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Originally Posted by Pardoz
They've also said that almost all existing apps will. I guess we'll find out which of these two statements is true in two months (or possibly sooner, depending on when they start processing/rejecting submissions for apps).
Currently I'm betting 60/40 against, based on the comments from publishers about Apple's book strategy (smaller slice, bigger pie) but ultimately I think it boils down to how seriously Apple takes the e-book market.
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Not seriously. Or rather, they take the market aspect seriously ($$$), but not the reading aspect. I was hoping for (and still dream of) a dedicated Apple iReader or iBook.
With Apple's human/machine interface expertise, an Apple eInk device would have kick-ass controls (a real iPod wheel (not a look-alike as on Cool-ER) and touch screen capability), long battery life and paper-like book reading. They can throw in a few other functions, but reading would be the main task.
Some people want an all-in-one device like the iPhone or iPad - fair enough, the iPad may get the job done. But I want a quality book reader, and I was hoping Apple would eventually come to the party. Alas, no.
That's why I think Stevie and the boys take the eBook market seriously, incorporating the "ability" to read into the iPad and therefore hoping to sweep up some extra market $$$ if someone wants a book. But they take the music, video, surfing and gaming markets (and therefore functions) more seriously, and maybe in $$$ terms that's wise.
But I think they fail to understand the "act" or "art" of reading, or at least e-reading, since they still fail to have a "dedicated" reading device.
The one caveat is reading newspapers, magazines and journals - the iPad should be good for that, with glossy pages and a decent sized-screen, as well as potentially easy access to the reading material. But my snobbery forces me to draw a distinction between reading a newspaper or magazine, and reading a book...
Just my $0.02 worth... although it's probably about $0.04 worth by now...
