Accessories 1 - Just encase

So you have made a decision to to buy an iPad either online or in a shop. What else are you going to need to buy and how much is it going to cost you?


The only things that come in the box are the device itself and a charger. You are definitely going to need a case or cover of some type. My advice is to hold off on buying a case for a few days or so, until you have had the iPad and used it. You can use the box it came in as a reliable but unwieldy case during this temporary period.


Why wait? Well first of all unless you have had a loan of an iPad from someone else, it's worth having it and handling it to get a feel for the form factor. It's also useful to decide how and when you're going to use the iPad as this will probably influence the style of case you will buy and what other bits and pieces you are likely to carry with it. 


There are lots of different types of cases or covers that vary widely in design and price. The simplest (and cheapest) are probably the wetsuit type of sleeves made of neoprene or some other padded material. They are designed to transport your iPad and you can't use the device while they are in the sleeve. Other common and popular cases are the portfolio style of case (often leather) which allow you to use the iPad while in the case, and can get quite expensive. Some of these also double as a stand for your iPad, allowing you to view the screen in a near vertical orientation when you are using an external keyboard, or angled at about 15 degrees or so when using the onscreen keyboard. I use the iPad at work and at home, and not when I am out and about, so I just use a sleeve to protect it in my bag. Originally, I used a cloth bag and padded envelope but then someone gave me the neoprene sleeve because they upgraded their case (thanks Mark at eMedia !).


One key consideration is what other things you will need to carry with your iPad. If you are going to use it to deliver lectures (a topic for a future post) you will need to carry the VGA adaptor. It's small, but probably something you don't want rattling around in a bag and scraping off the glass screen. You'll almost certainly want to carry the charger with you from time to time and the same considerations as above apply. And if you buy an external keyboard you may want to transport that along also. If style is important to you and you need people to know you have an iPad, you'll probably want to buy a bag (or if you're male, a murse) that matches your black polo neck and plastic framed glasses. In that case you can probably fit all of the above into the bag along with your iPhone, iTouch, iPod nano, and your digital camera/DVR.


You can get a roundup of just some of the case/sleeve/bag options here http://www.macworld.com/article/147154/2010/03/ipadcasepreview.html

3G or not 3G?

As I mentioned, much of the good stuff on the iPad is crippled if you don't have internet access. So what should you buy? iPad WiFi and rely on work/home wifi and hotspots when you're out and about, or iPad WiFi+3G?


I can't really comment directly on the 3G enabled iPad. In my experience with the iPhone, 3G coverage is patchy - goodish in most urban areas, spotty and inconsistent on the road or train (my carrier is three).  I have good WiFi at home and at work, and can live without coverage when I am travelling (largely because if I need it I can use my phone instead).


Also, as I understand it you have to get a microsim from your carrier which will tie you in to a monthly contract. Another (cheaper) alternative would be to get the WiFi iPad, then buy a MiFi (about €80) on a pay as you go basis. That way you avoid the contract and pay just for what you need. You can also use your MiFi to connect other devices.


And before you ask, no you can't 'tether' an iPhone and iPad so that the iPad uses the phone's 3G connection - at least not unless you jailbreak the devices. And we wouldn't want ot upset evil Uncle Steve now would we?

Ubiquitous WiFi _or_ Why you're not really connected

A long time ago I remember reading about the plan for the then nascent cellular networks in the U.S. The article was a synopsis of an academic article outlining a vision for a cell phone network. The principle was that small radio stations would be attached to phone or power poles at about 250m intervals. Each base station would serve a radius of about 500m, with the overlap between adjacent staions providing the necessary redundancy in case of malfunction. The base stations would initially be expensive and limited to city 'business' districts and university campuses but would soon become cheap and ubiquitous in well populated urban areas. Rural areas would be served by the now familiar broadcast type masts.

For whatever reason, that version of infrastructure was never implemented by the telecoms. But those ideas are now a reality with the advent of affordable 3G 'femtocells' which boost local 3G signals for phones, and MiFi devices that provide you with localised WiFi broadband service. Any competent government which was serious about a 'smart' economy would provide universal WiFi service for free (at least in conurbations of any size), either directly or by contracting a telecoms provider to do so. It won't happen here anytime soon.

What does this have to do with the iPad? Unless you have WiFi or 3G access the device is essentially crippled and largely useless, except as a large expensive calendar and mp3 player. If you don't have WiFi or 3G access in the place where you will primarily use the device then don't buy one.

Now, as you can buy the iPad with or without 3G which should you go for? I'll deal with this matter in another post.

Introduction

OK, I broke down and bought an iPad. Actually I broke down and bought an iPad for my wife who then gave it to me mainly to stop me from whining about how much I wanted an iPad. 32GB no 3G if you must know.


And allright, I admit I also bought an iPhone 4G but that was before I got the iPad, and I had lost my prior phone anyway so it's not like it was a real indulgence (!).


Anyway so this blog is going to be about my initial experiences with the iPad (and to a lesser degree the iPhone).


I'll post more about my background soon.