I was thinking of getting one of these but do you have to have them on a contract/monthly fee? I thought they were like a laptop but thought I saw a monthly tariff like a mobile.

If you get the 3G one you need a contract to access the internet.  If you get the one without 3G it will connect to the internet via Wifi.

You don't have to take out a contract but you will need one if you plan to use it away from home or in places where there is no wi-fi access where you will need to connect to 3G to access internet and download stuff.  If you want it mainly for use at home then you will just use your home wi-fi to connect and no need for a contact.

I've got one and mine doesn't have 3G I just use wifi. If you have an iPhone you can use it's internet connection as a personal hotspot for your iPad when out and about so really no need to pay the monthly fee.

thanks, I would use it when going away rather taking the laptop. I am not away lots but like to have that use of internet and emails esp as most hotels give free wi fi. I have got a smart phone but using the internet abroad on the roaming thingy is quite expensive (plus the screen small and typing not easy)  and last time I was being charged a daily rate because i wasn't aware of the turning the roaming part off! had to contact my daughter who explained what to do.
How much is the 3G if know one minds me asking?

£499 for the 16GB, £579 for the 32GB and £659 for the 64GB (£100 dearer than the Wifi equivalents).

Bear in mind that if abroad and you were using the 3G via a contract, it would probably be more expensive the same way as using your mobile phone is.  You could get a mifi thingy that does mobile broadband as an alternative to 3G.

what would be the monthly tariff? dont really want this plus a phone tariff as well. can you have a pay as you go for the 3G?? so only pay when abroad or use it.

Re. using abroad: data roaming costs an absolute fortune.  I never use the internet on my smartphone abroad, unless I can connect to a wireless network. It looks like it's the same with the IPad: http://www.which.co.uk/news/2011/04/tablet-data-roaming-costs-up-to-1000-times-higher-than-in-uk-250246/

Sorry I've no idea, I have the wifi one as that way I know I'm not running up huge bills.

Mcmanigan, how do you use your iPhone as a personal hotspot?

if you go into settings its 3rd down on the menu, set it to on and it will give you a wifi password. Just put that password in on your iPad/macbook and you have wifi, obviously it won't be fantastic but you can check emails etc.

your phone needs to have been updated to iOS5 I believe.

Hi Lorripop the tarriffs for the ipad 3g are similar to mobile phone tarrifs in that different providers have differnt rates for the amount you use.
Comparisons

Thanks for that.  Worth remembering just in case I ever need it.

I have an iPad and iPhone and use my phone as a Hotspot,  great signal and reception and no extra cost as it's included in my phone contract.

I have iPhone and iPad but didn't know about the hotspot thing will give that a go if I take it out, the iPad not been out the house yet!