The big weekend has come and gone: Apple’s new iPad is officially here, and the early reports from buyers and the press alike seems to be universally positive. That is, unless you’re one of the unlucky ones who decide to opt for the 3G-equipped model -- your wait has only just begun.

The life of an early adopter can sometimes be fraught with pitfalls. Take, for instance, this past weekend’s iPad launch. By all accounts, it was a hit, and lots of folks are loving their new device. But what about the poor saps like us -- um, you -- who decided to hold out for the 3G model slated to arrive later this month? There was no joy for you this weekend -- quite the opposite!

Take heart, dear 3G data-loving friends. Some of us right here at MacLife.com are in the same boat as you, having to wait until that magical day in “late April” when the FedEx or UPS truck pulls up the driveway with a shiny new box of magic straight from Apple (or rather Shenzhen, China). Until then, here are a few ways you can restrain your iPad envy -- or even embrace it.

Denial is Not a River in Egypt

We never promised you some of these ideas would be easy, right? Probably the simplest and cheapest thing to do is just act like the iPad isn’t even out yet. If you’ve already made it through the weekend without beating some poor customer over the head with their iPad box or just caving in and buying one anyway, you’re already halfway home.

Sure, there will be plenty of stuff written about the iPad in the weeks to come, so you’ll have to filter which websites you visit and what magazines you read to minimize any potential emotional damage to your soul. (But if you’re reading this now, you’ve clearly failed at even that simple task.) The mainstream media should be relatively safe, since their attention span is notoriously short and they’ll have forgotten all about the device by now. But beware: Apple will likely ramp up the television commercials from here on out, so you might want to stick with unpopular, unhip shows to watch for the next few weeks to avoid such painful reminders.

Stay busy at work. Spend extra time with your spouse or loved ones (to make up for all the time you’ll ignore them the minute your 3G iPad shows up). Get the yard in shape after a long winter. Wash the dog. You know, all that stuff that you used to get done before Apple corrupted us all with their fleet of touchscreen joy.

“I’m Smarter, I’m Prettier, and Doggone It, People Like Me!”

If The Force is strong with you, it might be easier to just embrace the fact that you’ve made the right decision all along. Sure, thousands of folks have gotten the jump on you this past weekend and they’ll be cuddling up with their new devices for the next few weeks while you’ll have the cold, cruel embrace of impatience to contend with. Buck up, friend: Ultimately, you will be the winner in this race.

For one thing, by late April when you finally do receive your 3G iPad, everyone else will have probably started to tire of theirs (or at the very least, it will have worn out its “newness”). You’ll be part of the strong, the proud, who courageously chose not to settle for less. You will be rewarded for your bravery with a device capable of going most anywhere in the country without being “tied down” by the ball and chain of a Wi-Fi connection.

Just imagine this scene: Your Wi-Fi iPad friends will all be hunkered down outside the nearby Starbuck’s or McDonald’s, chained to The Man’s Internet connection, while you -- Jedi Knight that you are -- deftly sit in your car as it whisks down the street past them, browsing away, answering e-mails on the go or downloading apps and e-books. (On second thought, better make that “sit in the passenger seat,” though… you’ll want to live long enough to gloat, after all.)

(Image courtesy of Syracuse.com)

Live Vicariously Through a Friend

This one is tough: First you have to find someone in your circle of friends who’s both a gadget nut and an early adopter (not everyone has them), and second, you have to know them well enough to show up at their doorstep without it looking super-obvious why you’re there. (When in doubt, do some research and come bearing their favorite food or snack, at the very least. Apple Gift Cards also make a nice bribe.)

After all, even though your buddy will have already had a full weekend to spend with their new device, that doesn’t mean they want your grubby little fingers smudging it up just yet. It might take some sweet-talking to spend any quality time with their iPad -- and for heaven’s sake, don’t go bragging about how you’re so much cooler because yours will have 3G. After all, you don’t have it quite yet!

Sittin’ on the Dock of the Apple Store, Wasting Time

Now that the throng of early buyers has subsided, you should have no problem sauntering into your local Apple Store or Best Buy to play with one of their demo models. (In fact, we’d be surprised if you haven’t done it already!) Although the loitering laws may vary from state to state, you shouldn’t have any problem popping into the store every day (or even a few times a day) just to hold an iPad and lust after its shiny glass and aluminum frame that you’ll have in a few short weeks. But please, maintain yourself -- you’re in public, after all.

Of course, this option has some major disadvantages: No privacy, the device is tethered to a security cable so you can’t give it a big bear hug, you probably won’t be able to download or install any other apps to try them out and at some point, a store manager will likely tell you to get out your wallet or get lost. They’re whacky like that.

Buy One and Flip It When Your 3G Arrives

Although it doesn’t appear there were many shortages last Saturday at the retail brick & mortar locations, Apple’s website is still listing the iPad as being backordered until April 12th. That gives you a nice opportunity to buy one now just to play with, then turn around and unload it on eBay (or Craigslist, et al) in a couple weeks to get some or all of that money back.

That especially applies if you live close to an Apple Store or Best Buy -- there will always be folks across the country who don’t have that luxury and will happily PayPal you the money to ship the iPad right to their door. But we recommend you avoid the temptation to get greedy and try to make a profit off the device -- eBay and its ilk will likely have a good supply of the iPad for some time, despite the fact that customers are being limited to only two devices per person.

Cancel Preorder, Rethink Strategy

While the lust you felt over the concept of a 3G-equipped iPad was what probably drove you to preorder one in the first place, the fact that the Wi-Fi-only model is now available might have you desperate to rethink that strategy. Do you really need a 3G model after all?

If you already happen to own a MiFi device from either Verizon Wireless or Sprint, you might as well cancel that preorder and rush to the nearest store to buy a Wi-Fi iPad today. The MiFi already gets you a personal wireless hotspot for up to five devices, meaning you can use it for your laptop, your iPhone and your iPad, all at once. Sure, the “unlimited” (i.e., 5GB data cap) plan is steep at $59.99 per month, but you’re probably already paying it, so why not use it?

If you don’t have a MiFi, now might be the time to reassess its possibilities. Verizon also offers a MiFi plan for $39.99 per month with a 250MB data cap -- if you only need 3G data access infrequently, that might be a better fit for your wallet. Sprint also offers the Overdrive, which brings even faster 4G data service in select markets (check their website to see if you’re in one of them before purchasing). By signing a two-year contract, you can get one of these devices for $50 or even free these days, too.

The New York Times recently suggested one other option: Buy a Palm Pre Plus on Verizon. What does a smartphone have to do with getting 3G data on your Wi-Fi iPad? It turns out that Verizon is now offering a $39.99 per month “unlimited” personal hotspot service (capped at 5GB of data each month) with the Palm Pre Plus (currently $50 with a two-year contract) or Pixi Plus ($30). If you’re in the market for a new smartphone or even a second phone number, these are both capable handsets -- especially when you have the bonus of tethering your iPad to them for 3G data access.

Buy One For Your “Significant Other” (or Kids)

If you can afford it and the impulse is simply too much to bear, the best way to shake that nagging feeling of emptiness is to convince your spouse or significant other that they need an iPad, too -- or justify it in your mind that your kids do. But unlike you, the man or woman about town who simply must have 3G connectivity at all times (even if you will rarely take advantage of its $130 premium), they should be perfectly content with a Wi-Fi model -- you know, the ones that are available and ready to buy right now.

Take your significant other out for a nice lunch or dinner at their favorite restaurant to put them in the mood, then drop over to the nearby Apple Store or Best Buy and let them experience the iPad for themselves. Most likely they’re not quite the “tech head” that you are, so be sure to focus on the consumer-friendly stuff that is sure to wow them, like the Photos app (the new slideshow features are sure to do the trick) or that video of the baby laughing on YouTube.

If you’re not the romantic or suave type and that approach sounds like too much work, you can always just swing by the store on the way home from a day at the office, buy the thing and surprise them with it when you arrive (maybe with a dozen roses for the ladies, just to seal the deal). Of course, the important thing to stress is that they’ll have to share the device with you for a few weeks until yours arrives -- after all, while you did buy it for them (what a nice companion), you should probably play with it first so you can explain how it works to them, right? (Wink, wink, nudge, nudge…)

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With any luck, these ideas will help you hold at bay the iPad longing in your heart, and maybe even save your wallet from the ding of an impulse buy you might not even need. Still waiting (im)patiently for your 3G-equipped iPad? Hit the comments and let us know how you’re spending that time.