iPad Poised to Grab Significant Portion of e-Reader Market

[AidenShaw]

I know of no less than 16 people that have iPod touches, and many more with iPhones.

Exactly why the anecdotal "everybody/nobody" stories are worthless.

I've recently been in meetings where of about 20 people, there were
no Apples. Also in similarly sized meetings where about half the
laptops were Apples.

Neither anecdotal sample is meaningful.

 

[jragosta]

Good luck, have fun talking to the dinosaurs from companies like
Digital and Sun who liked to build walled gardens.

Why would I do that? And what does it have to do with the fact that you were asking a stupid question ("would you rather have a large share of a small market or a small share of a large market?")? It really doesn't take to much intelligence to know that it's impossible to answer such a simplistic question because there are many more factors involved. Not to mention that 'large' and 'small' need to be defined to answer the question.

Face it - you clearly don't have any concept of how business decisions are made so you have to reduce things to stupid, inane questions.

Maybe you could tell us what percentage of that 80% is paid content vs. web pages, email, IM and the like?

0% ? 1% ?

What difference does it make? You stated that people wouldn't use the iPad for content because it's a closed system. The iPhone is every bit as closed as the iPad and the iPhone is the most heavily used phone when it comes to downloading content. Ergo, you were wrong. As usual.

 

[AidenShaw]

Face it - you clearly don't have any concept of how business decisions are made so you have to reduce things to stupid, inane questions.

And you do?

You stated that people wouldn't use the iPad for content because it's a closed system.

You completely failed to comprehend what I wrote.

I said that open content would increase use of the Ipad.

Note that I've said several variations of "huge portion of a
small market" vs "good portion of a huge market" in recent posts.

There's no way to read "huge portion of a market" as "people
wouldn't use" unless you're simply being argumentative.

 

[E.Lizardo]

I guess we just have different definitions for "fairly ubiquitous",
that's all.

I don't know anyone who's used a touch around me, so I don't
consider them to be ubiquitous.

Same when the fans say that "everyone has an Iphone" - most people
that I see have feature phones (or even dumbphones). The Iphone
is a popular smartphone, but lots of Palm, 'berries and Androids
are out there. WP7 is coming, so there may be a resurgent player
in the mix by the end of the year.
___________

However, slates will be driven by content as much as apps, IMO.
If you have a narrow, proprietary ecosystem of content, the
slates will be isolated niches.

If it's open, like the web, and any content will play on any
slate (hold tongue, no snarky comments about Flash) - an open
ecosystem will flourish and all slates will prosper. A rising
tide lifts all boats, as the saying goes.

Almost makes sense.Until you realize the variety of apps and the ease of finding/purchasing them in the app store.It's really easy for the tech savvy to make the mistake of thinking average joe on the street is concerned about some supposed"walled garden"when all they see is many thousands of apps+and games all easily organized and purchased through iTunes.Music is not an issue.Neither is video really since downloads are still full of DRM,and anyone under the age of 40 pretty much knows about handbrake,In the end The power of the iTunes store will overwhelm competitors,and give the iPad the lion's share of the market.

 

[E.Lizardo]

*yawn*

Apple TV and/or Mac Air, anyone? Thought not. Not hearing much about the high demand for the iPod Nano, depite adding a camera (because they're too selfish to give up any monopoly on the iPhone market).

Oh, yeah, but anything Apple puts out is always golden.

Damn!You're right!Two products in the last ten years that didn't sell tons!Apple-what losers!
Since you don't have ANY info on the nano I ignored it)

 

[AidenShaw]

Almost makes sense. Until you realize the variety of apps and the ease of finding/purchasing them in the app store.

Good, you understand me.

If the Ipad's "value add" is the app store and ease of finding
apps - then good for Apple.

My point is that for Ebooks/Emagazines/Egrocerystoretabloids to
take off, a device neutral environment needs to be underneath. An
Itunes walled garden for content will hinder the acceptance of
Emedia.

If someone chooses an Ipad because of the Iapps, fine. Just don't
force them to buy an Ipad because the content they want is DRM'd
to an Apple device.

 

[E.Lizardo]

I'm sorry, but I cannot get past that statement. If you think the iPad will replace a MacBook Pro, then you should familiarize yourself w/ the specs.

Depends on what he uses hid MB for,now doesn't it?

 

[E.Lizardo]

Did you not notice that I said "apps" zero times, and "content" three times?

If it's not possible to read/play content purchased/downloaded from anywhere on the
Ipad, nor possible to read/play Ipad content purchased/downloaded from Itunes on
any other slate - then it's much less interesting to me. I'm not alone here (although
on MacRumors it's a minority view).

I hate to break this to you but except music that situation pretty much exists with or without the iPad.You are part of a much much smaller group than you can imagine.

 

[E.Lizardo]

Sorry, I can't call "books" by the name "applications".

Do you have to "install" a PDF file to read it? No, a PDF file
is data for the "Adobe Reader" application (or whatever PDF reader
app you use).

Again,a distinction the general public couldn't care less about,therefore not affecting the market.
Also-Kindle App.

 

[E.Lizardo]

Which was exactly my point.

 

[E.Lizardo]

And you do?




You completely failed to comprehend what I wrote.

I said that open content would increase use of the Ipad.

Note that I've said several variations of "huge portion of a
small market" vs "good portion of a huge market" in recent posts.

There's no way to read "huge portion of a market" as "people
wouldn't use" unless you're simply being argumentative.

It's about time you spelled out exactly what type of content you keep referring to.A lot of the supposed problems you are talking about are set up my content providers(i.e. video).

 

[E.Lizardo]

Good, you understand me.

If the Ipad's "value add" is the app store and ease of finding
apps - then good for Apple.

My point is that for Ebooks/Emagazines/Egrocerystoretabloids to
take off, a device neutral environment needs to be underneath. An
Itunes walled garden for content will hinder the acceptance of
Emedia.

If someone chooses an Ipad because of the Iapps, fine. Just don't
force them to buy an Ipad because the content they want is DRM'd
to an Apple device.

So...you're saying the NY times or ebook X won't be available for all platforms?I would be shocked it anything like that were the case.Content providers want to sell content.If there is any market at all they will fill it.Maybe eventually movies,books,etc will be drm free like music.That would be great,but I think you are blowing the limitations you see way out of proportion.The iPad well sell very well.And of course you could always say"If they had just listened to ME they would have sold a lot more!".No one will be able to prove you wrong.

 

[AidenShaw]

So...you're saying the NY times or ebook X won't be available for all platforms? I would be shocked it anything like that were the case.

Since the Ipad hasn't been released, and we don't know how the
content will be sold - can either of us prove that it will be
open or closed?

I've been trying to point out the downside of a closed system,
not claiming that we know today how things will be.

These are questions that only the turtlenecked overlord can answer.

Content providers want to sell content.

Exactly - that's why a walled garden for content is a recipe for failure
(or at best, stagnation).

Content should be usable on any PC/phone/slate from any manufacturer, whether
it's IphoneOS/Android/Palm/WinMo/dumbphone/Win/Linux/AppleOS. If the hardware has enough
pixels for a useful display, it should work.

 

[xIGmanIx]

not sure why people consider this a computer replacement since you need a computer to access a majority of the applications. Lets not forget this is a large ipod touch. Would you rid yourself of any real computer for an ipod touch? i wouldn't. How about some BD and quad core in a MBP? That i would spend money on. But of course not promoting all things apple is shunned in these parts

Depends on what he uses hid MB for,now doesn't it?

 

[scottness]

But of course not promoting all things apple is shunned in these parts

Where have you been?

 

[Ramius]

24 million iPod touch devices is quite a big number, even if not adhering to the strictest definition of the word "ubiquitous". I know of no less than 16 people that have iPod touches, and many more with iPhones.



An iPod touch has a web browser. But it is not its primary function. Does that mean I cannot call it a web device? Your logic is flawed.


It's a no brainer for someone like me.

That makes the iPad a computer, not an e-reader.

I suppose you dont read much, cause staring into a glowing screen is stressfull to your eyes. Even though nerds seems to build up immunity against this, all electronics manufacturers warn against this.

This problem does not occur with a real e-reader. And you should have tried placing light against your Kindle. E-readers get better to read the more light you put on them. Like a real book. This is perfect for reading on the beach in the sun. It will only get better and better the more light you have on it.

Its the complete oposite and same old problem with the iPad. It will suck in daylight, like all other illuminated screens does.

I think you should face the fact that not even Apple calls their device an e-reader. It simply is not.

You only claim Ipad to be an e-reader since you can download books on it. Thats almost as stupid as saying a car is a clock because it has a clock in the dashboard.

 

[jb1280]

not sure why people consider this a computer replacement since you need a computer to access a majority of the applications. Lets not forget this is a large ipod touch. Would you rid yourself of any real computer for an ipod touch? i wouldn't. How about some BD and quad core in a MBP? That i would spend money on. But of course not promoting all things apple is shunned in these parts

Heaven forbid someone find utility in a device you find no use in.

I would say that if you have a desktop and your utility for a notebook computer is email, browsing, music, video, and calendars an iPod touch would be sufficient, an iPad even more so.

not sure why people would consider buying a device that is 3 times as heavy and 3 times as expensive just to say they have more computing power than their usage.

 

[diamond.g]

Looks like it's going to be the iTunes model.But really,how many time do you read a book vs listen to a song?As Steve might say:"Back your stuff up.Not that big of a deal."

So you would still need that computer to do the backing up, no?

 

[Piggie]

Does anyone here at times actually yearn for the old days.

When you bought a TV and it worked (no need to worry about what channels you has subscribed to)

You bought a Radio and it worked (not worried about DRM and subscriptions)

You did not have to worry about mobile phones, you used a land line or put coins in a call box.

Seems like they have to make every single product these days have new levels or complication. Sometimes I just wish it was like it was X years ago when you did not have to worry about any of this.

 

[arletha]

not sure why people consider this a computer replacement since you need a computer to access a majority of the applications. Lets not forget this is a large ipod touch. Would you rid yourself of any real computer for an ipod touch? i wouldn't. How about some BD and quad core in a MBP? That i would spend money on

. But of course not promoting all things apple is shunned in these parts

There will be a lot of homebrew applications coming out eventually that will get it very functionally close to a mini computer.

 

[BingClawsby]

Somebody make a CHEAP, plain and simple pdf reader. I don't need or want all the expensive crap. Just give me a <$100 tablet so I can simply dump pdf's on and just READ. Thats it, just READ!

 

[polaris20]

Exactly why the anecdotal "everybody/nobody" stories are worthless.

I've recently been in meetings where of about 20 people, there were
no Apples. Also in similarly sized meetings where about half the
laptops were Apples.

Neither anecdotal sample is meaningful.

Come on AidenShaw, this is Mac Rumors! Home of the personal anecdote! Just look no further than the Mac Mini/HDMI thread, where HDMI is on every laptop made in the last few years except Macs! (and any business laptop that's not built like a toy).

That makes the iPad a computer, not an e-reader.

I suppose you dont read much, cause staring into a glowing screen is stressfull to your eyes. Even though nerds seems to build up immunity against this, all electronics manufacturers warn against this.

Again, your logic is severely flawed. Because an item does more than one thing, doesn't mean it is not any of those individual things. It does not need to exclusively be an e-reader to be called an e-reader. That's just incredibly stupid. I do read a lot, in the realm of 250-300 pages a week, for grad studies. On my MacBook Pro. All texts are eBooks. This would be more convenient on an iPad, and is nearly useless on the Kindle, due to diagrams and illustrations.

This problem does not occur with a real e-reader. And you should have tried placing light against your Kindle. E-readers get better to read the more light you put on them. Like a real book. This is perfect for reading on the beach in the sun. It will only get better and better the more light you have on it.

I did place light on it, and the background is just as dull and gray as it is in any other light.

Its the complete oposite and same old problem with the iPad. It will suck in daylight, like all other illuminated screens does.

I think you should face the fact that not even Apple calls their device an e-reader. It simply is not.

I think you should face the fact that it is an e-reader, because it provides that functionality, along with so many other things. Apple doesn't call it an e-reader, because by doing so it would severely sell short all the other things it can do. Likewise they do not call the iPod touch an mp3 player.

You only claim Ipad to be an e-reader since you can download books on it. Thats almost as stupid as saying a car is a clock because it has a clock in the dashboard.

What's really stupid is you thinking that it's not an e-reader because it does more than just that. What's even more stupid is the fact that you can't accept that not everyone loves reading on a Kindle/eInk, and many people have an excellent use for reading on an iPad.

Also, it is not a computer. It's more of a media appliance, designed to consume various forms of media, which includes movies, games, music, and.......BOOKS. Sure, it provides a lot of the functionality of a computer, however it does not replace one for heavier computing tasks.

EDIT

You might want to familiarize yourself with this page, in which Apple talks about buying books and reading them on this device.

http://www.apple.com/ipad/features/

The iBooks app is a great new way to read and buy books.1 Download the free app from the App Store and buy everything from classics to best sellers from the built-in iBookstore. Once you’ve bought a book, it’s displayed on your Bookshelf. Just tap it to start reading. The high-resolution, LED-backlit screen displays everything in sharp, rich color, so it’s easy to read, even in low light.

So.......I guess it is an e-reader after all.

If it's not for you, fine. Be happy with your Kindle. But don't be so arrogant as to think it won't be a good book reader for anyone. Because for me, my parents, and many others, it will be.

 

[RaZaK]

Soooo, HOW exactly was this survey performed?

a random sampling of Apple fanbois?

 

[RaZaK]

I don't understand your point...

Does anyone here at times actually yearn for the old days.

When you bought a TV and it worked (no need to worry about what channels you has subscribed to)

You bought a Radio and it worked (not worried about DRM and subscriptions)

You did not have to worry about mobile phones, you used a land line or put coins in a call box.

Seems like they have to make every single product these days have new levels or complication. Sometimes I just wish it was like it was X years ago when you did not have to worry about any of this.

do you have problems with advancement in technology?

why not just go back to telegraphs? oh wait, that requires laying down transatlantic and intra-country cables

why not just go back to smoke signals? oh wait, the requires the invention of fire

 

[satcomer]

Does anyone here at times actually yearn for the old days.

When you bought a TV and it worked (no need to worry about what channels you has subscribed to)

You bought a Radio and it worked (not worried about DRM and subscriptions)

You did not have to worry about mobile phones, you used a land line or put coins in a call box.

Seems like they have to make every single product these days have new levels or complication. Sometimes I just wish it was like it was X years ago when you did not have to worry about any of this.

Sometimes I feel like that also.