3G or not 3G - that is the question iPad owners are asking themselves - and they could save themselves a small fortune by getting it right.
Thousands queued outside Apple's UK stores on Friday to get this year's must- have gadget but many are puzzled about which 3G web connection to go with.
Prices vary hugely across networks with some costing 33 TIMES as much as others.
But our handy guide, right, will help find the best deal.
The iPad comes in six versions depending on memory size and connectivity. The cheapest, 16GB, costing £429, connects to the internet using Wi-Fi - either at home, the office or hotspots. For around £100 more you'll get one that also connects to 3G networks like a mobile phone. To use that you will also need a sim card and data package from O2, Orange, Vodafone or 3.
The News of the World found the £10-per-month packages from O2 and Vodafone allow users just 1GB of data transfer - equivalent to just ten hours browsing or five four-minute video clips.
But choose rival 3 and you get 10GB - ten times as much - for £15 a month, just £5 more. Vodafone and Orange do have other packages you can consider. Going over the limits typically costs 10p per MB, or just over half a minute of browsing. Pay-as-you-go deals and daily access packages can cost even more.
Orange's 5p per MB deal could soon see costs racking up. For £1.50, users would get just 30MB, or 33 times less than from network 3.
Technology expert Jim Clark, from retail analysts Mintel, said: "The iPad is designed for browsing videos, music and books - and that sucks up data quickly. If you get the wrong plan and go over your allowance, it can cost an arm and a leg."
Mike Wilson of moneysupermarket.com said: "Research and shop around, especially heavy users."
(Source : News of The World, 30/5/2010)
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