iPad size requirements - i.e. which model to get

[renau1g]

Hi all,

At my place of employment we have recognition points to dole out when someone does a job above & beyond. We use these points to "buy" things from a catalogue of options. I was considering procuring the iPad with my points as I've been saving for a bit now.

Now, for work purposes I have a Blackberry and a Playbook, so I don't need a 4G one as I can use if I need internet outside of a hotspot (and I don't want to pay for an expensive data plan). So I've settled on a wifi model. This one will be mostly for gaming, video watching, and internet browsing.

So, my question is, what size do people who have one recommend? I currently could buy either the 16 or 32 GB unit, or wait a bit and get a 64 GB one.

 

[Alan Shutko]

So, my question is, what size do people who have one recommend? I currently could buy either the 16 or 32 GB unit, or wait a bit and get a 64 GB one.

Depends on what you're going to put on there. The big games are about a GB each. Audio is small, but can add up. Video takes tons of space, but you may not need to keep much on the iPad if you sync different movies/episodes on as you watch others.

I've got a 64GB iPad with about 18GB free. I have a lot of books and audio books synced on there (11GB total). I've got episodes from a few TV series, and I also sync a bunch of RPG PDFs to it with DEVONthink To Go. For me, that's a comfortable amount of space and I don't have to worry about managing the space. I could get by with 32GB but I'd have to spend more effort moving things on and off as I used it. I couldn't get by with 16GB.

YMMV.

 

[Janx]

whereas, I get by with 16GB on my iPad 1.

I don't keep any movies on it.

My wife has cluttered it up with games I don't play.

a 32GB model is probably a good middle-of the road choice.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

We've got a lot of games on both our iPad 1 and 2 (including jumbo ones like Dead Space, Grand Theft Auto and others), but the space only really gets gobbled up when you stick movies on. If you're not likely to carry around movies with you -- and honestly, as streaming libraries get better and better, that's not very necessary unless you fly a lot -- smaller ones are fine.

 

[Plane Sailing]

I've had a 32Gb model for a year and it has been a really good size for me.

 

[Fast Learner]

32GB is likely plenty. I wouldn't get a 16GB one these days, though, since apps are getting quite a bit larger due to their need to include iPad Retina-resolution graphics (even if the app isn't on a device equipped with such).

I'd only get the 64GB if I planned to keep a lot of video on it, which as others have stated, really isn't necessary.

 

[Alan Shutko]

If you're not likely to carry around movies with you -- and honestly, as streaming libraries get better and better, that's not very necessary unless you fly a lot -- smaller ones are fine.

Yep, that's the main thing to think about. I mostly use the videos on the device when flying. Streaming is perfectly fine otherwise, especially if you're doing it at home. (Out and about, you're at the mercy of the wifi you're using, of course. Which reminds me, I also put videos on the iPad when I'm in a hotel, since hotel wifi is usually one step worse than a dialup modem.)

 

[renau1g]

Sadly here in Canada a lot of the good streaming options are blocked or banned (Hulu is blocked, Netflix has most of their content blocked ), but seems like 32 should be fine.

Thanks all!

 

[IronWolf]

Sadly here in Canada a lot of the good streaming options are blocked or banned (Hulu is blocked, Netflix has most of their content blocked ), but seems like 32 should be fine.

I also agree the 32GB seems to be the sweet spot, though I could get by with a 16GB pretty easily too. On my Gen 1 which I use a lot for gaming PDFs and such I am only using 5.4GB of my 32GB. I don't keep any videos on it, a handful of podcasts, etc.

 

[falcarrion]

go for the 32. you would suprized how many apps you will end up buying.