Moving away from iTunes on a Mac

[Dave2002]

No, you don't need SIM-type iPad. I have a 2013 model that has no SIM facility and it works fine with everything. But check out what Anastasia's is saying about the 'right type' of iPad (I don't know what that's about).

No it does not work fine with everything. If you sit on a London bus it will not work, unless perhaps the bus passes by somewhere where one has a user account on a very nearby wifi network, which happens to me sometimes.

I repeat - you cannot upgrade to a sim/4G version, but you don't have to use the sim in a model which will take one. Personally I think it's false economy to try to save on the capability for connectivity, or on memory. However, I would advocate not intstalling a sim with a contract unless you are sure that you need it and/or can afford it.

One way of gaining 3G or 4G connectivity later is to use a so called mifi dongle, working on a network such as 3. These can be very useful, but they are just more gadgets to carry around. i come back to suggesting that if you ar going to spend more than £600 on an iPad that it is silly not to pay the extra for the 4G. Apple's pricing is such that basic models (16 Gbytes) are an expensive option in terms of memory for price paid, and the much vaunted iCloud as storage is really not a great idea, IMO. Apart from the connection costs, it's not always reliable unless you intend only to use those devices around your home, linked to your wifi.

[Beef Oven!]

No it does not work fine with everything.

Caliban asked if you need a SIM card to "to make the whole iOS jazz work". I also took him to also mean Apple Music and Apple Airport Express. It does work with everything.

If you sit on a London bus it will not work, unless perhaps the bus passes by somewhere where one has a user account on a very nearby wifi network, which happens to me sometimes.

I think you'll find that most of this boils down to individual use. I've never used my iPad on a London bus, and can't see how I ever would.

I repeat - you cannot upgrade to a sim/4G version, but you don't have to use the sim in a model which will take one.

No need to repeat this simple point, it was understood first time 'round.

Personally I think it's false economy to try to save on the capability for connectivity, or on memory.

In three years I have never needed a SIM. I use it in hotels in the UK, on occasional work assignments (needing access to my chartered institute's website and resource packs), abroad in central, eastern and Mediterranean Europe and Turkey; surfing the net, taking and sending photos and videos, accessing my iTunes Library (and lately Apple Music) and so on.

I wasn't thinking of economy when I bought it, I was focusing on what I'd actually use it for, rather than some theoretical position. But if I had been interested in economy, and I followed your advice, I'd be hacked off with you and £100 out of pocket!

However, I would advocate not intstalling a sim with a contract unless you are sure that you need it and/or can afford it.

Good advice. If I find myself thinking about a SIM, I'll bear this in mind.

i come back to suggesting that if you ar going to spend more than £600 on an iPad that it is silly not to pay the extra for the 4G

Not if you won't use it - it would be a waste of money.

Apple's pricing is such that basic models (16 Gbytes) are an expensive option in terms of memory for price paid, and the much vaunted iCloud as storage is really not a great idea, IMO. Apart from the connection costs, it's not always reliable unless you intend only to use those devices around your home, linked to your wifi.

In theory, what you say is fine, but it depends on what you will use it for.

[Stunsworth]

Does one need a SIM card to make the whole iOS jazz work, notwithstanding that it's not going to be used as a phone?

No. However if you want to use the GPS functionality on an iPad you'll need to get the version that takes a SiM. There's no need to actually use a SIM to get GPS, it's just that that's the only version that has the GPS receiver.

[Stunsworth]

No it does not work fine with everything. If you sit on a London bus it will not work, unless perhaps the bus passes by somewhere where one has a user account on a very nearby wifi network, which happens to me sometimes.

An alternative if you have an iPhone is to 'tether' the iPad to the phone - in effect use the iPhone as a modem.

[Beef Oven!]

An alternative if you have an iPhone is to 'tether' the iPad to the phone - in effect use the iPhone as a modem.

I did that in Hungary last year when I found my roaming mobile signal was stronger than the hotel's wi-fi. Don't normally have the need, otherwise.

[teamsaint]

I've had 32g non-SIM iPad for 3 years and it's been fine for everything I've used it for. Before Apple Music, I was using iTunes Match, so all my music is in the cloud - in fact everything is in the cloud and I never reach capacity on the iPad. I even have a fair few photos and videos stored on it. Wi-Fi is available almost everywhere these days,so this has meant I've never had a problem with not having a SIM.

I suppose it's all according to individual use. Regarding my MacBook, I've had to increase my HD to 2TB on account of my iTunes library, which my iPad has remote access to.

So if you have an iphone, a non sim ipad, and can tether them, what would be the practical use of the sim in the ipad, since most people have their phone with them all the time?

( sorry if the answer is in the thread, I just can't be bothered to think it through.)

the wifi on the buses I use, ( EG oxford Park and ride ) is very good.

[Beef Oven!]

So if you have an iphone, a non sim ipad, and can tether them, what would be the practical use of the sim in the ipad, since most people have their phone with them all the time?

( sorry if the answer is in the thread, I just can't be bothered to think it through.)

the wifi on the buses I use, ( EG oxford Park and ride ) is very good.

In the UK, some network providers charge a tethering fee of about £5 per month. But this will still work out cheaper than having a separate tariff for your iPad's SIM and paying the premium for a SIM-capable iPad.

So in my case, I have unlimited data on my phone tariff, so for £5 per month I can have unlimited internet access/data download on my iPad and phone. But I have no need, so it'd be throwing a fiver in the mud every month. It would work for Dave2002, better than his existing arrangement does

[Dave2002]

Not if you won't use it - it would be a waste of money.

In theory, what you say is fine, but it depends on what you will use it for.

Re point 1, buying an expensive iPad and then discovering it won't do something you later feel you need would also be a waste of money.

I bought an original iPad with 64 Gbytes, and until very recently it was mostly empty. Was that a waste of money?

Also, I was very unconvinced about iPads when I got mine, but most people I know who've got them think they're good, and more useful than they expected, for various and different reasons. There is one younger exception to this rule in the family, who really felt for years that it was the wrong thing to have bought. This confirms your second point - depends what you want to, or are going to, use the stuff for.

iPads are defInitely not a replacement for a computer for most people who do very serious work, though the newest ones are getting close now. Where they are really brilliant for mobile users is in the battery life, which beats the heck out of almost all laptops.

teamsaint: the tethering point is a good one, but didn't son of Sycorax say he'd got an even earlier Sony Ericsson phone than the one I've got (810i is mine, I think) and is not intending to buy into iPhones?

[teamsaint]

In the UK, some network providers charge a tethering fee of about £5 per month. But this will still work out cheaper than having a separate tariff for your iPad's SIM and paying the premium for a SIM-capable iPad.

So in my case, I have unlimited data on my phone tariff, so for £5 per month I can have unlimited internet access/data download on my iPad and phone. But I have no need, so it'd be throwing a fiver in the mud every month. It would work for Dave2002, better than his existing arrangement does

oh, i didn't know about a tethering charge.Not sure if we have to pay this on EE, but then fortunately for me, the company pays the bill.
Thanks for the advice.
Talking of tethering, little known fact, at one time 300 horses could be stabled overnight in the town of Andover, when it was a popular stop over for horse drawn carriage things. You can still see much evidence of this at the pubs in the town. Must have been quite a sight on a busy night.

these days there is a travelodge.

[Dave2002]

It would work for Dave2002, better than his existing arrangement does

Probably not, as I don't use iPhones, my Android phone is (I hope!!!) temporarily lost, and I use PAYGO phone tarrifs. I may review this later, but right now I think things are about right.

[Beef Oven!]

Re point 1, buying an expensive iPad and then discovering it won't do something you later feel you need would also be a waste of money.

I bought an original iPad with 64 Gbytes, and until very recently it was mostly empty. Was that a waste of money?

Also, I was very unconvinced about iPads when I got mine, but most people I know who've got them think they're good, and more useful than they expected, for various and different reasons. There is one younger exception to this rule in the family, who really felt for years that it was the wrong thing to have bought. This confirms your second point - depends what you want to, or are going to, use the stuff for.

iPads are defInitely not a replacement for a computer for most people who do very serious work, though the newest ones are getting close now. Where they are really brilliant for mobile users is in the battery life, which beats the heck out of almost all laptops.

teamsaint: the tethering point is a good one, but didn't son of Sycorax say he'd got an even earlier Sony Ericsson phone than the one I've got (810i is mine, I think) and is not intending to buy into iPhones?

If I'd have listened to you I would be £100 out of pocket.

Your point about the Sony Ericsson phone does at last move away from a theoretical position and takes into account how the equipment and facilities will actually be used, but you shouldn't cherry pick like that.

[Beef Oven!]

oh, i didn't know about a tethering charge.Not sure if we have to pay this on EE, but then fortunately for me, the company pays the bill.
Thanks for the advice.
Talking of tethering, little known fact, at one time 300 horses could be stabled overnight in the town of Andover, when it was a popular stop over for horse drawn carriage things. You can still see much evidence of this at the pubs in the town. Must have been quite a sight on a busy night.

these days there is a travelodge.

I don't have to pay a tethering charge on the SIM card that I use in Europe. And even so, £18 per month on unlimited data on both my non SIM iPad and iPhone knocks all of Dave2002's theoretical stuff into a cocked-hat!!

[teamsaint]

If I'd have listened to you I would be £100 out of pocket.

Your point about the Sony Ericsson phone does at last move away from a theoretical position and takes into account how the equipment and facilities will actually be used, but you shouldn't cherry pick like that.

talking of being out of pocket, somebody drove into my garden fence the other day and buggered off , without admitting it.Knocked it down.
It is a good quality fence, previously in very good condition. The virginia creeper was very attached to it.

[Beef Oven!]

Probably not, as I don't use iPhones, my Android phone is (I hope!!!) temporarily lost, and I use PAYGO phone tarrifs. I may review this later, but right now I think things are about right.

No Dave2002, based on what you've said, it would work better for you, because you can tether your Android phone to your iPad. It doesn't have to be an iPhone.

So next time, don't waste money on a SIM enabled iPad.

[Beef Oven!]

talking of being out of pocket, somebody drove into my garden fence the other day and buggered off , without admitting it.Knocked it down.
It is a good quality fence, previously in very good condition. The virginia creeper was very attached to it.

Get some CCTV.