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Does the Apple iPad Wifi or Apple iPad 3G fits you better?

Apple's latest iPad model, the iPad 3G, arrived on the market in the US friday .

Beside the plastic strip on the top sit – for 3G reception – and the entrance for the sim-card, the new iPad looks the same as the previous model we know. Or not?

While the newest model of the Apple iPad is only somewhat gained in weight you can surf on the internet via an available 3G connection anywhere and anytime .

If you want this feature at the beginning you have the add an extra 130 Euros when purchasing the 3G version. Prices for the 3G-versions (with respectively 16, 32 or 64 GB on board) begin probably at 550 Euros.  Rumours even speak about 800 Euros for the top model . Some sources say Apple will make an announcement next monday in which they will communicate all market prices and dates of availability per country .  

Early testers in the United States pointed out that you not only will pay extra the feature but also need to pay the subscriptions expense of the data bundle . 

They compared the performance of the iPad 3G on an AT&T network and it was the same like the iPhone 3GS did . They said the signal quality level of the iPad was the same than the iPhone 3GS . You cannot compare the speed of an 3G connection with the speed of a normal WiFi connection. Nevertheless is the speed enough to check your e-mail and surf on the popular websites  .  

Because the iPad have been equipped with a faster processor, loading webpages is faster than on the iPhone . It's not only on paper faster, it feels in reallife faster . We experienced no problems when the iPad automatically switched between 3G operation and WiFi operating mode . On top of your display you can see a nice icon which indicated if you are using WiFi or 3G .

Apple-fans do not think much about the question to buy this new version or not . You have also other solutions available which let you use the regular WiFi iPad with almost the same feature set than the iPad 3G model . It's called a Mifi-router . Via this kind of software you can convert a device with GSM/3G/UMTS-signals into a WiFi-signal .  (Mifi-software is available for Windows Mobile Smartphones or jailbroken iPhones  or Symbian S60 phones).  

If you use this MiFi connection your Apple iPad is connected via de WiFi connection and believes it's actually a WiFi connection . You have an extra advantage beside you can use your smartphone as router. You can also download and install Apps which demand WiFi .

American users and reviewers are complaining about the bad quality of videos when using 3G . While this was not an issue on the iPhone because it has a little screen, on iPads big screen you will see the videos look bad because the lack of decent resolution .  

You understand that if you want to use GPS the only good option you have is the 3G . The quality of GPS with the new GPS-chip for the iPad 3G works better compared to the GPS-chip of the iPhone 3GS .

Is the price a problem for you, but you want really the same functionality and you are prepare to do some concessions? Installing the MiFi router solution will alow you to choose for the regular  iPad.