Quick tech question

[Ginevra]

Dh has had an iPad for several years; I’m guessing it is probably seven years old or so. It has been on AT&T for cellular data for all this while. A few years ago, the data plan price decreased from $50/month for 15Gb data to $35/month Unlimited. (Which actually means “throttled”, but that’s not important here.) 

His data stopped working. He went to two ATT stores and they tell him his only option is a data plan that’s $80/month. This makes no sense to me though because I also have an iPad and have the UL plan for $35/mth. 
 

What do you think is going on? Is it because of the age of his iPad? (His is older than mine.) What solutions might we try?

[scholastica]

Has he kept up with updates to the operating system? 

[Katy]

It’s probably just too old. 

[Guest]

36 minutes ago, scholastica said:

Has he kept up with updates to the operating system? 

Ah! Good point! I’m going to guess almost certainly not. That may be the locus of the issue right there. 

[gardenmom5]

apple has been previously exposed for doing things to down throttle older equipment to get people to upgrade.

[gardenmom5]

4 hours ago, Quill said:

Ah! Good point! I’m going to guess almost certainly not. That may be the locus of the issue right there. 

there's a point when you can't update anymore - the hardware won't run newer software.

[gardenmom5]

1 hour ago, Patty Joanna said:

Yup.  And they had a big payout because of it.  Ask me how I know.  $. I got MY $5.  

The nature of electronic technology is to become outdated.  It is my primary problem with buying an iWatch.  If I spent that much money on a less-functional but mechanical watch, I'd have it for the rest of my life.  An iWatch, maybe 5 years?  But of course, the iWatch does a bazillion more things than the mechanical...and I already have a beautiful mechanical watch--which is now worth 10x what my dh paid for it 40 years ago.  :0)  

But I get it.  A tech company can't keep building software to drag the past into the present.  And sometimes, I *do* miss the command line.  

android is making watches that are similar. . . . 2ds wanted a very specific one for Christmas last year.     I had just replaced my fitbit, or I would have been very tempted.  I still think about it - but i refuse to buy apple anything.

[Arcadia]

On 12/21/2020 at 2:10 PM, Quill said:

Ah! Good point! I’m going to guess almost certainly not. That may be the locus of the issue right there. 

 

20 hours ago, gardenmom5 said:

there's a point when you can't update anymore - the hardware won't run newer software.

The cellular part of the hardware might also be too old. My parents had to buy new phones when 3G was phased out. 

 

[Guest]

3 hours ago, Arcadia said:

 

The cellular part of the hardware might also be too old. My parents had to buy new phones when 3G was phased out. 

 

Also a good point. 

Dh has decided he is getting a new one, but he will do it after Christmas. (Stores are super busy right now.) 

[Katy]

If he's going to wait he might want to check Best Buy stores and ask if they have open-box items (returns).  You can usually get apple products for half price, especially if you're willing to open a credit card.