Borders Online Survey Cites Apple 'iPAD' Device

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/08/14/borders-online-survey-cites-apple-ipad-device/)

Mac|Life reports (http://www.maclife.com/article/news/borders_survey_name_drops_apple_ipad) that bookstore chain Borders (http://www.borders.com/) has mentioned an Apple "iPAD" as part of a new online survey targeting its customers. The relevant question asks customers if they are familiar with, have purchased, or are planning to purchase any of a number of "Digital Reading Devices", including Amazon's Kindle, Sony's Digital Reader, and Barnes and Noble's affiliated Plastic Logic Reader. Of most interest to Apple rumor followers, however, is an option asking customers whether they plan to purchase an "Apple iPAD (large screen reading device)" this year.


http://images.macrumors.com/article/2009/08/15/001733-borders_ipad_500.jpg

Apple's inclusion of e-books in its App Store and the natural fit of a tablet computer for such offerings have led to mixed views (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/07/31/apple-unlikely-to-directly-enter-e-book-market/) on whether Apple has plans to enter the e-book market on its own or continue to rely on third parties for such content. The possibility of third-party content providers being involved in e-book offerings for Apple's hardware opens the door to speculation that Borders could have inside knowledge of Apple's plans for a tablet computer.

Much more likely, however, is that market research staff have simply seized upon circulating rumors regarding Apple's tablet computer and included the device in the survey under a generic name as a result of the publicity surrounding the much-anticipated tablet and the recognition that such a device from Apple will very likely play a significant role in the e-book market upon its release. Readers will also note several errors in the survey options, including use of the term "iTouch" when referring to the iPod touch and the absence of the medial capital letter in the term "Blackberry". Such errors suggest that the survey's authors may not be particularly well-versed in the market they are addressing, casting further doubt on the "iPAD" claim.

Article Link: Borders Online Survey Cites Apple 'iPAD' Device (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/08/14/borders-online-survey-cites-apple-ipad-device/)

[techfreak85]

there is no way that they would call it iPad.
EDIT: it could be kinda a non finalized product name, until they settle on Macbook Touch.

[jessica.]

Interesting find. I dunno how so many people spot the very things many of us gloss over day by day.

[jmann]

That choice of name = Fail. I hope that it is just a speculation name. :eek:

[yoyo5280]

Steve is going to shoot the marketing team... :s

-Omi

[techfreak85]

iPad is probably all Borders knows it as. and thats all they need to know for their purposes.

[r.j.s]

They also call the iPod Touch the iTouch, so it may be meaningless.

[techfreak85]

They also call the iPod Touch the iTouch, so it may be meaningless.
hahah i noticed that too haha.

[theapplefreak]

Meh. I think that's a stupid name.
Hope its not a finalized name.

[FSMBP]

I can't imagine this to be giant rumored tablet to be a Kindle type product. But I could also care less if it is, I haven't seen the point of a Apple tablet yet anyways (like one that runs OS X).

[peterdevries]

I can't imagine this to be giant rumored tablet to be a Kindle type product. But I could also care less if it is, I haven't seen the point of a Apple tablet yet anyways (like one that runs OS X).

That doesn't necessarily have to be the main purpose of it, but it would definitely be a killer feature that could sway many people that think the Kindle with it's e-paper screen is a no-go.

[laughingperson5]

I FOUND THE IPAD! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1BUH9eXy18 :D:D:D

[ProwlingTiger]

Someone is out of a job.

[cuestakid]

While I think we can all agree that a Mac Tablet as well as a new iPod Touch are almost a certainty, I honestly think that is is simply a typographical error in that 'iPAD" may have indeed meant "iPod"

[Doctor Q]

They didn't even call it iPad, as Apple might have named it. They called iPAD with three caps, which is not in keeping with Apple's naming style.

But... Apple might be interested in hearing the survey results!

[mixel]

I agree it's unlikely to be called iPad or iPAD, or whatever.. Probably speculation on their part.

I am getting flashbacks of the iPod and "Macbook" / "Macbook Pro" though. A hell of a lot of people were 100% certain Apple would never call a product those either!

[TheSlush]

there is no way that they would call it iPad.
EDIT: it could be kinda a non finalized product name, until they settle on Macbook Touch.

You mean until they settle on "Newton". :D

[mixel]

You mean until they settle on "Newton". :D
I would love that, if it was a functionally superior advice anyway. Would be bad to use the Newton name on anything less groundbreaking than the original platform was in it's day.

That thing multitasks, had pcmcia (and can support wifi).. A true "osX but simplified" mini tablet would be comparable (and awesome). Much like some netbooks have that rejigged Ubuntu, I'd like the osX equivelent on such a device rather than the closed iPhone model, as that would seem a missed opportunity.

[talkingfuture]

I reckon that will be pure speculation, but its a detail that is worth knowing for bookshops planning future business moves.

[Lesser Evets]

This story was already in the forums for 3 or 4 days.

there is no way that they would call it iPad.

Why not? The name wouldn't influence sales, anyway. It could be iLump and would still be what it is. MaxiPod is the best name.

[darijoe]

They also call the iPod Touch the iTouch, so it may be meaningless.

*Sighs* Absolutely!! When will people stop calling it the iTouch??? :mad: Do people call the iPod nano an iNano?? I don't think so...

Someone is out of a job.

Hahaha!! Oooh what a huge leak by Borders! :eek: I quite like the name "iPad", personally, but I think it's just a code name - after all it's too close to "iPod."

You mean until they settle on "Newton". :D

Hahaha!!!

[wavelayer]

whatever it is, i want one.
as long as it runs "real" apps and osx.
if its just a big ipod, not interested.

[RichardI]

I think it will either be called iPad as stated, or iBook.
But, I'm almost afraid to guess at the price :eek:. The way Apple prices its products I suppose $700 U.S. would be the price. Ewww. ;)

Rich :cool:

[chr1s60]

It should be called iWhined because that's what so many people have been doing over the damn tablet rumors. I am tired of them. Just release it or don't release it.

[iMacmatician]

They also call the iPod Touch the iTouch, so it may be meaningless.If iTouch = iPod touch,

then is iPAD = iPod PAD? :D

[Transeau]

I remember when everyone was posting that Apple would NEVER rename the PowerBook "MacBook", and just how stupid it would be to call it "Macbook" and even more so how many people would NEVER buy it because "Macbook" was such a stupid name.

Personally, I think "iPAD" is too close to iPod. It doesn't seem to flow. and I also doubt it would be "Macbook Touch" simply because it's not a "book" (implying that it opens and closes). Maybe an Apple TouchPad? Maybe iTouch? I dunno... someone needs to find recent apple domain name registrations.

[kymac]

hmmm. well remember that appleTV's working name was iTV, maybe the iPAD is the working name for the applePAD :eek:

[puffnstuff]

if they can call something "air" I can believe "iPad"

[spillproof]

iPAD = Apple jock cup.

[techfreak85]

hmmm. well remember that appleTV's working name was iTV, maybe the iPAD is the working name for the applePAD :eek:
only the code name is "Cocktail".

what u said was my first guess.

i still say it is either what Borders knows it as or is kinda their (Borders) internal name.

[DELLsFan]

I like "Macbook Touch" as a device name for the upcoming tablet. iPad seems so ... feminine hygiene-sounding. :p

[Doctor Q]

I remember when everyone was posting that Apple would NEVER rename the PowerBook "MacBook", and just how stupid it would be to call it "Macbook" and even more so how many people would NEVER buy it because "Macbook" was such a stupid name.

Personally, I think "iPAD" is too close to iPod. It doesn't seem to flow. and I also doubt it would be "Macbook Touch" simply because it's not a "book" (implying that it opens and closes). Maybe an Apple TouchPad? Maybe iTouch? I dunno... someone needs to find recent apple domain name registrations.
It could be the MacPad or the MacPad touch if they consider it to be part of the Macintosh line.

[iphones4evry1]

.
Dude, it's obvious that Borders slipped up, and clearly knows something that we do not yet know.

http://images.macrumors.com/article/2009/08/15/001733-borders_ipad_500.jpg

[twoodcc]

the part i like is "later this year". i hope that's the case, and not next year

[techfreak85]

or it could just be that they are speculating on a potential biz deal....
just like us.

[jouster]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 3_0_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/528.18 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile/7A400 Safari/528.16)

They also call the iPod Touch the iTouch, so it may be meaningless.

Then it must be called the iPod Pad...

[RiCEADDiCTBOY]

iPad anything sounds gross - sounds like something a girl would need to use :rolleyes:

[Journojulz]

iPad is a genius name.

How many times have we seen sci fi schools with students using glowing tablets instead of a4 note pads?

iPad fits in as a note pad, under a full book in terms of functionality too.

Makes more sense than ipod - which just sounds normal now.

and as for adolescent snickering - who would have thought millions of families across the english speaking nations would spend their evenings playing with their wii?

[Doctor Q]

iPad is a genius name.

How many times have we seen sci fi schools with students using glowing tablets instead of a4 note pads?

iPad fits in as a note pad, under a full book in terms of functionality too.

Makes more sense than ipod - which just sounds normal now.

and as for adolescent snickering - who would have thought millions of families across the english speaking nations would spend their evenings playing with their wii?
So next we'll have video padcasts, which will be sized for the iPad display. Whoever owns domain padcast.com will make a killing selling it!

[Journojulz]

Padcasts?

Yup - I could see that entering common usage.

Ironic isn't it - that the ipod is about the only apple product you can't make a podcast on? :D

[farkasam]

iPad sounds like some kind of sanitary product

[broboore]

Borders doesn't know anything. They are only speculating based on rumor. Apple wouldn't share information like this, especially with a company that is lucky it hasn't went bankrupt.

[sparks9]

they should name it Newton

[EarthDawn]

Padcasts?

Yup - I could see that entering common usage.


Thats how they say "Podcast" in Boston anyway....

[coolbreeze]

Publicity stunt by Borders.

No, I am not going to buy a book from you now.

[END3R]

Borders doesn't know anything. They are only speculating based on rumor. Apple wouldn't share information like this, especially with a company that is lucky it hasn't went bankrupt.

Exactly. This is hardly news, Borders would be the last to know anything. Judas, shut up already!

[MattInOz]

I reckon that will be pure speculation, but its a detail that is worth knowing for bookshops planning future business moves.

I think thats all it is Borders want to get an idea of interest in the device if the rumors prove right. Is it worth having someone build an "app for that" and have in the wings so they have the shortest time to market. Or do they wait and see if the device exists before investing money.