Sprint's snazzy, speedy 4G iPad case

How ironic is it that, while reading this on my iPhone, I clicked the Overdrive 4G link only to see a Sprint page wherein "Flash is required"! If iPad users are a large potential client base, perhaps Sprint should rethink their site construction.

Well I took the leap of faith and thought great idea and went to Best buy to pick this up. First off they did not have the case in stock as advertised but gave me a note to pick it up later (Fine)

Anyway I got the 3G/4G device and headed home to play.

The IPAD uses a lot more internet than you think. Since this little device tells you how much you have used it was very interesting. On 3G inside the house it was all right nothing to scream about and the 4G was spotty tried in several locations and sometimes I would get connected and other time no dice it would fail over to the 3G.

Now remember you are capped at 5Gigs of data on 3G network usage and if you go over that then you will get charged. I even locked the device to 4G only that way it would never fail over to 3G. Again not very good coverage and yet on the map I show that I should have the 4G everywhere in my house.

Thought that the shielding from the house was the prob so went outside in the front and back yard and no different spotty at best. when I found the right spot man this thing screams but move an inch and wham no internet.

So my last test was to take the device to work as thats where I need it the most. So this morning booted up the device at my desk and nothing it sits there searching. I moved the device all around the room still nothing.

I took the device outside and yes got a 4G connection but moved a foot and wham again no internet and the device started search again. So I will be heading to Best buy to return the device.

Overall its a great idea but 4G is not ready for prime time, Also the IPAD is a internet hog and if you think that you could just use the 3G network on this device you will be paying a lot of money. In my test normal web surfing for 15min no video just web I used 7meg. Thats alot of data just a for a few websites.

I have an order for the 3G IPAD and I bet At&T will not be able to handle the network draw this device will cause.

what happened to the iPhone section of TUAW? why is it crossed out?

Of course ID be a lot more impressed with sprints commitment to iPad if any of those links worked without stupid flash. I'd love to know what sprint is offering.

Just tether it to your iPhone. Done and done.

Sprint, Vzn & T-mobile need a data plan that can compete with AT&T's iPad plan which is priced at half of what such services usually cost. It's true that the Death Star's data plan is for iPad only while all others would allow up to 5 simultaneous connections. Nonetheless, an iPad only plan priced at $25 or even $35 might be a great source of income for any of those telcos.

My iPhone gets speeds over 2Mbps in the real world. Still not as good as Wimax, but your 3G estimates are a at least less than half of what is possible.

Marketing fail. The sprint web page is flash only!

Wow, Deja vu... I read this on engadget earlier today ;)

Dream on. As an overdrive owner I can tell you that the battery is minimally useful. The download speeds are nothing like advertised, not even close and it takes 2-4 minutes to turn on. Real world internet speeds are no different here in seattle with 4g as with 3g. Pretty much always seems sluggish. Those advertised download speeds are pure fiction.