How to activate a 3g iPad without a computer?

you must sync with itunes at least the first time

Take it to the apple store and they said they would do it - call first to be certain they are honoring this still.. They change their minds often.

Na! as long as the check clears they generally don't care at some stores.

They will give you a lecture about reading the system requirements and such.

I don't understand why you don't just plug it in and activate it with your computer. It's very simple to do.

http://manuals.info.apple.com/enUS/iPad_UserGuide.pdf - page 27 has the info you need.

The computer is only necessary to back up files and to update the iPad OS. If your mother-in-law doesn't need to do those things, it doesn't matter what computer it is "linked" to.

Nope...I had mine activated at the apple store so I could use it immediately...then I got home and actually synced it with my computer without having to do any extra steps...

Yes...it's still really a "peripheral" device that needs to sync to a home notebook or desktop like a big Ipod. I guess they presume that most people have a home computer. Perhaps future Ipad generations will be less "tethered"

I played with an Ipad in an Apple store the other day and was very tempted to buy it because of it's UI, but then decided I would prefer to wait for future generations, in part because of your issue.

Best,

M

To clarify, you do not have to sync to activate the iPad. Connect it to your computer and wait until the slide to unlock screen appears. At that point, if you disconnect the iPad from the computer, it should now be functional. Hope that helps and I hope she likes her iPad!

So then how do you update to new versions of the OS or have automatic updates? How do you back up your purchases? Does Mobile ME work for this?

Just curious?

I believe the original poster mentioned that his mother would then set it up fully on her machine, I just wanted to offer a way for him to get the ball rolling without an actual sync. It will still require a computer for updates and backups, but he could at least set it up and get her started.

You are probably right Lauren. Perhaps I misread or "read" my own dilemma into this post. My completely computer illiterate 70-something mother the other day expressed an interest in looking into an Ipad. She pretty much wants to read books and magazines, and to get on a browser to research her interests and load and manage pictures - but of course she would still need at least a net book to sync to for updates and to save/back up any books she purchased - etc. I am hoping that future iterations of the ipad will be less computer "home base" dependent.

M.

I think this is a bug, it could be great to open your ipad and start using it immediately without waiting to connect it to a computer. This causes other problems like people trying to use their ipad for the first time and only looking at a black screen and their ipad turning off without any error message.

Also remember that you can also buy an ipad in other places like best buy and some times people will not know that if you don't have a computer you can't use it.

If apple is not going to let you use an ipad without first connecting it to itunes then they will need to place an advice telling people that they need to connect the ipad to a computer to use it on big letters.