Yup. At least a gazillion times.
Advantages of 3G iPad
() Internet (almost) always available.
() GPS functionality included
() Pay as you go monthly data plan $30-$35 with 2 Gig ceiling. Additional $10 per month for each 1Gig beyond ceiling.
Advantages of wifi only iPad
() Save $130 on initial iPad purchase.
() Save $30-$35 for 2Gig download per month.
Alternatives to 3G iPad if you want 3G or 4G internet access where wifi is not available.
Mobile Hotspot (Verizon)
() 4G/LTE data access speed (up to 10x faster than 3G) but not available in all areas. Otherwise 3G
() Connect multiple devices (up to five)
() Two year contract data plan $50 per month with 5Gig ceiling. Month to month plans are available but the cost of the device and the monthly data charges make them uneconomical.
() $50-$100 up front purchase price. May be less if you're already a Verizon customer.
Other Mobile Hotspot Options.
() AT&T offers roughly the same deals as Verizon. The AT&T 4G network is not as extensive nor as fast as Verizon. Fewer hotspot device choices available.
() Virgin Mobile offers a month to month contract with a higher priced hotspot ($150) and "unlimited" 3G only access ($50 per month) . However, it is "throttled" for access beyond 2.5 Gig per month. If you have a wifi only iPad and plan to go on a trip where you'll need 3G for a limited period, this might be a good choice. But with the cost of the device, it's a pretty expensive option.
() Other carriers, e.g T-Mobile, Sprint offer mobile hotspots, as well. I'm just not familiar with their offerings.
() If you want "4G" speed, be careful. There is no standard definition of "4G" networks. Thus, any carrier can claim to have a "4G" option and they differ greatly in terms of speed and coverage.
Smartphone Tethering. Shared data plan. Worthwhile if you already have a data plan on a smartphone and don't want to pay for an additional data plan.
() Available on some smartphones from Verizon and AT&T
() 3G or 4G depending on phone and carrier.
() Typically a $20 per month additional charge.
() Typically adding tethering capability to an existing contract will invalidate a "grandfathered" "unlimited" data plan for a phone, but YMMV.
() Depending on the phone "free tethering" (wired or wireless) may be available. However, tethering a smartphone without paying a monthly charge typically violates a user's contract with the carrier and may require "jailbreaking" or "rooting" the phone.
GPS connected hardware. This option enables a wifi only iPad to provide the same GPS functionality as a 3G iPad.
() Typically about $100 for several different models provides GPS functionality for wifi only iPad.
() Connect with dongle to iPad's 30 pin connector.
() No additional monthly charge though additional costs for specialized map apps may be required.
Note: Less costly monthly plans (for hotspots) are usually available. However, most consumers are probably better off with a 2Gig ceiling since overage charges quickly exceed the 2 Gig monthly charge for less data. If you seldom listen to streaming audio or watch streaming video, you may be able to get along with cheaper plans. Likewise, if you very seldom need any 3G connectivity, a cheaper plan may work for you.
Note: All plan and hotspot information limited to US. European and those in other countries have different (and frequently better) options for mobile hotspots.
Note: Mobile hotspots typically have a shorter battery life than the 3G iPad. Mine typically runs for about 5 hours without a charge.
The bottom line is that the simplest (and usually the least expensive) alternative is a 3G iPad with a standard pay as you go (month to month) $30 data plan. However, if you need to connect multiple devices, such as a laptop, or have a smartphone capable of tethering (and sharing) an existing data plan, you may be better off with an alternative. And if you're getting a 3G iPad solely for the GPS functionality (and don't plan to activate the 3G option), a connected GPS unit may provide better functionality for less money.
