Only you can decide what makes it worth it. But I’ve been using one with the UoW wireless network, and I’ve found that if you Border Authenticate (which only staff can do) then quite a lot of the useful and fun “apps” work. Otherwise you’re limited to the apps which are “stand alone” ie tools and games that work locally on the iPad and don’t rely on the Internet. Another good option is to forget the app, but just use the website, especially if it has a mobile version eg http://m.virginblue.com.au. Staff and students are ok with these websites, just authenticate with your regular UoW username and password.

Note re wifi and app testing locations: I’ve been doing this in my own time at Wollongong campus. Specifically, in the “Out to lunch cafe” opposite Student Central. I’ve also used it a bit for UOW webpages in the Bld 36 common meeting rooms.

iPad apps that work for me on UOW wifi:

1. UOW webpages and intranet (works great, it’s faster than my desktop machine).
2. Email and Calendar synced to Exchange ie work email (love it, great interface).
3. “Pages” word-processor (love the templates, and just email it to yourself when you’re done so you can work on it some more back at the office.)
4. Notes tool (native app, ok for note taking and reading on screen but formatting is horrid if you email it to yourself. Better to make notes in Pages which holds it’s formatting, see above.)
5. Fruit Ninja, Veggie Samurai, ZenBound: my favorite games for winding down. No educational purpose at all, but they sure are great for ten mins time-out. They don’t need an Internet connection at all.
6. Words with Friends: this one needs the Internet and Border Authentication to work on the wifi. It’s asynchronous Scrabble where your opponent could be anywhere in the world, or over the other side of campus. Search for friends by their email address.
7. TripIt (train timetables) – this is a great standalone app. It downloads the latest timetables to the app, so after you’ve installed it, you don’t need the internet (wifi or 3G) to see the train times. You just have to make sure you update it whenever it says there is an update, because that usually means there’s an update to the timetables you need to get.
8. Wikipedia, most News/current affairs apps (need Border Authentication). So student (who can’t Border Authenticate) will have to use http://m.abc.net.au for example, and create a bookmark for this on their home-screen.
9. YouTube and Maps (need Border Authentication).
10. DropBox (upload all your important files to free storage on the web and then access wherever you are in the world, so long as you can get on the internet.)  Very useful. Need to Border Authenticate if on the UOW wireless network.
11. IBooks (love the free classics that are out of copyright, great to read in bed). Once you’ve downloaded the book, then you don’t need the internet (wifi or 3G) and can read anytime you’ve got power….
12. Pocket Cinema (purchase tickets, get session times) and WeatherZone (weather updates) (need Border Authentication).

Apps I can’t get to work on UOW wifi

1. WordPress blogging app just won’t work over our wifi, even with Border Authenticating ( which I use daily on my 3G iPhone and is mission critical for me, I’m in email discussion with the developers over proxy setting and other possible fixes).
2. Text plus (supposed to send free text messages to mobile phones but it won’t work on wifi at all. With 3G it sent, but my friend never got it, so I’m thinking this is not much chop.)

Not sure/untested:

1. Will Email sync to private/external Hotmail and Gmail if you can’t Border Authenticate?
2. Skype app – works great on my G3 iPhone, but ow will it go on the iPad over wifi?
3. Shazam for sharing song playlists with friends, for music lovers (haven’t been able to try this one yet cos I haven’t got music loaded on my iPad yet, but I’ll get to it.)