Dec
6
Written by:
ksmith
12/6/2011 11:13 AM
The iPad is a wonderful tool to use both personally and professionally! Since you’ve decided (or are deciding HOW) to purchase an iPad, you will run into the FAQ of which model to buy. Did you know that there are 18 different versions of the iPad 2? I will help you make that ever-important decision of which model best fits your needs.
Storage Options:
You will first need to decide how much storage you want on your iPad. The iPad 2 currently comes with storage options of 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB. This can be a tough decision that mostly depends on how you will be using your iPad, and for what purpose. Will you be using it for personal use, professional use, or both? Pictures and movies take up a lot of space, as do songs and audio recordings. The average iPad application (app) does not take up a lot of space… typically between 1-100 MB for the “speech” apps that I have downloaded. So, we're talking about a whole lot of apps per GB! (Side note: one of the most popular Articulation apps is ArtikPix. It takes up only 53 MB)
I personally own a 32GB model that I use for work and play. Here is what I currently have loaded on my iPad: 2,100 songs; 1,200 photos; 234 apps; full-length movie with a little storage to spare.
Wi-Fi Only or Wi-Fi +3G?
With the Wi-Fi only model you will only be able to access the Internet (and the content of apps that rely on the internet) when you are in range of a Wi-Fi network (i.e., at home, Starbucks, a school site with wireless internet access, etc.). This may be perfectly fine for the therapist who will be using the iPad for work only and has wireless Internet access at their school site.
With the Wi-Fi + 3G model you will allow yourself the option of activating a cellular data plan to use with your iPad when Wi-Fi is out of range (ex. when you are at that one pesky school site that doesn’t have wireless Internet access yet! Or when you are taking that weekend road trip and would like to kill some time in the car… as a passenger of course!) The initial cost of this model is $130 more than the Wi-Fi only model. Also, the data plans will set you back monthly, should you chose to activate. BUT the great thing about these data plans is that there are no contracts and you may cancel at anytime and chose not to automatically renew the plan for the next month (provided you let the carrier know at least 7 days prior to the automatic renewal date… bad personal experience = )
One last note about the Wi-Fi + 3G model… you will need to chose either an AT&T or Verizon model at purchase… They are 100% the same in physical appearance and function, the cellular data networks that they access is just different depending on which provider you chose. Please note that the cellular data plan is independent of your current wireless (cell phone) carrier. You will sign up for a data plan directly from your iPad and it will have nothing to do with your monthly cell phone plan.
Finally… Will you choose black or white??? For some, this will be the hardest decision, especially if you already own an iPhone in either black or white… to match, or not to match = )
If you count up all of the different options you will see that I was in fact telling the truth, there are 18 different versions! I would actually chose my iPad in reverse order from my ramblings:
1) Choose a color
2) Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi + 3G
3) AT&T or Verizon (your least important decision)
4) 16GB, 32GB, 64GB
Here’s the price breakdown:
Wi-Fi Only
16GB -$ 499
32GB -$ 599
64GB -$ 699
Wi-Fi + 3G
16GB -$ 629
32GB -$ 729
64GB -$ 829
For more information… or an “easier on the eyes” breakdown of options, visit apple’s website
Please feel free to contact me (kyle.Epps@ProgressusTherapy.com) with any related questions… and come back soon for more info on apps I use in my therapy!
1 comment(s) so far...
Re: So you’ve decided to buy an iPad 2… Now which model to get?!
Thanks for the helpful information!
By Anonymous on
1/20/2012 12:49 PM
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