How you connect to the Internet depends on which iPad model you own. The Wi-Fi-only iPad connects to the Internet via a wireless network. If you own a 3G-enabled iPad, you can still use a Wi-Fi connection, but you can also use a paid data network through AT&T to connect from just about anywhere via their cellular network.
Free public Wi-Fi networks typically don't require a password, which is cool because it means your connection is free. However, that also means they're unsecured, so it's possible for someone else to track your online activities over the network. Bottom line: Avoid accessing financial accounts or sending sensitive e-mails when your iPad is connected to a public hotspot.
Exploring Safari
Just in case you've never used Safari, here's a quick rundown of how it works on your iPad. It offers all the typical browser tools, but an important iPad twist is how you can use gestures on the touchscreen to manipulate pages and navigate the web.
Though Safari is a fine browser, you aren't limited to it. You can download other browsers to iPad. Check out the App Store for the latest available browsers.
Try the following steps to practice using Safari:
After you're connected to a network, tap the Safari button on the Home screen.
Safari opens, probably displaying the Apple iPad home page the first time you go online using it.
Double-tap the screen with a single finger to enlarge it.
Double-tap again to return to the default screen size.
Put your finger on the screen and drag upward to scroll down the page.
To return to the top of the web page, put your finger on the screen and drag downward, or tap the Status bar at the top of the screen.
You can also use the pinch method to enlarge or reduce the size of a web page on your screen. Using this method, you can enlarge or reduce the screen to various sizes, giving you more flexibility than with the double-tap method described in Step 2.
When you enlarge the screen, you get more control using two fingers to drag left to right or top to bottom on the page. In a reduced screen, one finger works fine for these gestures.
Navigating among web pages
You've probably entered URLs and used the Next and Previous buttons to navigate around the web. However, the iPad's onscreen keyboard differs slightly from a standard keyboard, and it might help you to run through how you navigate with the mobile version of Safari.
Follow these steps for a bit of navigating practice:
Tap in the Address field.
The onscreen keyboard appears.
Enter a web address, using the .com key to make entry faster.
Note: By holding down the .com key, you get access to options like .edu, .gov, and .net.
Tap the Go key on the keyboard.
The web site appears.
If, for some reason, a page doesn't display, tap the Reload icon on the right side of the Address field.
If Safari is loading a web page and you change your mind, you can tap the Cancel icon (the X) that appears on the right side of the Address field during this process to stop loading the page.
Tap the Previous arrow to go backward to the first page.
Tap the Next arrow to go forward to the second page you displayed.
To follow a link to another web page, tap the link with your finger.
If you would like to view the destination web address of the link before you tap it, just touch and hold the link, and a menu appears that displays the address at the top.
By default, AutoFill is turned on in iPad, causing entries you make in fields such as the Address field to automatically display possible matching entries. You can turn AutoFill off using iPad Settings.