Not all iPads are internet compatible.
You log on, just as you do a computer.
They CAN be as good as a computer, depending on what you do on your computer.

If you want and need a computer... I'd recommend a laptop.

~LuAnn, who has a laptop (that she would NOT do without!), an iPad, an iPhone and and iPod!

All iPads are internet compatible; they come with the Safari browser.

Some need a WiFi connection; others use 3G (or 4G).

If all you want is something to surf the web, play games, etc., it's fine. I use mine as an e-reader, play games, surf the web, email, and have some apps that allow me to work (using Word/Excel/etc.).

Look for the safari Icon at the bottom of the Ipad screen or scroll through the icons. After tapping safari and seeing the find box at the top, type in your destination .

Sorry, not a good explanation but it might get you started.

After getting our iPad, we never use our laptop anymore.

And a quick explanation of the difference between WiFi capable and 3G/4G capable (I'm sure raven can explain it better)

WiFi uses wireless network signals to connect to the internet. Examples of WiFi are home broadcasting of internet connection, restaurants/public places offering "Free WiFi" (or paid).

3G/4G uses cell phone technology to connect to the internet. You must have a cell phone plan that includes data and the device must be registered with the provider to receive the signal. You pay for data based on the provider you have. You can get a signal anywhere your cell phone works.

We have a computer, a laptop and an IPad. Crazy, isn't it?. We've had our computer for a few years, hubby bought the laptop after Christmas and I got my IPad as a gift from my son's family. To activate the IPad to the internet you need to put the number from the bottom of your modem into your setting on your IPad. My son did mine for me. You can do a lot on an IPad. I really enjoy. One of the main thing is the camera. It is so easy to snap a picture or video and send it along. My 11 and 9 year old granddaughters each have one and know more then I do..

Picture this. My hubby in his lazy boy and me on the couch each evening clicking away.. It's funny when he sends me something from across the room.

You can do some things without being online. I play solitaire a lot while we are in our car going to our home away. You can take pictures and videos anywhere. You can print from it like a computer, too. Verizon has a thing that you can purchase for $10.00 a month to be able to use it anywhere. I am considering doing this. A friend of mine does this and says it works really well.

If you purchase one be sure to buy a nice case to protect it incase you happen to drop it. Getting a screen replaced is not cheap.

If you know someone that has one have them show you what it can do. It does not do all that a computer does. But I am sure you will be amazed what it does. My son has his own business and would be lost without his.

LOL! Yes, I explained that wrong.

All iPad can connect, but HOW they connect can differ.

DH says I'm "spoiled" - I have 3 desktop computers (one on each level of the house), a laptop, and he and I each have an iPad. The iPad is nice, and it has some fun games on it...but if I could only have one choice, I would definitely choose a desktop. I did buy a keyboard for the iPad, because the "keyboard" on the iPad is not user-friendly IMO. But I still prefer the keyboard that goes with the desktop.

The iPad camera is OK, but I prefer my digital cameras--the picture quality is much better.

susie53, can you tell me the name of the thing from verizon for $10 a month to get internet on your ipad?

Thanks!

Anywhere? Like away from the wireless router? I'd like to know too.

Katlin, I'll try to call my friend tomorrow.

yes no kidding I want to know about that thing too.

I don't have an ipad I have several android tablets, I can do most of what I do with my laptop and desktop, but at this point in time I would not give up my desktops. My ASUS transformer tablet has a dock keyboard that just clicks on to it and is exactly like a laptop keyboard so I am basically using it as a laptop when I attach the keyboard. I personally prefer it to an ipad just my preference for the Android operating system plus the cost is much less.

I pay 14.99 a month and can take my IPad anywhere and get Internet service. This is through AT&T

I have Verizon and when I am traveling, I go online to my Verizon account and Change My Plan. There it lists how many GB of this and that you get on your PHONE. One of the options is Personal Hotspot. When I check the box for that option, it gives me the choice of starting it immediately or with my next billing cycle. After my 17% discount, the net difference for adding the Personal Hotspot to my iPhone is $10 a month. My phone becomes my network. I turn on Personal Hotspot on the iPhone, then log onto my iPad (which is WiFi only) and one of the networks available will be "iPhone". Join that network with your password. My grandkids use at the same time in the car and they are accessing through their Chromebook or iPod Touch. My DGD has my old iPad I with 3g but there is no need to turn on her 3G at an extra $14.99 month. Her iPad is an ATT iPad and connects fine on my Verizon Hotspot.

By the way, I'm embarrassed to admit I have a desktop, a laptop, a netbook, an iPad 4 and numerous iPods...one of which gets wi-fi. I use my iPad the most, but there are times when it doesn't do ALL. Especially if I want to see/read an attachment to an email. (Hate to say it, but I also want the mini...I'm incorrigible!)

I've always wanted to learn how to make a hotspot. I'm guessing it uses plenty of data. I only have 2 GBs a month. I will explore this. Thanks red curls.

yes that would be the major downside to doing that type of connection it uses the data plan for the phone and therefore the allotted amount of the data plan would have to be pretty large. I have a minimal data plan for my smartphone so unless I upgraded to the max data plan, which would cost quite a bit more, and also paid for the opportunity to use it as a hot spot, I couldn't do it. I checked into the options with att, who is my carrier for my smartphone, and to be able to get the hot spot option you must upgrade to their max data plan which is not unlimited unfortunately but even the ones that claim to be unlimited are not truly unlimited. Amounts to quite a few additional charges. And even though att tries to say that the coverage is great in fact it's not, here at my house in the Houston area, a major coverage area on their map and a 4G area, I barely have 1-2 bars and not 4g. In Galveston it was about the same, in Louisiana it's worse. I don't know how they determine the map coverage information but I donâÂÂt agree with it from my experience.
I am on the lookout for a better solution for the smartphones and the ability to connect with other technology while traveling.

On the topic of cell phone signals, I think the issue is more about your carrier than about the area.

I used to have both Verizon and ATT devices. Verizon's signal strength and coverage consistently put ATT's to shame. I have just Verizon now, and around the US (in doing a fair amount of travelling) it's rare to have less than 3 bars anywhere. Deep inside a large building, all bets are off with any carrier.

There could be places where other carriers have better coverage than Verizon. I know even in my hilly home area, the Verizon signal is usually very good everywhere.

By the way, I just now added Personal Hotspot to my grandson's phone because they are going on a car trip. I had forgotten, but that $10 added charge also gives you an addition 2GB of data....that's a bargain!!! Unless you are going to STREAM a bunch of movies, I would think the 2GB Smart Phone data allowance plus the additional 2 GB Personal Hotspot allowance should be ample. I have myself and 4 teenage grandchildren on my plan...each of us with an iPhone and have never gone over on data charges. Wi-Fi definitely makes for more pleasant car trips.

My husband bought an IPad for me. So far, I haven't used it because he is always using it. :)