iPad Can the iPad replace ebook readers?

[Harmon]

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

That's one of the biggest drawbacks of a tablet to me. It's supposed to be portable but there's great risk in it.

I'm afraid there is still no wild iPad here... no domestic either...

Right now, in Chicago, on the el, the biggest risk is a snatch & run!

Haven't seen a drop test on the iPad...don't intend to conduct one....

[dmaul1114]

Yeah, I don't see it being any more fragile than an e-ink reader really. Those have glass screens etc.

Any of these devices you don't want to drop, and aren't he wisest to use standing up etc. All need a good case and great care taken to not drop them, spill liquid on them etc.

[yvanleterrible]

Originally Posted by Harmon

Right now, in Chicago, on the el, the biggest risk is a snatch & run!

Haven't seen a drop test on the iPad...don't intend to conduct one....

Agreed!

Did you get yours yet?

I'm waiting for the 3G...

[yvanleterrible]

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

Yeah, I don't see it being any more fragile than an e-ink reader really. Those have glass screens etc.

Any of these devices you don't want to drop, and aren't he wisest to use standing up etc. All need a good case and great care taken to not drop them, spill liquid on them etc.

The biggest stories of reader breaks I've heard come from cramming stuff in the same carrying bag. Bags get banged but it's pressure from neighbouring objects that cause the damage. And compared to a reader the iPad has acres of surface to injure. Even our own Alex broke a reader screen!

[dmaul1114]

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

T And compared to a reader the iPad has acres of surface to injure.

But not compared to say the Kindle DX which has the exact same size screen which is a more fair comparisons.

The iPad isn't going to be as portable as 5" or 6" readers, and will have more screen to damage just like the DX, Que and other large screen e-ink devices. People wanting that will have to stick with what they have or wait for the rumored 7" iPad next year.

In any case, my point stands. All these devices are fragile and must be treated carefully. Both while using, and as you point out, when putting them in a bag with other stuff. You need a good device case that protects the screen, and they should never be crammed into an over packed bag.

[Harmon]

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

Agreed!

Did you get yours yet?

I'm waiting for the 3G...

Yep. I'm an early adopter Apple fanboy since 1991, when I first saw a Mac SEx IIRC at the Federal Executive Institute. (It's where I became aware that "command & control" organizations use PCs, while "creative" organizations use Mac.)

I got the 32. I figure I don't need 3G because (1) I have an iPhone and (2) most of the time, my iPad is going to reside at home where I have a wireless network.

I might have waited for 3G if AT&T had offered some kind of deal for those of us who have iPhones. Might have. Maybe.

[scottjl]

@harmon, you probably know this already, but if your iphone is jailbroken, MyWi works wonders. not bad for $10. just don't let AT&T know..

[Harmon]

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

wait for the rumored 7" iPad next year.

Hmm. First I've heard of that. I will have to start saving my pennies in case that rumor turns out to be true. But I would prefer a 5.5 inch screen, which would be much more portable. Please start that rumor.

In any case, my point stands. All these devices are fragile and must be treated carefully. Both while using, and as you point out, when putting them in a bag with other stuff. You need a good device case that protects the screen, and they should never be crammed into an over packed bag.

Yeah. My son managed to crack his Powerbook screen by doing that. Nothing is really safe from stupidity.

I wish there were an Omniscience Inc. BookArmor made for the iPad. They don't have one for the DX, but maybe the iPad sales will get them going. Meanwhile, I have the Apple case which, if I'm careful with the packing, should suffice. I don't much like the case itself, though.

[Harmon]

Originally Posted by scottjl

@harmon, you probably know this already, but if your iphone is jailbroken, MyWi works wonders. not bad for $10. just don't let AT&T know..

That game's not worth the hassle for me. I really don't anticipate that my iPad will need much internet connectivity away from home, & I should be able to find what I need when I'm traveling. And after all, I already have plenty of books on the device, and am shifting some DVDs to it as well. The main thing I like having when I'm not at home is access to twitter, email, & google reader. Those work nicely on the iPhone.

It's like I've said before, the iPhone and the iPad are really two parts of one device. In fact, I'd add my iMac into the equation. It's the mothership, & the other two are differently sized craft - the iPad's a kind of ferry, and the iPhone is a lifeboat. I've already begun reorganizing my iMac to reflect its relationship to these other two devices.

[dmaul1114]

Originally Posted by Harmon

Hmm. First I've heard of that. I will have to start saving my pennies in case that rumor turns out to be true. But I would prefer a 5.5 inch screen, which would be much more portable. Please start that rumor.

I'll let you start that one! I'm more wanting a screen an inch or two bigger to be even better for larger PDFs, comics, magazines etc.!

Meanwhile, I have the Apple case which, if I'm careful with the packing, should suffice. I don't much like the case itself, though.

I do like that it's nice and light. The wedge function is useful in the lap or on a desk. But the front cover could be sturdier to better protect the screen in a bag/briefcase. And the case gets in the way of the volume buttons a bit with the way the edge sticks out a bit.

Originally Posted by Harmon

That game's not worth the hassle for me. I really don't anticipate that my iPad will need much internet connectivity away from home, & I should be able to find what I need when I'm traveling.

Same with me. Free WiFi is so readily available most places (at least in cities) with coffee shops, local restaurants, and even McDonalds offering WiFi etc.

I pick hotels with free wifi for personal travel, work travel I don't care as I can charge the fees to work if it's not free.

So I've never had any interest in paying for 3G internet for a phone, tablet, laptop etc. personally. But I can see the need for people who are more on the go than me and need constant e-mail access for work etc.

[Harmon]

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

So I've never had any interest in paying for 3G internet for a phone, tablet, laptop etc. personally. But I can see the need for people who are more on the go than me and need constant e-mail access for work etc.

The combination of email, IM & Twitter on my iPhone have been very helpful in coordinating among family members. There are seven of us, eight now with one son getting married, and these apps make things a lot easier for us.

The extra payment for internet beyond those basic items is a luxury, but it seems to facilitate a lot of back & forth among my sons in particularly in connection with sports.

[dmaul1114]

I can see that. I'm a single 30 something, so I don't have the family communication issue.

And I spend 95% of my time (if not more) near a computer with internet access so I don't need 3G personally.

But I do see the need for your situation, people on the go all the time etc.

[AdrianWerner]

Can it replace them? I'm not sure. Aside from more comfortable form factor reading on iPad is the same as on any laptop. And we shelled out hundreds of dollars on e-ink devices precisely to avoid reading on laptops.

iPad (or more broadly speaking any tablet/slate PC, when it comes to reading they're the same thing anyway) is definitly better for reading things that aren't pure novels and I think the current tablets ressurgence will do wonders to digitalization of written media (novels, comics, text books, magazines..everything). However I don't think it's game over for e-ink. It just needs to become cheaper. A $99 e-ink device will be popular and it's limited functionality won't harm it, there's nothing wrong with having a device that just does one thing, but does it exceptionally well.

[Latinandgreek]

Originally Posted by AdrianWerner

Can it replace them? I'm not sure. Aside from more comfortable form factor reading on iPad is the same as on any laptop. And we shelled out hundreds of dollars on e-ink devices precisely to avoid reading on laptops.

iPad (or more broadly speaking any tablet/slate PC, when it comes to reading they're the same thing anyway) is definitly better for reading things that aren't pure novels and I think the current tablets ressurgence will do wonders to digitalization of written media (novels, comics, text books, magazines..everything). However I don't think it's game over for e-ink. It just needs to become cheaper. A $99 e-ink device will be popular and it's limited functionality won't harm it, there's nothing wrong with having a device that just does one thing, but does it exceptionally well.

I agree. I would like some sort of tablet pc for reading / marking up PDFs, and would likely read comics and magazines on it as well, but I can't see myself ever giving up my Sony reader for reading fiction. I love the form factor, portability, great battery life and crisp screen. I think that there is room for both tablets like the iPad and e-ink readers on the market. Mind you, I DO consider myself an avid reader, and I do think that a more casual reader will not shell out for two devices very readily. The prices of e-ink readers will have to drop quite a bit to stay attractive to consumers if they do not want to lose customers to the iPad and other such tablet computers.

[dmaul1114]

Originally Posted by AdrianWerner

Can it replace them? I'm not sure. Aside from more comfortable form factor reading on iPad is the same as on any laptop. And we shelled out hundreds of dollars on e-ink devices precisely to avoid reading on laptops.

I spent the cash on a Kindle as it was the only real option (aside from PDAs with their poor battery life) that I was aware of at the time time, and I wanted to get away from paper books as I seldom re-read and I hated dealing with the library or having to ditch paper copies of books I seldom wanted to keep around after finishing. It has little or nothing to do with not liking to read on LCD screens.

Form factor is the only thing that really bothers me about reading on laptops. Especially with LED screens etc., they don't really bother my eyes. I actually prefer backlit screens as I usually read in dimmer lighting and seldom read outside etc. And being a casual reader, I seldom read for more than an hour or two a day so any eye strain issues are pretty moot even if the screen did bother me some.

So at least for me, an iPad or other tablet will probably replace my Kindle once I find a tablet that fits my needs. But as I've said repeatedly, I don't think they'll kill e-ink devices. I agree with you that they'll eventually be very cheap and that will help them stay around. Along with their being a sizable niche of people that love the screen tech and battery life and just want simple devices that do nothing but read. Companies will put out readers to make money off that nice indefinitely.