It's no eBook reader

[rdowns]

OP, you're kidding yourself here. For hardcore readers, they'll stick with Kindle or one of the also rans. For most people, a device that will do a lot more is way more appealing, especially at the price points Apple is releasing this at.

Jeff Bezos has been in the bathroom for the last 2 hours with explosive diarrhea. You can bet on that.

 

[PhoneI]

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

I dont get it. I read documents, pdfs, and websites all day long on my laptop. Why do I need e-ink?

 

[idunn]

Not for reading

If skeptical, I was hoping Apple would unveil a simpler, better, and perhaps less expensive alternative to the Amazon Kindle. It clearly has not.

Above all else, an eBook should be something you'll fall asleep with in bed, in preference to the paperback on the nightstand. In dimension alone, the size of a magazine, this proves too cumbersome for that purpose. Nor in portability, between this and a paperback you'll think twice before choosing the iPad for a quick jaunt to the coffee shop. Just as important is a screen that mimics the look and feel of paper, if reading is the rationale. Something easy on the eyes. If showing page edges (so what?), Apple has apparently given no thought to this.

Amazon and their Kindle can rest easy for now. At some point Apple, or someone else, will realize that the transition from paper requires a device people will really prefer to read on.

 

[cube]

I dont get it. I read documents, pdfs, and websites all day long on my laptop. Why do I need e-ink?

Normal screens suck compared to paper.

 

[pro2type]

No annotation

At least Apple still hate books.

Releasing an ibook reader with no annotations, and just the old brown library shell. No note-taking system, just the good old uggly looking yellow paper.

Apple really have something strange with use of text.

At least the iPad will make Kindle for iPhone much more useful.

 

[dmr727]

I dont get it. I read documents, pdfs, and websites all day long on my laptop. Why do I need e-ink?

Apparently you don't. But lots of others like do, or at least prefer it.

 

[iBookG4user]

I dont get it. I read documents, pdfs, and websites all day long on my laptop. Why do I need e-ink?

Use a Kindle for a week or two, then you'll understand.

 

[dmr727]

Jeff Bezos has been in the bathroom for the last 2 hours with explosive diarrhea. You can bet on that.

I don't think Amazon is nervous because of the iPad vs. Kindle thing - I think it's the fact that Apple is getting into the book business. And I'd be nervous too.

 

[chill.]

I dont get it. I read documents, pdfs, and websites all day long on my laptop. Why do I need e-ink?

say you want to read a full novel. do you prefer your laptop or a paperback? e-ink presents exactly like paper

i think the vast majority of people (or me at least) get strained eyes when reading closely typeset words for hours at a time. i read a 500 page e-book on a laptop and it was a painful experience

 

[TheSeagull]

I dont get it. I read documents, pdfs, and websites all day long on my laptop. Why do I need e-ink?

When you read a novel you will need e-ink. Of course it's down to the individual but the vast majority would prefer e-ink over a backlit LCD. A backlit screen just doesn't work for novels in my opinion. You need to replicate paper as close as possible and e-ink achieves that.

 

[paduck]

You know, the iPhone isn't a particularly great cell phone. It is adequate. I think the book reader part of iPad is like that - adequate. What is more annoying is that books look like they cost 50% more than on the Kindle. Kennedy's "True Compass" is $9.99 for Kindle. It is $14.95 on iPad, if the screen shots are to be believed. I hope you get something for the extra $5 (like pictures?). Why can't the Apple Book Store meet Kindle book prices?

I do think that Apple's pricing of this thing is pretty aggressive. It's very close in cost to the Kindle for the entry-level which does so much more. Amazon can't like that. That's why it is going to be successful - Apple finally priced something right. It is cheaper than the initial iPhone and so much more. The price fits nicely in with the iPod, iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad, MacBook pricing - straight up in about $100 increments with some overlap at the top and bottom of each product.

The pricing via AT&T is really cool as well. And it is unlocked, so that opens up additional carriers and travel options.

I think it should have a phone in it and video conferencing. How hard is it to put in a camera? Third parties will add VOIP quickly since it does have a microphone (if Apple let's them). I guess we know what the iPad II is going to look like.

 

[PhoneI]

When you read a novel you will need e-ink. Of course it's down to the individual but the vast majority would prefer e-ink over a backlit LCD. A backlit screen just doesn't work for novels in my opinion. You need to replicate paper as close as possible and e-ink achieves that.

I have read several novels on the Kindle app on my iPhone just fine. Wished the screen was bigger though.

 

[platypus63]

notes

Does anybody know if its possible to take notes on the ebooks on this tablet?

 

[rdowns]

I don't think Amazon is nervous because of the iPad vs. Kindle thing - I think it's the fact that Apple is getting into the book business. And I'd be nervous too.

I think it's both. First they gave them a right hook with a $499 multi purpose device (this will hurt the DX big tome) and touted books and then they followed up with a left jab with a bookstore. I think this kills Kindle for all but the most hardcore readers.

 

[0dev]

I'll buy it as an ebook reader if they don't jack the price up too much when it comes to the UK.

 

[Bbusyb]

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.

They mentioned it was unlocked, so should work on most GSM carriers. If your Iphone works on the local carrier, it will work as well.

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?

The first versions are Wifi only all the apps should work fine with Wifi only. Its supposed to run most current iPhone apps, so the ebook apps from other providers that are currently available should work. Apple's eBook store apparently is currently US only, however if your have a US itunes account, you should be able to purchase from them. The other sellers have different Geo restrictions, so you may have to do a little finagling to get books from them.

Also, While Apple is using ePUB for books, no mention was made of which DRM scheme they are using. If they are using Adobe's which is what most other stores are using, then it should not be an issue buting from others, but i'm a little doubtful for that.

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

I use both my iPhone and an eInk reader (Astak Pocket Pro) for reading and while I do read quiet a bit on the phone, if I want to read for more then 20 minutes at a stretch I prefer the Reader as its much easier on my eyes. Its a pretty personal choice, and i"ll suggest trying out a eink reader for a longer period to compare. eInk does take a little getting used to before you forget about it and just trying it in the store for a few minutes is often not enough.

 

[JonboyDC]

I'll have to see it and hold it to decide how I feel about reading on it. But for me, the draw is not so much books as it is magazines and newspapers. I would gladly pay a subscription fee to get my New Yorker or other magazines delivered in electronic form, readable on the iPad with back issues stored on my computer. Losing the flood of paper that comes every month from the magazines I read would be a fantastic thing.

Also, comic books. I know e-ink is great, but I want my comic books in color.

 

[redboxcar]

I'm not familiar with the ePub format and I know I can Google, but you all are just so much more helpful and knowledgeable...

My question is: is it EASY to convert PDFs to ePubs? Will there be a way to convert them and sync them to your iPad, perhaps via a new section in iTunes for iBooks (not eBooks anymore )?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Bbusyb]

I'm not familiar with the ePub format and I know I can Google, but you all are just so much more helpful and knowledgeable...

My question is: is it EASY to convert PDFs to ePubs? Will there be a way to convert them and sync them to your iPad, perhaps via a new section in iTunes for iBooks (not eBooks anymore )?

Thanks in advance!

There are a number of Programs Out there which allow you to Convert ebook Formats too and Froo, But I'll suggest just download and trying out Calibre.

Its and Open source Program which is very actively developed and supports conversion to and fro from most if not all popular ebook formats. It also has a content server which you can use to get books onto your iPhone / ipod Touch by using the Stanza app.

I'm doubtfull You'll be able to sync your own books with ibooks, but we will probably not know till they become available.

I'll suggest installing it and converting your PDF's to see how they look, and transfer them to your iPhone Touch and see how it works, as it should work similarly on the iPad.

 

[coolbreeze]

I'll most likely buy this thing, but there is NO way it will replace my Kindle 2. It just simply can't.

Whatever happened to the fancy screens that turned into e-ink (or similar) when turned off? Oh well, my K2 and Lenovo X200 tablet are all I really need.

The iPad will be for knocking around - it's just a big iPhone. Neat but not a real tablet for lengthy work/papers/etc (yes I realize you can get the dock and KB).

 

[marksman]

I dont get it. I read documents, pdfs, and websites all day long on my laptop. Why do I need e-ink?

I agree with this. I have a kindle and e ink is nice. But to claim people can't read text on a regular display for long periods of time is silly. I have done it on all kinds of crappy displays for a ridiculous number of years.

I read all day on my computer that I work on...

 

[sishaw]

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.

It can be done, but if you're reading a novel for a long period of time, as we readers often like to do, a regular screen gets uncomfortable and e-ink is a more book-like and comfortable experience. I have personally field tested this. However, I'm willing to give the iPad screen a chance--if I can get one alone in an Apple store for a while.

 

[masmullin]

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.

I am looking into a large screened reader for a similar purpose (technical documentation the 3gpp and 3gpp2 specs). I KNOW I cannot concentrate for more than 15min reading these specs on an LCD monitor

I've thought about the KindleDX, however people say that the pdf reading experience isn't that great.... I need to be able to jump around in the document and annotating it would be very nice.

 

[masmullin]

I use my Sony PRS 505 for 2 hours a night every night. Its true, its like its not even a piece of technology anymore, instead its just a really thin book with millions of pages.

Im quite taken by the device... glad I bought it. But I need something for technical reading, and the prs505 is poor for this task. I want a Plastic Logic Que, but they aren't going to be sold in Canada

 

[jedivulcan]

I'm happy with using either my 13" or 15" uMBP systems for all my electronic book reading, working, productivity, etc.

I think that having multitouch on a separate pad, like the MacBook systems currently produced, is the right way to go. It's a passive, benign experience that offers everything that Apple's multi-touch screens give you minus the physical obstruction of your hands... not to mention, you don't have to hold the screen up (the iPads optional stand and keyboard really defeat the purpose of having on)... oh, MacBooks = Physical keyboard.. and if you're bored and want the iPhone interface, use the emulator that comes with xcode.