Quote:
Originally Posted by Kali Yuga
OK, but why would you pay for an electronic version of a magazine, when you're walking around with a fully functional web browser, and can access the periodical content -- and competing content, like blogs -- for free?
It may be easier to read periodical content on an iPad, but I'm not convinced that a lot of people are going to pay extra for the privilege -- or at least, not enough to "save" the industry.
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There were articles on the web before the iPad came out that some of that free periodical content MAY be drying up in the future. Specifically the articles were talking about the New York Times and when contacted the NYT representative dodged the question. This was on engadget or gizmodo.
I intend to purchase an iPad. Once that is in my possession I intend to subscribe to New York Times. The goal is to use the New York Times 'reader' software they have (uses Adobe AIR technology - whatever that is); hopefully that NYT Reader will be up and working for the iPad. The NYT presentation at the Apple Event made use of this Reader software.
Anyway the history of the New York Times has been to pull some content off the web, put it back on, etc - I really do not know where the NYT is at today (whether 100% of the print edition is available free online or not).
Going to go with those here on the Forums who point out Apple gets most of its revenue
http://gizmodo.com/5457420/apple-the-iphone-company
from hardware. Which is to say I am not really seeing Steve's minions declaring, "Hi. Remember that Barnes and Noble Application we carried and let you read your Barnes and Noble eBooks on your iPhone - well we removed it for our new Multimedia Device. Just not a good fit."
No. I really can't see a hardware company removing something they have already approved, which is not hardware, so as to lower the functionality of their new hardware release. You tend to scare off customers for your $700 multimedia hardware pulling stunts like that.
Some of the postings, when combined on this forum, are a bit schizophrenic - the claim the iPad is not a good eReader device and is not really intended to be such, then the claim that Apple wants the eBook market all to themselves with restrictive DRM. I am in the camp the Apple DRM exists right now to support the iBookStore launch to support the hardware device. This to give Apple customers who do not want a headache from traipsing through the DRM/format eBook minefield (and all of you know what a confusing mess that is right now).
Do not really understand where some of you are coming from stating the Apple is a heavy device. It is one and a half pounds. I weighed a physical copy of the Complete Works of Shakespeare last night and it came in at almost three times the weight.