I was wondering what size hard drive was good and whether the data plan was worth it. Upgrading to 32 GB and data is $200 more, though.

I am having very frequent problems with Google Calendar lately, usually, "I'm afraid I can't do that right now, flea," kind of problems. Having a reliably functioning web calendar is very important to me right now. Is this happening to anyone else? Is anyone happy with a free Google Cal alternative? I do not need to sync to anything, but I do need my calendar to be visible to my (lazy) husband.

P-C,

if this is her first, go wifi only. My first was wifi only and I liked it. It is expensive, so I get that data might be lower on the priority list.

I do think 32GB if you can swing it, is important. It is very easy to run out of space.

flea,

I have not had problems. can you describe what is going on? do you think it is on google's side?

if this is her first, go wifi only. My first was wifi only and I liked it. It is expensive, so I get that data might be lower on the priority list.

I'm looking at what's available on Amazon, and it looks like they're discounting the data pretty heavily, so it's only $50 more, which isn't bad. I don't understand how it works, though: if I get her one with AT&T 4G, in order to actually take advantage of the 4G, she would have to pay for data? It's not like the Kindle with 4G where you can use data if there's a network around? If she has a phone with GPS, why would she need the iPad with GPS?

I do think 32GB if you can swing it, is important. It is very easy to run out of space.

Thanks! It looks like Amazon discounts more for the bigger ones anyway, so it's more affordable to upgrade than I thought.

Any thoughts on the Surface? It's cheaper, and one of my friends was singing its praises, but I feel like the iPad is a safer bet for her.

Cozi does the shared calendar thing pretty well, and can import data from Google.

P-C,

I have a Verizon ipad and I have to pay for the data monthly. sometimes I don't pay for data, but here lately I have been paying every month. Note: the benefit of getting a Verizon ipad (I am not sure if this is still true) is that you can use the hotspot feature of the ipad without additional fees. I think AT&T charges an additional fee, but I am not certain.

Anyway, if you aren't on wifi and want to get online, you need data. It is like a phone in that regard. Kindle has a relationship with Sprint I think, so included in the kindle is some limited data usage. The ipad does not operate that way.

You are right that she may not need GPS features in the ipad. I know that for some people the GPS functions really matter to them in an ipad. I'm not one of those people.

My Calendar problems include I try and search and it just hangs forever, and when I create a new calendar item it will very often - maybe 30% of the time - say "item not saved" after I click save (and it's telling the truth, because the item is not on my calendar.) A page refresh will usually resolve this, but it's annoying, and if I am distracted I might not notice that it didn't save (which is BAD).

I do use a browser scriptblocker, But I have allowed all the scripts that seem relevant to Calendar, and the intermittancy of this doesn't seem to imply the blocker is a problem.

Also, heh, I knew one of the founders of Cozi in high school.

Note: the benefit of getting a Verizon ipad (I am not sure if this is still true) is that you can use the hotspot feature of the ipad without additional fees. I think AT&T charges an additional fee, but I am not certain.

Interesting. It's $20 more.

Anyway, if you aren't on wifi and want to get online, you need data. It is like a phone in that regard.

That's what I thought. So having a data-capable iPad and not paying for the data is...kind of pointless? She's not going to pay for monthly data.

Of course, all of Apple's refurbished iPads have data. They have a refurbished 32GB WiFi with AT&T for $499.99, $80 cheaper than the new one from Amazon. And refurbished Apple stuff is pretty good, I hear?