iPad What will iPad do for e-books?

[dragonbone]

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

I'll tell you one thing I believe the iPad has done for e-books: It has given MobileRead a sudden rush of new members, many of whom have been inspired by the iPad (or the hype thereof) to check out e-books, and are seeking answers to their questions here.

Welcome, everybody!

Exactly my thoughts (except you said it better) !

[kjk]

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

I'll tell you one thing I believe the iPad has done for e-books: It has given MobileRead a sudden rush of new members, many of whom have been inspired by the iPad (or the hype thereof) to check out e-books, and are seeking answers to their questions here.

Welcome, everybody!

And hopefully they'll explore all the other forums too-so much great information on each device!

Edit: Including devices with Flash and multitasking, I'm sure

[Nate the great]

Originally Posted by donnakamla

I'm fallin for the possibilities the IPAD offers, not the hype. I've used the iPhone with several E-Book related apps; Stanza, Goodreader (pdf support is great), and from that experience I anticipate even better things. I look forward to many hours of reading enjoyment when I get an IPAD.

"It weighs too much" mmm considering some of the books I lug around that weigh 4 or more pounds, I guess 1.5 pounds should be manageable.

"Its too big" - Its the size of an A4 sheet of paper 1 cm thick, which is how big an open book normally is are they not?

I think you're misunderstanding what I said. I was only explaining why the iPad wouldn't kill off 6" readers. I did not complain about the iPad itself, but only in relation to 6" readers. I can understand why you'd get one; it's a pretty neat device.

[Bremen Cole]

Originally Posted by Nate the great

I think you're misunderstanding what I said. I was only explaining why the iPad wouldn't kill off 6" readers. I did not complain about the iPad itself, but only in relation to 6" readers. I can understand why you'd get one; it's a pretty neat device.

I agree with you about 6" readers, but the market will be pretty small. I also think this is the last year for eInk. Newer technology's are near for the dedicated reader. I know most folks here have a love affair with the eInk display, but after using it a while now.... it's pretty limiting.

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by Bremen Cole

I also think this is the last year for eInk. Newer technology's are near for the dedicated reader. I know most folks here have a love affair with the eInk display, but after using it a while now.... it's pretty limiting.

I think you're wrong most folks on here have a love affair with any quality non-backlit display for reading. eInk just happens to own that market right now. Any newer technology that fills and improves on that need will be quickly adapted and loved.

[Bremen Cole]

Originally Posted by dwanthny

I think you're wrong most folks on here have a love affair with any quality non-backlit display for reading. eInk just happens to own that market right now. Any newer technology that fills and improves on that need will be quickly adapted and loved.

I agree, and is really another way of saying what I said.... but the dedicated reader market will be small. And, I have to believe, most would like an option to have a device/reader with a backlit screen (could be dimmed of course).

I predict that the dedicated reader market will peak this year, then taper off. There will still be at least semi-dedicated readers in five years, but more of a niche market.

[thinkpad]

How do you relay the difference in screen technology for someone who has never set their eyes on an e-ink screen?

It's first when you've tried and e-ink screen hands on you start to grasp the differences in screen technology. This might actually work in advantage for the iPad, most users will make their buying decision without ever having set eyes on an e-ink display.

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

It's true that E Ink was never well served by its clients, who couldn't manage to get too many of their devices in store shelves for people to see in advance of buying. As the iPad will probably be seen by many more people much sooner, it will make it hard for E Ink devices to sell.

OTOH, color E Ink may well be right around the corner, and if prices can stay low (in the $100-300 range), they may still be stiff competition against the much more expensive iPad (especially when you add in 3G and accessories-- $600 and up).

[Razi]

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

I'll tell you one thing I believe the iPad has done for e-books: It has given MobileRead a sudden rush of new members, many of whom have been inspired by the iPad (or the hype thereof) to check out e-books, and are seeking answers to their questions here.

Welcome, everybody!

This is not the first time that this is happening. We saw this upsurge when 'Kindie' finally appeared (after months of 'rumours' and speculations in press and blogs). We used to be a very small bunch here once.

As far as the iPad Vs eink is concerned, I think with its price tag of $499 and the availability of the Kindle application on Apple Store (if you can take your Amazon-bound 'purchases' to an iPad using your Kindle account), these must be worrying times for Amazon. I think Apple and Amazon will fall out shortly and Kindle application will disappear from iTunes/ Apps Store.

I have given up on eink as Stanza is the most wonderful thing on electronic screen I have ever seen after using a whole bunch of devices and applications. I will sell my iLiad shortly and buy an iPad. If tablets don't kill off ereaders, they will need quite a few years to catch up. As far as the 'glow' or glare or backlight is concerned, you can adjust it with a swipe of your finger. You can read iPhone screen in sunlight without any problem (it adjusts itself automatically) and I am sure iPad would be the same. Night reading mode where the background goes black and writing white is also another blessing. I wonder how eInk will compete with all these features which are available to a backlit screen.

I know it is a heresy on this forum to say anything against the eink but this is how it is: Eink is one thing that failed to make noticeable improvement or innovation in these rapidly changing times. I think 'discretely backlit' screens will finish it off.

Ereaders can rescue eInk through innovation in design and more choice in purchasing department. iLiad-like flexibility, subtle designing features like built in lamp for night-time reading, maybe good old paper can find a slot in covers for note taking, touch screen with a facility to mark and annotate (how my iLiad was years ahead of the competetion!) we need massive innovations in eink readers if they want to compete with the tablets.

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Originally Posted by Razi

I know it is a heresy on this forum to say anything against the eink but this is how it is: Eink is one thing that failed to make noticeable improvement or innovation in these rapidly changing times. I think 'discretely backlit' screens will finish it off.

There are a few more of us who are perfectly comfortable reading on other than E Ink screens. I wouldn't say E Ink hasn't had a huge impact on e-book reading... it has... but it is only one display technology, and sold in combination with other hardware, and it's that combination that makes the difference.

My impression is that a lot of people simply don't know how to set their displays to a level that is comfortable to them. This is a fault with most display technologies: They hide their controls, making it tough for novice and experienced users alike to find and adjust them to their liking.

But I've said before, it's a preference thing, and as long as there are people who prefer the reading experience of E Ink devices, there will be E Ink devices for them.

[thinkpad]

Amazon is not going to give up without a fight. Hopefully we will see a Kindle 3 release right about the time when the iPad is released. Releasing anything after the iPad will surely be set up for disaster since a lot of buyers are just going to go for the iPad and be done with it.

As for features for a Kindle 3 device I'm hoping for a screen as large as the iPad but with Pixel QI technology and the Android OS.

Failing to come out with something before the release in march I will just go and buy myself an iPad for viewing PDF:s and technical manuals but I will still keep my Kindle for leisure reading since in my personal opinion no LCD or OLED screen can compete with reading books on an e-ink screen.

[ggendel]

It looks like the biggest impact of the iPad is that publishers have a choice of outlets and are raising their prices. Interesting how competition did the opposite of what I would have guessed.

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Originally Posted by ggendel

It looks like the biggest impact of the iPad is that publishers have a choice of outlets and are raising their prices. Interesting how competition did the opposite of what I would have guessed.

That trend hasn't had a chance to be tested by consumers yet. We may yet see a return to lower prices, if the higher priced books simply do not sell.

[Bremen Cole]

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

That trend hasn't had a chance to be tested by consumers yet. We may yet see a return to lower prices, if the higher priced books simply do not sell.

That is why the next few years will see the winners and losers in the wild west that is the young ebook/reader market. In 5 years will Sony still make an eReader? Will Kindle be around? Will some company we never even heard of be the number one reader? Will the number one book store be Apple? Who knows, but it will be fun to see it all play out. Remember, 18 years ago a company called Amazon did not even exist.

[mgemmons]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

And the blind will sue.

Because textbooks in paper format are so much more readable by the blind than their eBook counterparts.