iPad Poised to Grab Significant Portion of e-Reader Market

[SactoGuy18]

One thing Apple does a good job at is screen font clarity on an LCD display. From the tiny display on the iPod nano (3G-5G) all the way to the iMac 27", the display fonts are sharp, really clear, and definitely non-fatiguing for the eyes.

If Apple replicates that experience with the iPad when reading e-books, they have a winner right there!

 

[readerkindle]

Great iPad and e Readers conversations.

Just saying hi to everyone. It is really interesting to see what happens after iPad is released. Many people are predicting that there will be some kind of segregation in demographics for Kindle and iPad, but we will see.

 

[Harmless Abuse]

I read all day long on lcd screens... I think the idea that you can't read on an lcd screen or it hurts you eyes is unfounded given the amount of time people spend reading every day on lcd monitors.

I like e-ink, but in the end it is not a significant advantage for that one small facet alone, and it is a massive disadvantage to doing absolutely anything else... so at best you can see e-ink devices relegated to a very niche part of the market at the end of the day.

I don't agree.

I use a computer for a relatively long period of time daily, but I always take frequent breaks, get up, and do something else.

It hurts my eyes to stare that long at a screen. If I'm reading, and I like what I'm reading, I'm gone in book land usually until I finish it. So it could be one to two days of solid reading on an LCD. I couldn't do it.

I'm more of a tangible book person though. I'll use an e-reader when they go sub $200. As a back up or for traveling. For home use, I will continue to use real books until for whatever reason, they are no longer printed.

 

[ThunderSkunk]

I don't plan on getting an iPad because of the name. In some countries, that would be pornographic. I don't want people from Iran to come to Oklahoma and kill me because I have a pornographically named device.

The Joo Joo...

Oh my. As if one device named to enrage Iranian terrorists into attacking Oklahoma weren't enough.

 

[msprouls]

Definitely true, but it is only relevant if the cost per book is greater via Amazon than from the ibookstore. If the prices are the same, then to the consumer the Kindle 3G is functionally free.

I agree, I guess the point I was trying to make is that the Whispernet delivery model does not have a cost outside the price of the book.

That's as far as purchasing content, I know the PDF conversion delivery has a cost but that's a whole other subject.

 

[cvaldes]

Awesome, I like being blinded by a LED back-lit screen when reading late at night.

It is likely that you will be able to control the brightness of the backlight.

 

[needthephone]

Amazing how Apple can enter a market and change/dominate it seemingly overnight

Yes and even when they have not actually launched the product. Sorry surely these surveys must be taken with a pinch of salt. Until people actually can buy an ipad it's anyones guess..

 

[paul4339]

I think people will consider

1. Color
2. They already use LCD for a computer
3. More useful device

I agree... Although the iPad may not be the perfect ebook reader, I think many people will be attracted to the 'general purpose' device, and put some weighting into that when deciding.

 

[jragosta]

I don't plan on getting an iPad because of the name. In some countries, that would be pornographic. I don't want people from Iran to come to Oklahoma and kill me because I have a pornographically named device.


Was that terminally stupid enough for you? Just trying to help.

That ranks right up there.

If you're really concerned, when you're in Iran, you can call it "Allah's message pad" if you think that will keep the terrorists out of Oklahoma.

Awesome, I like being blinded by a LED back-lit screen when reading late at night.

OK. So we know that the iPad demographic doesn't include people who are too stupid to turn down the backlighting if it's too bright for given conditions.

Yes and even when they have not actually launched the product. Sorry surely these surveys must be taken with a pinch of salt. Until people actually can buy an ipad it's anyones guess..

So you've never purchased anything that you haven't held in your hand? You've lived an awfully sheltered life, then.

Some of us have enough experience with Apple products to be able to watch the keynote and have a pretty good idea of what to expect. It doesn't take that much imagination to hold an iPhone in your hand, watch the keynote and see what they're talking about. Perhaps that's why it sold out within a matter of hours in the countries which allowed preorders.

I guess mindless drones without any imagination at all would be another demographic Apple's not going after.

 

[thejakill]

one thing missing from this discussion is the idea that the iPad will be an "accidental ebook reader", a reader that is purchased for a slew of other reasons and also happens to read ebooks. i know that for me, ebooks is way down the list of reasons to get one, but i'm looking forward to checking out how it does ebooks.

for me, it's not a matter of iPad vs. Kindle, it's a matter of iPad vs. real books. i would never buy a Kindle just to read books on, so that's not a valid comparison.

 

[crazedbytheheat]

I already have a Kindle (1st gen) and don't really plan on getting rid of it. I'm hoping that the Kindle app gets upgraded for the iPad so that I can switch back and forth. The Kindle is great in bright light; think laying in my hammock. However, having a light on at night when my wife is trying to sleep is a pain. I also like the battery length on the Kindle vs. how long Apple says the iPad battery will last. One point I haven't seem emphasized is that Amazon stores (i.e. backs up) your books and you can re-download. I'd be curious if Apple takes a similar approach w/ ebooks or if it's more of the iTunes model where you have to back up your own stuff. That's a pretty big factor for me since a book costs substantially more than a $0.99 song and I really like to read.

 

[AidenShaw]

That ranks right up there.

If you're really concerned, when you're in Iran, you can call it "Allah's message pad" if you think that will keep the terrorists out of Oklahoma.

Be sure to use a picture of Allah as your desktop wallpaper,
otherwise you might not be believed....

 

[Converse]

Be sure to use a picture of Allah as your desktop wallpaper,
otherwise you might not be believed....

I couldn't help but laugh out loud when I read this. Not that I have anything against Muslims or anything of the sort, it's just funny. Edit: You also have some excellent photography if I may add.

I think the survey actually rather accurate though. I know several people (including myself) who read a lot but the current e-readers don't feel like they provide enough to pay for one currently. When you're beginning to talk about a laptop replacement for many people (surf the web mainly as well as other apps) plus being able to be an e-reader, it becomes significantly more attractive. For example, my mom: she reads about 1-2 novels a week, but the Kindle is too "meh" for her to use. She mainly reads during night as she's an insomniac - the lack of a back-lit screen totally turns her off from it as she doesn't want to turn on her bedside light. She saw the iPad and wanted one immediately because not only did it fit her needs for books, but also because it's more than just a reader.

I'm sure I'm basically repeating what others are saying though.

 

[goobot]

i use a book to read a book. not a device

 

[coldplaysucks.]

Everyone wants one, I can't imagine what it will do for music.

 

[marksman]

The iPad will make a great magazine reader. I'm not sure if I'd want to read a long book on it. Seems too big and heavy. But as none of us has had a hands-on with it I'm willing to hold judgment.

I just looked over at my bookshelf and picked a random book on my shelf (Bag of Bones by Stephen King). Then I went to amazon and looked how much the hardback book weighs. It is 1.7 lbs. Which is more than the weight of an iPad.

 

[gwangung]

i use a book to read a book. not a device

Good for you.

Others will discover they're different.

Yay for diversity.

 

[thejakill]

i use a book to read a book. not a device

literature has gone straight to hell since they stopped using the hammer and chisel.

 

[Niko03]

Definitely true, but it is only relevant if the cost per book is greater via Amazon than from the ibookstore. If the prices are the same, then to the consumer the Kindle 3G is functionally free.

Amazon charges, (or rather reduces what they pay the publisher/author),
a set amount based on the Mbytes of the download. It's a stepped amount so the larger the download, the more it costs the creator of the content.

To me this is bass ackward, the consumer of the content should pay, not the creator. It just goes to show the length at which Amazon has gone to try to corner the market on e-books. All for naught it seems, although we'll have to wIt and see the impact the iPad will have on the e-reader/e-book
market.

 

[Stella]

Hey, Analysts are always wrong when its Apple negative.... so being consistent, this analyst must already be wrong, despite being a positive Apple story.

 

[Niko03]

iJoo Joo Pad

Oh my. As if one device named to enrage Iranian terrorists into attacking Oklahoma weren't enough.

ROFLMFAO

 

[Darkroom]

Writing's on the wall. Everyone who wants a Kindle get an eBay account *now*, so you can be ready.

... to get good deals on hoards of iPads?

its a bit far fetched to predict the market share of a yet to be released item!

So 40% of e-reader buyers say they will buy an iPad over other e-readers, despite not having seen one for real yet, or tried iBooks for themselves, or found out what the price difference and availability for ebooks might be, or how locked down the ebooks are. Sounds like a meaningful survey.

it's not 40%... it's *air quotes* "40%".

i use a book to read a book. not a device

while your statement may seem a bit stubborn to some, i have to agree that none of the current devices (especially a blinding/reflective iPad LCD) trump a good book. a book won't break if dropped (generally speaking as the spine/pages might rip), a book doesn't rely on a power source to operate, and a book is far less likely to be stolen.

 

[Amnak]

That ranks right up there.

If you're really concerned, when you're in Iran, you can call it "Allah's message pad" if you think that will keep the terrorists out of Oklahoma.



OK. So we know that the iPad demographic doesn't include people who are too stupid to turn down the backlighting if it's too bright for given conditions.



So you've never purchased anything that you haven't held in your hand? You've lived an awfully sheltered life, then.

Some of us have enough experience with Apple products to be able to watch the keynote and have a pretty good idea of what to expect. It doesn't take that much imagination to hold an iPhone in your hand, watch the keynote and see what they're talking about. Perhaps that's why it sold out within a matter of hours in the countries which allowed preorders.

I guess mindless drones without any imagination at all would be another demographic Apple's not going after.

wow i just realized that not one of my apple products was a premeditated purchase and that until i had it i had never touched one: ie my first iPod 5th gen, my MBP and my iPod touch were all Xmas gifts that i asked for but had never actually touched. Wow Apples good

 

[MacBlackBook22]

I am an avid reader and have been purchasing ebooks for over 3 years. First on a palm organizer, I loved that I could take books with me when I was traveling to work on the bus at that time I was a windows user and synced the palm calendar to my Sony computer. Then the ipod touch arrived and at about that time I switched to Mac's and I was thrilled that now I had my iCal with me and music, movies etc to join me when away from my house though mainly it still was first and foremost an ereader. Then in January I got the ultimate the iPhone.

Now that the iPad is arriving I will be buying one to use as my "at home" ebook reader instead of my laptop. I have never had any eye strain problems in reading books on my macbook computer or the iPhone (when away from home) so I don't anticipate any problems with the iPad. It will be great to take this out on the balcony in the summer months or relax in the living room or bedroom to enjoy my books. Plus the real advantage is having the ability to pop onto the internet now and then and check emails. I think my laptop will be used less now. I see there is a stand for the iPad which would handy for standing the iPad on and using it as a photo display when I am not needing it for reading etc.

There will always be printed books but for general reading I much prefer ebooks as they don't take up physical storage space and I have access to them anytime and any place.

As to needing power I plan to have it plugged in most of the time as my reading areas are close to power outlets. Also its great when the power goes out which it did last year. No TV to watch or lights to read by but hey I just used my ipod touch and enjoyed reading a book while waiting for the power to come on...

 

[JackAxe]

OK. So we know that the iPad demographic doesn't include people who are too stupid to turn down the backlighting if it's too bright for given conditions.

WOW!

Both my iPod Touch and my MacBook pro on their lowest brightness settings, when in a low light situation, bother my eyes, where as reading something on paper, in the same lighting "conditions" does not, because it's indirect lighting.

Talk about stupid, hello JRAGOSTA.

Keep your arrogant opinions to yourself if you insist on insulting others. The sooner one-dimensional morons like you gain a bit more understanding and TACT, the sooner we can all get along. Just giving it back.