iPad Fortune: Kindle vs. iPad: Far from over

[fizzwinkus]

I see the kindle's secret weapon as whisper sync. your reading synced over the air, with multiple devices.

the only problem with that is apple seems pretty clued in on this as well. i remember steve hinted at this during the ipad event. if they are able to implement syncing between ipad, iphone, and itunes, i don't see a very bright future for kindle.

[scottjl]

.mac has been around for years..

[dragonbone]

Originally Posted by Harmon

(3) Non-owners
Readers who don't own a Mac or a PC are more likely to buy either Kindle for the simple reason that the iPad brings with it an annual G3 connection cost of $180 a year under the cheapest plan. This means that over 1 year, the K2 costs 259 to own, the KDX costs 489, and the iPad costs 809. Over 3 years, the K2 costs 259 to own, the KDX costs 489, and the iPad costs 1169. All that extra money can be spent on books!

Outside the Apple Universe, sales of the iPad to readers is much less likely. There is no great incentive for these people to buy an iPad over a KDX. In fact, the incentives are in Amazon's favor.

Those are some very interesting points you raise.

Regarding #3
The Kindle may cost $489 for Americans, but as for the rest of the world, it costs between $510-$600, perhaps even more to some countries. The iPad will be sold at local outlets worldwide, so S&H and import tax will no apply, making the iPad +- the same price if not cheaper than the Kindle DXi for international users.
Only 3 countries ie. Hong Kong, Mexico and Japan can use the browser function on the Kindle. I've heard from someone here in Japan that it's very slow. All books even 'free' cost $2 more to international users, and that is if they can purchase a title at all due to geographical restrictions. The iPad can do a million things MORE than the Kindle... so if someone had no computer at all, they would have to be very.... very.... not sure what really... since I personally can't possibly imagine having no PC or internet browser whatsoever, but instead of buying the iPad, buying the expensive and extremely limited Kindle just to read!

Regarding the 3G connection. Once again, that is only for the US. Actual data plans for the 3G model are yet to be announced in other countries, unless some have already announced? But the $30 per month for high speed unlimited data, hardly seems like a lot to me since you can be online anywhere and especially if that is your only device. But then, I haven't the foggiest idea how much data plans cost in the US...

I have a question.
Does anyone know if the 3G models may be sold without a data plan? Since it's unlocked, can't one buy a 3G without a plan and decide if it's necessary later. In other words covering your bases.... That's probably what I'd do if it's possible.

[kjk]

Originally Posted by dragonbone

I have a question.
Does anyone know if the 3G models may be sold without a data plan? Since it's unlocked, can't one buy a 3G without a plan and decide if it's necessary later. In other words covering your bases.... That's probably what I'd do if it's possible.

That's the beauty of it-no contract! no data plan!

Basically, when you want to get 3G service, there is a setting on the iPad 3G models that let you sign up for a month of 3G for either $15 or $30. You then get a month's worth of 3G.

They didn't say how it ends after a month-it could be you have to actively cancel, or they continue to charge you for the next month, or you may have to re-sign up every month. But you don't have to activate until you want it.

[dragonbone]

Originally Posted by kjk

That's the beauty of it-no contract! no data plan!

Basically, when you want to get 3G service, there is a setting on the iPad 3G models that let you sign up for a month of 3G for either $15 or $30. You then get a month's worth of 3G.

They didn't say how it ends after a month-it could be you have to actively cancel, or they continue to charge you for the next month, or you may have to re-sign up every month. But you don't have to activate until you want it.

Oh, I see... I'm a bit slow sometimes!
Well, that's awesome! What anyone can find wrong with that set-up, is beyond my comprehension .

P.S. I wonder if in the future, one would be able to just 'roam' on a 'global data plan' when traveling, like with phones, but much, much cheaper!

[Harmon]

Originally Posted by scottjl

I understand the point you're trying to make, but it's just silly to ignore all the extras. You're getting all the capabilities of a device whether you use them or not. It's like buying a house with 4 bedrooms, a garage and a pool and saying you'll only use 1 bedroom, the kitchen and the den. You don't just do that. The price of an iPad is over a Kindle because of what you get extra. It certainly makes sense to look at those extras. I doubt anyone is going to buy an iPad to use only as an eReader and nothing else.

It's not silly to ignore extras you don't really need. Your point about the 1 bedroom is exactly the point I'm trying to make. You go out looking for a 1 bedroom apartment & the real estate agent tries to get you to buy a 4 bedroom house because of all the room. But you don't need that room.

Or you live in the city, and need a small car, so you go out to buy a Civic and the salesman tries to convince you to get an SUV.

Same with the K2 and the iPad. A little less so with the KDX and the iPad. There's just no point in paying for extras you don't need, even thought they are highly nifty extras.

[Harmon]

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

I don't know about that.
I've never had an iPhone or iPod of any kind and I've been using iTunes for a long time for ripping MP3s from CDs, buying MP3s, managing my MP3 library etc.

And I know plenty who do the same. It's the best known/most used MP3 software. So I think plenty of people with out iPhones have used iTunes on their PC.

News to me. Most of the PC owners I know wind up asking me to fix things on their PCs. Which strangely, I seem to have a talent for even though I have never owned one of them. But they are an older demographic...

Agreed, but 3G doesn't really matter much to such people as it's not a big deal to buy books on the PC and drag them over to the reader which is hooked up via USB.

I think that the dragging might be a bigger deal than you think. The beauty of the Kindles is that there's none of that connecting & dragging business. It is actually the easiest & simplest ebook reading environment.

I know that I prefer buying on Amazon & sending to my iPhone over the setup I have to deal with on my Sonys.

Plus Apple is looking to go mainstream, and not cater to the avid readers who read enough to even think about buying a reading device.

That's true but not what I was talking about.

Agreed. I think the avid readers will be more drawn to the e-ink devices. People will buy an iPad mainly for other functions, but still do some reading on it. But the majority probably won't be buying it to use soley as a reading device.

On the whole, I think you are right, except perhaps for Mac users - which is the ultimate point I'm trying to make.

[Harmon]

Originally Posted by dragonbone

The iPad will be sold at local outlets worldwide, so S&H and import tax will no apply, making the iPad +- the same price if not cheaper than the Kindle DXi for international users..

But does that take into account the "free Whispersync" advantage?

One point you make, though, that I've not seen anyone else make - the Kindle is not sold except through the mail, whereas I'll bet we'll see the iPad sold at Best Buy as well as Apple Stores. This is a distinct disadvantage for Kindle, and makes me wonder if we'll see Kindles sold at brick & mortar outlets any time soon.

[fizzwinkus]

Originally Posted by scottjl

.mac has been around for years..

and i was (and still am) one of the first subscribers!
though i hope they introduce syncing ota through itunes - it will get a lot more traction without an additional $$ pay out.

[dmaul1114]

Originally Posted by Harmon

News to me. Most of the PC owners I know wind up asking me to fix things on their PCs. Which strangely, I seem to have a talent for even though I have never owned one of them. But they are an older demographic...

Yeah, age could be part of it. I'm in my early 30's and have used iTunes for years despite not having owned an iPod nor iPhone. And most of my friends use iTunes as well, aside from a few tech heads/audiophiles that use separate ripping and encoding programs and something like Winamp for playback. Even my parents use iTunes, as that's what I set up for them on their PC. It's a very easy to use program.

I think that the dragging might be a bigger deal than you think. The beauty of the Kindles is that there's none of that connecting & dragging business. It is actually the easiest & simplest ebook reading environment.

Don't get me wrong, I love the convenience of that on the Kindle. But I went with the Kindle over the Sony as the selection and prices in the Kindle store were better than those in the Sony store when I did some searching before buying.

Not having to hook up and drag and drop is nice, but I'm so used to dragging and dropping files to my portable hard drives, mp3 player etc. that it's no big deal.

For an e-reader it's a nice touch as it makes it more useable for people that aren't very tech savvy--which is important for devices that appeal to older demographics compared to say iPods etc. which skew younger.

But I don't see it as a deal breaker, Apple doesn't market their products to older folks, non-tech savvy folks etc. Their marketing always features younger people so they don't care if it's too complex for the average 60 year old.

[kjk]

Originally Posted by Harmon

But does that take into account the "free Whispersync" advantage?

I am really curious to see how Amazon (and B&N, at some point) will handle Whispersync in the future. I always thought it was a huge value add to provide free wireless anywhere.

But if Amazon is getting into the apps market-that is going to get expensive. Right now the Amazon SDK puts the burden of paying for Whispernet transfers over a certain point directly on the developer...who is going to have to either have to eat it or pass it on.

[dmaul1114]

Well I think the other thing about how useful Whispersynch is for a person is how often they're near WiFi.

If I can get my books on the device via wifi, then it's all the same to me. I'd don't think I've ever used the whispersynch on my Kindle outside of the house--always bought books to read before a trip etc., so I'd be fine if it worked over WiFi.

So I'd have the same convenience downloading books, synching page read to etc. via WiFi on the iPad if it has those features.

But others I realize probably travel more, don't have WiFi everywhere they go etc.

[Harmon]

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

But I don't see it as a deal breaker, Apple doesn't market their products to older folks, non-tech savvy folks etc. Their marketing always features younger people so they don't care if it's too complex for the average 60 year old.

Smile when you say that, grasshopper! I've been over thirty as long as you've been alive!

[scottjl]

Apple has been selling products since the 70's, when I bought my Apple ][. Us old folk have long memories for good products!

[dmaul1114]

Originally Posted by Harmon

Smile when you say that, grasshopper! I've been over thirty as long as you've been alive!

Just stating the facts. There are plenty of older folks who are very tech savvy, use iPods etc.

But apple clearly doesn't focus on them in the marketing as the ads are always full of young people, current music popular among younger people etc. as that's the bread and butter of their market.