Traveler 2.0

Why the Verizon iPad is a bad deal for consumers

Apple and Verizon announced this week that the iPad will be sold in Verizon wireless stores beginning Oct. 28.

Pardon me while I roll my eyes.

Eye-rolling reason no. 1: The iPad Verizon will sell is Wi-Fi only; Apple and other retailers sell iPads with Wi-Fi and 3G. Verizon is offering 3G connectivity via a MiFi card, which transforms a 3G data network into a Wi-Fi signal. Though the MiFi is tiny and thin, the portable router and its power adapter are two more things travelers will have to remember to pack (and avoid losing).

Eye-rolling reason no. 2: The Verizon iPad/MiFi bundle data plans aren't as attractive as Virgin Mobile's, at least for some consumers.

 Image via CrunchBase

Virgin Mobile sells a MiFi device, too. And like Verizon's iPad MiFi plan, Virgin Mobile's MiFi data plans don't require a contract. That's great.

But for occasional as well as heavy users, Virgin Mobile's plans may be more attractive. Virgin Mobile offers two MiFi data plans: $10 for 100MB (which expires in 10 days); and $40 for unlimited data per month.

By comparison, the Verizon MiFi plans for iPads are $20 monthly for 1GB; $35 monthly for 3GB; and $50 monthly for 5GB.

So if you're a heavy user, which would you rather pay: $40 a month for unlimited data (Virgin Mobile) or $50 a month for 5GB (Verizon)? Conversely, if you're an occasional, light user, which plan sounds better: $10 for 100MB (Virgin Mobile) or $20 for 1GB (Verizon)? I'd argue for the former--if you're just traveling for a few days and mainly need to check e-mail and do some light web browsing, 100MB is probably all the data you'd need.

Of course, the beauty of a MiFi device is that you can share its Wi-Fi connection with up to five devices at a time. So if you get the Verizon iPad/MiFi bundle, you can use the MiFi with your laptop or netbook, too.

Still, I think most people would be better off buying an iPad with 3G built-in (for use on AT&T's data network) or buying a Virgin Mobile MiFi and data plan.

Related articles

• Verizon Will Sell iPad+MiFi Bundles, Starting Oct 28th (apple.slashdot.org)
• The iPad comes to Verizon--or does it? (blogs.consumerreports.org)
• Verizon vs. AT&T on the iPad (blogs.wsj.com)

Stirring iPad envy at the SMX conference

I'm at the SMX conference this week in New York, taking notes in sessions on an iPad with the Apple iPad keyboard dock.

Apparently I'm also causing iPad envy, according to several of my fellow attendees.

I've seen a dozen or more people toting iPads instead of netbooks and laptops at the conference. But I've only seen one other person using an iPad in combination with a physical keyboard to take notes during sessions.

I think it's because most people don't yet trust their iPad to do what a netbook or laptop does. I was skeptical, too, about leaving my MacBook Air at home. Actually, I was downright nervous about it. But I'm really I'm glad I did. Here's why.

* The wireless network at the Javits center, the conference site, has been a challenge to use. Most attendees, including me, have not had much luck getting onto the Javitz Wi-Fi network. Fortunately, my iPad's 3G connection is working just fine.

* Oddly enough, the wireless network at my hotel (the Pod) hasn't been working properly either. Again, not something I've had to worry about, because of my 3G iPad.

* I suspected there wouldn't be power ports available to most attendees in the Javits conference rooms. Sadly, I was right. My MacBook Air laptop's battery conks out after about 2.5 hours. But it's nearly 5 p.m. Eastern time as I write this. I've been taking notes since this morning. And my iPad battery is still 46 percent charged.

The main downside I've experienced so far: The majority of rows in the conference rooms don't have tables. So when I've arrived late to a crowded session, I've had to type notes directly on my iPad, because, well, my lap isn't stable enough to balance the iPad and the keyboard dock. And typing notes quickly on an iPad isn't a great experience.

So the next time you attend a conference, consider leaving the netbook or laptop at home. You might inspire iPad envy. More importantly, you'll travel lightly (the iPad and keyboard dock together weigh just under 3 pounds). You'll be able to keep typing without a power outlet. And you might even have a more reliable Internet connection. (Who knew an AT&T 3G connection would be more reliable than Wi-Fi?)

Related articles

• Users love iPads so much they take them to bed (cultofmac.com)
• Analyst: Sharp rise in iPad sales estimates (tuaw.com)

Waiting for Palm's Foleo

Palm's Foleo, announced late spring, is due in "late summer," the company says. But as Engadget reports today, it's more likely Palm's laptop-like smart phone companion will hit shelves "sooner rather than later."

Some developers at this week's LinuxWorld conference who attended a seminar about writing applications for the Foleo had to sign a non-disclosure agreement, Engadget says. The developers were also given Foleo units in their retail packaging. Given that summer officially ends September 20th, this gives the folks at Palm 41 days to get Foleo on the market and meet their self-imposed deadline. With some software developers apparently just now receiving units, this could mean a "late summer" release could become "early fall." Or could it mean the Foleo will ship on time, but there won't be much third-party software available to run on it?

Either way, I'm interested to see how the Foleo fares when it  is released. With the Foleo, Palm is  creating a brand-new product category--a smart phone companion--and that's always tough to pull off.