Impatience is a powerful thing. I understand that completely. And I've already pre-ordered a Wi-Fi iPad, because I really have one as soon as humanly possible. (This is my job, after all.)

But for regular users--for people who aren't tech writers or software developers--I think the have a whole lot going for them. And they deserve serious consideration, despite the wait.

Now, the later ship date of the Wi-Fi plus 3G iPad models (keep in mind, iPads include Wi-Fi) is not the only barrier that might make you consider not buying one. There's a definite price difference. To get your hands on an iPad that supports the 3G cellular network, you'll need to shell out $130 more than what you'd pay for a Wi-Fi-only model with the same amount of storage.

But unlike just about every other cellular-connected device out there, buying the 3G iPad doesn't actually commit you to paying a single penny to AT&T (the exclusive U.S. provider of the iPad's 3G data plan). This is because Apple has cut a remarkable deal with AT&T, allowing iPad users to access AT&T's network .

When you buy an iPad with Wi-Fi and 3G, you can use it happily without ever enabling the 3G features. Now, if you're planning on never taking your iPad anywhere that doesn't offer Wi-Fi, you can give up flexibility and save your $130. But how many people will never want to use their iPads on anything but Wi-Fi? Plenty of commuters don't have access to Wi-Fi during their journeys. When you're traveling, Wi-Fi can be hard to come by. The iPhone has taught us that it's really, really nice to have a 3G data network available whenever you want.a--