accidentally rack up ginormous data charges.

The 3g at&t data plans are better than the Verizon data plans. $15 for 250 MB and $25 for 2 GB, versus $30 for 2 GB, $50 for 5, and $80 for 10.

That being said, it took me almost 6 months to sign up for a 3g plan. I finally had to cave when we spent Labor Day weekend at DH's parents' house--they're still using dialup. I was twitchy without access.

edit: Calli, on at&t you can disable data roaming or purchase an international data plan (which isn't all that unreasonable in price).

My TMobile account is also unlimited.

Yeah, it can't last.

I guess I just don't think my cell bill is that bad, yeah, it's money, but filling up my work truck with gas costs less than the monthly charge for my phone. We also have three phones on a family plan, which helps the average cost come down.