Mannie,
If it is 3G enabled, on one of the two long sides, you'll see a hole about the size of the diameter of a wire paper clip at one end of a skinny rectangle. That would be where you insert the SIM card. The other long side has a couple of sliding switches that were originally for locking the screen orientation and for sound volume control, but their function has changed with the O/S 4 upgrade (the little toggle now controls muting sound and the screen orientation is taken care of on the touch screen). Anyhow, if it does not have a SIM card slot, that means that the iPad relies on hooking up to the internet via wifi - which is really the best way to use the iPad most of the time except when traveling. I'm still looking into solutions for internet when outside of Canada. My brother suggested getting a Cradlepoint hub (they are very small) and using my USB modem to provide the net connection. The Cradlepoint hub creates a small portable wifi zone which could then be used with the iPad (either a 3G or the non-3G type), as well as for anyone who I might want to share the hub with. Not really a bad idea for me as I have a USB modem for use in the U.S. (Virgin Mobile) and it worked well last year with the MacBook. That might be a good solution for your iPad if it turns out to not be a 3G model - assuming you want to be able to use it in places where wifi isn't available.
What I liked about 3G when I was in Canada was that it worked in all kinds of crazy places. I was able to talk to my mom using Skype from a lot of my campsites - even ones that were fairly out of the way. Of course, it depends on whether there is 3G coverage in an area, but there were very few times when I could not get connected. I tested it against the blackberry and sometimes one would work when the other didn't - it really depended on the terrain. One way in which the blackberry is better is that if I'm in a truly remote area, if I write emails and then set the blackberry somewhere for a few hours, it will almost always be able to send and receive emails (in areas where there is no way I will get a good enough coverage for voice). I keep the blackberry as it is kind of like my emergency lifeline when I'm in the back country far beyond normal cell coverage. It's not as good as a satellite phone, but better than nothing.
~ croc |
