OK, learn something every day - I'm surprised the GPS aspect differs between models.
Locating via WiFi location would be unreliable in Australia, much more reliable in the US. It would likely work on the location of IP addresses, which in the US are quite location specific but in Australia are not so. As I understand it.
Good choice to go with 3G.
If you want "set and forget" pre-paid for the 3G, I recommend the 12 month Telstra pre-paid. I think mine was $159 for 12 months. I renew it once/year and otherwise forget about it. The 9GB allowance is plenty.
Roger.
Quote:
Originally Posted by shane.mcneil
Hi Roger, it is confusing.
Not sure if I do have it right but I rang Apple and spoke to one of their "geniuses". He said that the wifi, gps and 3G all work independant of each other but will combine there data depending on what you are doing. Hence the term "assisted GPS".
The wifi only model does not have a GPS chip according to the man and the specs on Apple's website (check out the side by side iPad specs there). Apple maintains a list of wifi spots and locations. If you have wifi only, it will use this list to find your location. If you are not in a wifi zone, then it wont know where you are.
If you have the 3G/GPS model, the GPS still works even if there is no 3G or wifi connection. So if you have say an astronomy app that just wants to know your location, the GPS will locate you, even if you are way out of any other signal. However, if you are trying to navigate with it, the maps need to have been preloaded onto the iPad, as you said. Just like a car GPS.
If you have 3G, that then gives you internet access and so if you are missing a map, it will download it.
Anyway. that's what I think he meant. But both models don't have the same location system. As long as you are in a wifi zone though, you won't notice it, though apparently the wifi location service is not as accurate. I live in a rural area and usually don't have wifi so I need to make sure I have true GPS.
So I am going to buy the 3G just for the GPS and if I need to I'll stick a prepaid sim in when I want to use the internet 3G data.
Regards,
Shane
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