Apple iPad Tablet
Will the iPad Tablet destroy the Ebook Reader market? You’re right this is not a handheld book reader review (the usual order of business here), but rather a thought or two on the history of electronic books and reading. Normal service shall be resumed shortly!
As much as I love the touchable simple to use designs done so well by Apple I have to admit I’m a bit peeved with them. They already produce the most desirable phones and mp3 players on the planet, and as for their computers one can only drool and wish the price-tag were less scary! But now they have gone too far – maybe. The new Apple iPad Tablet - a combination of huge 9.7″ touchscreen, games console, internet surfing device, audio player and oh my, so much more, is selling itself as an Ebook Reader too.
In fact a recent survey found that 40% of people planning to buy a handheld e-book reader in the near future would hold out and purchase the iPad. Even more worryingly 27% of those already owning an e-reader said they would have opted for the iPad had it been available when they bought their current device.
Now we all know surveys are rarely to be trusted explicitly, but still, is this a taste of things to come? I worry because touchscreens in general and back-lit screens even more so are generally not so comfortable to view for lengthy periods of time. And that, is exactly what a good handheld ebook reader is for – sitting quietly and enjoying time lost relaxing in the safe confines of a really good book. Whilst the iPad is undoubtedly gorgeous I really wonder whether the reading experience could ever allow you to really lose yourself in a book.
But perhaps, that is where the iPad wins, maybe just maybe it will engage those that currently do not read regularly, and encourage them to do so. Who knows they may even resort to sitting down with a paperback after viewing some material downloaded wirelessly from the iBook store! That could be nothing other than a good thing.
I await the release of the iPad in Britain and Europe with interest. I guess its heftier price tag might not encourage possible Kindle 2 or Sony Touch owners from switching brands. It seems to me the main competition will be the newer breed of more advanced (complicated and multi-function) e-readers promised later this year like the Skiff and Que Readers.
It seems crazy to be worried about the death of Handheld Ebook Reading Devices when much of the publishing world (and teachers no doubt) are more concerned with the death of the real life paperback novel, but still I do wonder whether the iPad Tablet is a gadget too far. Can’t we just keep things simple. Let your phone download apps, music and let you tweet and keep your reader for reading!
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