It's no eBook reader

[TheSeagull]

This certainly won't compete with the eBook reader market:

1. No eink - the main selling point of most eReaders
2. Battery life - 10 hours isn't a lot when you are reading War and Peace
3. Price - No competitive pricing on eBooks from Apple

Is anyone actually purchasing the iPad for the purpose of reading eBooks?

 

[bigpatky]

do you read a book for 10 straight hours? i sure don't. i think the battery life is fine. (if indeed 10 hours is accurate.)

 

[Juventuz]

He said he could watch a movie from SF to Tokyo the entire way, I'm sure reading an eBook would get better battery life.

 

[TheSeagull]

do you read a book for 10 straight hours? i sure don't. i think the battery life is fine. (if indeed 10 hours is accurate.)

I have been known to read for that length of time but normally your right I wouldn't. However on the go with no charging facilities 10 hours isn't so much.

 

[Seibikitei]

That and e-ink isn't even in the realm of possibility for something like this. For me the ebook store tips it over the edge. I wouldn't get it specifically to read books but the fact that it's there in a seamless and integrated fashion just makes it that much more appealing.

Also I'd say it's pretty much a given that an iBook app is on the way for the iphone and OSX itself so even if you don't intend on buying an ipad there will still be the ability to shop the store and read/utilize iBook content on your other devices.

 

[iBookG4user]

I'm going to wait a bit on the iPad until the newness of it wears offer and then decide. I already have the Kindle and the e-ink display is fantastic, reading on a regular LCD will be a worse experience, I've tried it before. Although the features of the iPad are enticing.

 

[GoCubsGo]

That is right, 10 hours is not long if you're on a flight, even from say NC to CA I spend more than 10 hours from time I leave my house to time I land. Therefore, 10 hours is not much but it is better than the iPhone. If 10 hours was the time you get watching a movie than a book will be even better.

Who read War and Peace anymore?

No eink? Well that doesn't stop me from using the Kindle app on my iPhone TYVM.

Pricing of ebooks, curious, does Amazon do that?

 

[ftaok]

This certainly won't compete with the eBook reader market:

1. No eink - the main selling point of most eReaders
2. Battery life - 10 hours isn't a lot when you are reading War and Peace
3. Price - No competitive pricing on eBooks from Apple

Is anyone actually purchasing the iPad for the purpose of reading eBooks?

I guess it's a good thing that the iPad isn't just an e-reader.

An e-reader definately has it's audience, but you gotta admit, it's a pretty small audience.

Apple's shooting for an entirely different audience. The iPad seems to be mainly a media device which is strong in a few areas.

The iPad (based on what I'm reading) seems to be strong for web-browsing, videos, music, games. It's passable as an e-reader and productivity device.

To me, it fills a desired niche for me, but one feature that I really want is the ability to run OS X ... perhaps I'm too greedy, but I want a small light machine that can run Quicken 2006 for Mac (and I'm not ready to switch applications).

ft

 

[chill.]

lack of e-ink is the dealbreaker. however, their bookstore is in epub format, so it could be a good place to shop content for other e-readers

 

[mkrishnan]

I think this has the potential to succeed with people who were less sold on the eBook concept -- the ones who don't read as much, aren't sure about reading on a screen, or weren't convinced to buy a reader solely on the merits of reading books. I think they might buy this, on its overall merits, try book reading, and then get hooked.

Also, this is going to be a lot more powerful for things like textbooks and magazines than the Kindle. Zinio already came out of dormancy and made an iPhone app, and I think digital magazines have a real shot here (although the resolution is a little low).

As for me -- it's not really an issue. I have a Kindle. I already have the Kindle app on my iPhone and the two have been going head to head for most of a year, and the Kindle wins. I'm probably getting an iPad. There's already a Kindle app for it, naturally, and undoubtedly there will be an updated one by launch time or shortly thereafter.

So, I'll have a Kindle and an iPad. I don't see an obvious reason to start buying books in iBooks yet. But I'll let them duke it out. And if the Kindle starts collecting dust, I'll sell it, and probably continue to use Amazon's service (I use their MP3 service too) on my iPad.

 

[marksman]

The thing has 10 hour life when watching videos for 10 hours.

Reading a book for 10 hours will be much less taxing. Considering it has a standby of 30 days, I suspect you can read a lot without doing much damage to the battery.

I think amazon should be pretty nervous. E-Ink is interesting. We will see how it pans out in reality though. I read text off computer screens all day long every day, so this idea that people can't read text off a computer screen seems a bit overdone.

 

[mkrishnan]

I read text off computer screens all day long every day, so this idea that people can't read text off a computer screen seems a bit overdone.

People do experience eye strain at different levels of stress. I mean, I can go home and change and run 20 miles, but that doesn't mean that everyone else on earth can, too.

 

[budselectjr]

early reports are that e-books looks great on it.

 

[ks-man]

Does the fact that it supports ePub mean that you can rent books through the library like the Sony ereader and Nook?

 

[mrgreen4242]

I'm going to wait a bit on the iPad until the newness of it wears offer and then decide. I already have the Kindle and the e-ink display is fantastic, reading on a regular LCD will be a worse experience, I've tried it before. Although the features of the iPad are enticing.

I agree - I have no trouble reading on LCD screens (I've read significant amounts on my touch, actually) and also that I want to wait for awhile... probably until the first major software upgrade at least. There's a few features that I think would make or break this for me, but I also think this is something that you have to actually use before you can decide.

 

[GoCubsGo]

People do experience eye strain at different levels of stress. I mean, I can go home and change and run 20 miles, but that doesn't mean that everyone else on earth can, too.

I go home and watch people run 20 miles on ESPN.

Like I said, for me this is great. Reading only a couple of books per month if I am lucky and never leave the house is perfect for me in terms of a multi-function device.

 

[johnnj]

Something tells me that the people posting on this thread with the position that a regular LCD screen is fine for reading books and that e-ink is bs aren't people who own and use e-reader devices with e-ink displays.

Before I got my Kindle2 I used the Kindle reader app on my iphone. I used it to read a total of 5 books. I found the display to be fatiguing to look at for a long time. When I finally got the Kindle, I felt much more like I was reading print on actual paper. The viewing angle is only limited by being able to see the screen and in a brightly lit environment, the display only gets better. On a sunny day I find the displays on both my iPhone and my MBP to be very hard to see because the ambient light is brighter than the backlight of the panel. Also, the display of the Kindle is matte, so there's less of a problem with glare.

Another plus of the Kindle (and the Sony for that matter) is the size and low weight. I'm probably in the vast minority of Macrumors members in that I ride a commuter train and then a subway every day going to and from work. Most times on the subway leg, I have to stand. I first tried the Kindle DX and I found the larger size and the greater weight to be uncomfortable (and problematic in terms of personal space on a crowded train) and I returned the DX and got the regular Kindle after a couple of days. I don't see my self standing on a crowded train reading a 1lb 10" device with the viewing angle of a regular LCD screen. As for the low number of ereaders out there, well again, maybe my situation is unique, but I see more and more of my fellow commuters with these devices, especially Kindles. It's rare these days that there isn't someone within visual range using one.

So, are people going to read books on the iPad? Definitely. Will they enjoy it? Probably. Would I put down my Kindle and instead read books on the iPad? Definitely not. That said, I'm still planning on getting an iPad because I think it'll be a good device to have around the house for more comfortable browsing than the iPhone. When I get it I don't plan on taking it out in the wild.

John

 

[bufflyn]

Was holding off on Sony eReader cuz this was coming

Here's my concern and hope someone has an answer. This seems it will only work with a provider service such as AT&T. My problem is I work as an ex-pat where there is no iPhone provider so we have to run our iPhones after being Jailbroke.

What I want to know is will this work overseas like the iTouch? Can ebooks under ePub be purchased from other eLibraries and then transferred to the new iPad? Can't I just run it off of WiFi and still have access to mail, calender, etc like the iTouch?

I use my iphone and itouch all the time and I'd love to save on buying an eReader and have all these other options, including a color touch screen.

Anyone have any answers to these questions?
Thanks

 

[chill.]

Here's my concern and hope someone has an answer. This seems it will only work with a provider service such as AT&T. My problem is I work as an ex-pat where there is no iPhone provider so we have to run our iPhones after being Jailbroke.

What I want to know is will this work overseas like the iTouch? Can ebooks under ePub be purchased from other eLibraries and then transferred to the new iPad? Can't I just run it off of WiFi and still have access to mail, calender, etc like the iTouch?

I use my iphone and itouch all the time and I'd love to save on buying an eReader and have all these other options, including a color touch screen.

Anyone have any answers to these questions?
Thanks

this is what i got out of the presentation, but could be wrong:

ipad is GSM unlocked, so you can use with any GSM carrier ie. t-mobile etc. but, apple made those special data deals that are at&t only

yes, will work overseas. no clue if ebooks can be transferred onto ipad, but i would strongly suspect yes. yes, it works on wifi

if you are at all a serious reader then e-readers with e-ink are far superior. curling up to read a book on a LCD screen is just incredibly unappealing

 

[pgseye]

if you are at all a serious reader then e-readers with e-ink are far superior. curling up to read a book on a LCD screen is just incredibly unappealing

What's e-ink?

My main appeal for the ipad is reading scientific papers (PhD student) - it would be nice to have something portable for viewing pdfs. Not sure I'd read books on it though.

 

[jecapaga]

That and e-ink isn't even in the realm of possibility for something like this. For me the ebook store tips it over the edge. I wouldn't get it specifically to read books but the fact that it's there in a seamless and integrated fashion just makes it that much more appealing.

Also I'd say it's pretty much a given that an iBook app is on the way for the iphone and OSX itself so even if you don't intend on buying an ipad there will still be the ability to shop the store and read/utilize iBook content on your other devices.

There already is an app for that. It's called iTunes. Look for an update to come out with the book store tab.

 

[Nermal]

ipad is GSM unlocked, so you can use with any GSM carrier ie. t-mobile etc.

It's not locked, but it uses a non-standard SIM. You certainly can't use one here in NZ since all of the otherwise-compatible carriers only offer normal SIMs.

 

[dmr727]

Something tells me that the people posting on this thread with the position that a regular LCD screen is fine for reading books and that e-ink is bs aren't people who own and use e-reader devices with e-ink displays.

<snip>

Exactly. My wife isn't a computer geek, and after using her Kindle2 for about a month, she made the comment to me that the Kindle doesn't feel like an electronic device to her. Her Kindle rides around everywhere in her purse, she can pull it out anywhere and simply begin reading. It's not about reading ten hours straight - it's about using the thing for a week, in and out of her purse, in all kinds of lighting conditions, without ever having to think about plugging it in. Plus, she can easily hold it in one hand, and it weighs less than half what the iPad does.

Don't get me wrong, I love the iPad, and will buy one because it's a perfect device for me. I read occasionally, and can probably get away with reading on one. But for my wife, the Kindle is still a much, much better device for pure reading.

 

[chill.]

What's e-ink?

My main appeal for the ipad is reading scientific papers (PhD student) - it would be nice to have something portable for viewing pdfs. Not sure I'd read books on it though.

think etch-a-sketch. electronic ink uses polarized particles to form the display. so you are looking at static bits that don't move and reads like paper. no flickering/constant screen refresh/backlight of LCD screens

 

[dave1812dave]

This certainly won't compete with the eBook reader market:

1. No eink - the main selling point of most eReaders
2. Battery life - 10 hours isn't a lot when you are reading War and Peace
3. Price - No competitive pricing on eBooks from Apple

Is anyone actually purchasing the iPad for the purpose of reading eBooks?

I use my touch (mostly in bed, with the lights out) to read. I detest reading "real books" now. Too heavy to hold, compared to my touch which is roughly 3-3/4 oz. And try reading a real book in the dark--not gonna happen. I LOVE reading books on my touch. I put on reading glasses and change the Kindle app font to the minimum and enjoy the hell out of reading books. I've seen e-ink and think it blows--contrast is too low and it's not backlit.