Everything You Need to Know About the Apple iPad

The iPad Hath Arrived

July 23rd, 2010, a day where finally makes its way to our now rainy island. This time, Apple isn’t doing an official launch and has left it to their resellers, so we headed down to their shops in the Orchard Road area to survey the area.

As can be expected, queues have started forming pretty early at the stores and we spoke to the first persons in line and found out that most of them have been queuing since 6am! However the queues weren't as stretched as you may have feared, since there are a couple of other factors at play in this launch. Firstly, the recent iPhone 4 launch announcement in this same time frame have sort of gotten people thinking on what to spend their hard earned cash on. The iPad is still a relatively new form of portable device and people have yet to get acquainted with this form factor (if you need a quick overview of the device, check out our ). The other reason is because the iPad is made available to most of the Apple resellers, there's not too much crowd at any one place. Still, if you're looking to avoid all queues, based on what we've seen so far, it may be a good idea to head to places like Best Denki, which has Apple shops in-store. Bear in mind that these places may have limited stocks, compared to the premium resellers like Epicentre and istudio.

We also got Epicentre to answer some questions about the iPad:

Q: What is the warranty policy? Since the iPad is under international warranty, will sets bought overseas be eligible? If so, where should users go?

A: The iPad comes with a limited international warranty of 1 year from the date of purchase. Customers can purchase the Apple Care for $158 to enjoy 2 years of limited international warranty.



Q: Can customers sign up for a data plan at EpiCentre, or would they have to do it through the telcos?

A: Customers are able to sign up for a data plan at any EpiCentre outlet.



Q: Will EpiCentre be offering any official Apple iPad accessories? (e.g camera connection kit, case, keyboard dock, dock, etc)

A: Yes, official Apple iPad accessories will be available at EpiCentre from 23 July 2010.



Q: Is EpiCentre restricting every purchase to two iPad unit?

A: Yes, every customer is limited to two iPad units per purchase. This will be implemented across all Apple authorized resellers.

Official iPad and Accessory Prices

The Alternative

If you aren’t willing to queue or perhaps one of the official outlets ran out of stock, the iPads are still available from shops in Sim Lim Square and Far East Shopping Center, though bear in mind that these may still command a premium pricing, much higher than what you will pay for from the authorized Apple resellers. Last we checked, a 16GB WiFi Apple iPad was going for S$940 - ~$1100, and that’s a hefty premium.

According to most vendors that we spoke to, there are also no plans at the moment  to slash prices down since they will be making a loss as they brought the iPads in at a higher cost due to shipping. We're guessing they are hoping official stocks run out and buyers who can't wait for a restock will get their iPad fix from them.

Now, if you haven’t yet decided if you wanted to get an iPad, and are thinking of getting one, we’ve come up with a handy guide over on the next page to help you make up your mind. Also, if you are getting the 3G version of the iPad, we have broken down the telco plans into an easily digestible form.

Which iPad is for You?

Not sure which iPad to get? Don't worry, HardwareZone's got your back.

There are really only three questions you need to ask yourself to see which iPad is for you.

1. Do you need to stay online on the go? Then you need to go 3G.

2. Do you watch a lot of media on the go? Then you need a 32GB or a 64GB iPad.

3. Do you mind paying extra for your iPad? The monthly 3G data plan will add additional cost to your iPad purchase - for as long as you're subscribed to it.

Still not sure which iPad is for you? Perhaps you might want to see which user profile suits you most:-

The Road Warrior

If you want to use your iPad to stay connected, like emailing on the go, then you need to go the 3G route. The 3G edition is also recommended if you really like getting your fix then and there, like getting the hottest app, updating your apps (like pulling articles into Instapaper), and having the latest news (with newspaper and magazine apps).

The Movie Buff

Large files are the only reason you'd need more storage, and the culprits are usually movie files, and to a lesser extent, music files and podcasts. If you want to bring lots of shows to accompany you on those long flights, you're better served with a 32GB or 64GB model.

The Player

If you're using the iPad mainly to play games, chances are you won't need 3G or lots of storage. A 16GB model will suffice, 32GB will be a treat.

The Wireless Surfer

If you're using the iPad mostly in places where you'll have Wi-Fi, like home, office or your friendly neighborhood coffee place, a Wi-Fi iPad will help you save money over the 3G version.

The Librarian

Do you intend to do a lot of reading on the iPad? Chances are you would have downloaded your media at home or in the office via Wi-Fi, by using magazine apps, eBooks with iBooks or reading apps like Instapaper, before heading out. Only reason for 3G? If you like having your newspapers, like the NYT or the Straits Times, on the go.

The Social Butterfly

Always need to be updating and checking your Twitter/Facebook feeds? Then you'll really need to get the 3G iPad edition. Or just use your phone for that and get the Wi-Fi iPad, but that requires some know-how.

Connecting your iPad

iPad Data Plans

Not surprisingly, the three Singapore telcos, namely M1, SingTel and StarHub, have also announced an accompanying iPad data plan for its customers. Each company has its own unique price package, and to make it easier, we round up some of the comparable points for your consideration:

Postpaid Data Plans

Prepaid Data Plans

From the postpaid perspective, SingTel is currently offering the best value for money across a 2-year period, even for its highest contract offering of S$36.50 with a free USB dongle and microSIM to SIM card adaptor. The plan is built for the average user who relies moderately on their 3G connectivity to go online. However, if you are a heavy data user, it might be wise to opt for either StarHub's or M1's unlimited data offer, since there's no data limit or excess cap charged for both plans

A 2-year contract is in effect for some of SingTel's and StarHub's data plans. When there's a contract, there's bound to be a penalty involved. Here's what you need to know if you do an early termination with either SingTel or StarHub:

• SingTel: Penalty according to number of months left (and equipment penalty if you get the dongle)
  
  
  
  E.g. If have 20 months left on your contract, you'll have to pay up to 20 months x the monthly subscription, and the S$300 equipment penalty should you opt to get the dongle.
  
   
• StarHub: The penalty varies from S$24.61 to S$588.50, depending on the point in time that the contract is terminated.

What if you're already using an integrated voice and data plan? Does it make economic sense to take up a separate data plan just to enjoy constant connectivity on the iPad? We present two possible alternatives for you to consider:

Creating Wi-Fi Hotspots

This option is catered for those who are looking to get the iPads relying solely on the Wi-Fi connectivity and having an existing or looking to get an integrated voice and data plan.

Singapore is well-connected with its Wi-Fi infrastructure, but there will be times when a Wi-Fi point is out of reach. As such, you can create your very own Wi-Fi hotspot using your mobile phones. This is applicable for a few devices:

• HTC HD2
• Google Nexus One
• Samsung Galaxy S
• Samsung Wave
• Samsung Galaxy Beam

So if you already own the above mentioned devices or plan to get one, you have a viable alternative in the form of your own Wi-Fi hotspot. In the near future, Google Android devices that have been updated to version 2.2 (Froyo) will also allow you to create wireless hotspots. 

Getting a Multi-SIM and cutting it to microSIM size

This method is based on the assumption that you are going for the iPad 3G versions. Do note that cutting the SIM card has some risk involved and if you're not careful, you could damage your SIM card.

A microSIM is only different from a SIM card in dimensions. As such, to fully utilize your current subscription, you can opt to apply for a multi-SIM card, which lets you have multiple SIM cards under the same number. This will chalk up an additional amount to be paid per month and in some cases, a one-time registration fee for the multi-SIMs.

Here's the breakdown of the multi-SIM cost across all three telcos:

The next step is to cut one of your multi-SIMs to microSIM size, which measures by 15mm x 12mm. You can cut your SIM card to that specific size with a scissors, but if you have the spare cash and want some assurance, there's a tool called Cut My Sim that cuts your SIM card to the actual size and a microSIM to SIM card adaptor. According to the website, this tool costs 19.95 euros.

Well, that's all for this guide, have fun using your new iPad!

Our articles may contain affiliate links. If you buy through these links, we may earn a small commission.