iBooks vs kindle

[Night Spring]

An education shouldn't be limited to Apple users so IF Apple really cares about students then why not offer the standard iBooks fully amazing version and a dumbed down iBooks for Windows or OS X or even Android?

Well, iBooks are just epubs, so the only reason they won't open on other platforms is because of DRM. There's a program out that removes DRM from iBooks, google something like "remove DRM ibooks" and you should find it. Once you remove the DRM, you should be able to read your iBooks anywhere and with any device that reads epub format. Only exceptions are the ones in the fancy new iBooks 2 format -- those really are iPad only, can't even be read on iPhone/iPod touch.

 

[urkel]

Silly argument, there's nothing "limiting" an education to Apple users, it's merely an alternative, just like when notebooks were first becoming widespread and some students could afford them while many others could not.

Huh? Apples goal isn't to offer an alternative to textbooks, they want to REPLACE them. So if a cariculum adopts an iBook to be the textbook for the semester then how isn't it limiting that it can ONLY be read on an iPad?

Based on you calling this "silly" then I'll assume you're talking out of defense for Apple and I'll say that For Apple (and it's super fans) its a solid plan. Hook in students from K-12 then you've got Apple buyers for life. But the problem is when you think of it from the perspective of human beings who care more about society as a whole than a companies bottom line. K-12 EDU (in America) is crumbling while class sizes are growing. So offering iBooks on more platforms offers versatility that enables more people to transition to digital without forcing them to buy ONLY Apple hardware.

 

[poloponies]

Huh? Apples goal isn't to offer an alternative to textbooks, they want to REPLACE them. So if a cariculum adopts an iBook to be the textbook for the semester then how isn't it limiting that it can ONLY be read on an iPad?

Based on you calling this "silly" then I'll assume you're talking out of defense for Apple and I'll say that For Apple (and it's super fans) its a solid plan. Hook in students from K-12 then you've got Apple buyers for life. But the problem is when you think of it from the perspective of human beings who care more about society as a whole than a companies bottom line. K-12 EDU (in America) is crumbling while class sizes are growing. So offering iBooks on more platforms offers versatility that enables more people to transition to digital without forcing them to buy ONLY Apple hardware.

"Wanting" to replace something and actually replacing are decidedly different. Apple "wants" every consumer to buy its products, Ford "wants" everyone to drive Fords. However there are realities that intervene between the "want" and the actuality. Apple is not about to become the sole source for K-12 texts.

 

[NewbieCanada]

You know you can use more than one? I have purchased books on both depending on what's available and pricing. No reason not to shop for value on media content.

Exactly. I haven't put much thought into which interface I like better. Give me a lower price and that's where I buy it.

Overall though, I like the fact that kindle lets me read my books ANYWHERE, including my Mac. Madness that you can't read iBooks on a Mac

 

[urkel]

"Wanting" to replace something and actually replacing are decidedly different. Apple "wants" every consumer to buy its products, Ford "wants" everyone to drive Fords. However there are realities that intervene between the "want" and the actuality. Apple is not about to become the sole source for K-12 texts.

But Apple is in the best positioning to actually make digital textbooks happen. They've got the name, they've already got partnerships within the EDU market, they've got the product. The only thing missing is software that enables poor people to not be pushed out of the e-digital revolution because all they can afford is a $200 nexus or a cheapie windows notebook.

To be honest, I dont even know what it is you are arguing here. I'm saying iBooks are great except for the fact that its too limiting on what platforms can access it. Apple can make a very healthy profit by taking a percentage of every textbook sold if they would just enable an iBooks app on more platforms rather than limiting it to being a marketing tool.

 

[poloponies]

But Apple is in the best positioning to actually make digital textbooks happen. They've got the name, they've already got partnerships within the EDU market, they've got the product. The only thing missing is software that enables poor people to not be pushed out of the e-digital revolution because all they can afford is a $200 nexus or a cheapie windows notebook.

To be honest, I dont even know what it is you are arguing here. I'm saying iBooks are great except for the fact that its too limiting on what platforms can access it. Apple can make a very healthy profit by taking a percentage of every textbook sold if they would just enable an iBooks app on more platforms rather than limiting it to being a marketing tool.

The argument is that you're suggesting Apple's creating a stranglehold on educational materials which is clearly not the case. As for what Apple should do, it's a business, first and foremost, so figuring out a way to maximize profitability from the education market is what it's going to do.