Newsweek: Why the iPad Hasn't Killed the Kindle

[stargazertony]

The term "Kindle Killer" is used by the biased press. You rarely see it anywhere else.

[nekokami]

Originally Posted by HappyMartin

Some people like one thing to do lots of things and some people don't, its an old story.

Generally the more serious a person gets about an activity the less likely they are to have one item that does many things within that activity. As an example a recreational cyclist might have one bicycle and set of kit to do all types of cycling while a serious cyclist will have a different bike for every type of riding.

Same with cameras and all types of things. The more you read the more likely you are to use a dedicated reading device. Simple really.

Hm. I read a lot. At least an hour of "fun" reading every day, usually more. I don't use a dedicated device, because I also need to be able to read journal articles for grad school, and I need a device that will let me annotate and clip from those. In addition, my iPad lets me read DRM'd books from nearly any vendor, which is handy if I don't have time or tools handy to strip the DRM.

I certainly agree that some people prefer a multi-use device, while others prefer a dedicated device. I just don't think that the amount of reading one does necessarily correlates highly with that choice. But perhaps I'm an exception.

[Maggie Leung]

Originally Posted by HappyMartin

Some people like one thing to do lots of things and some people don't, its an old story.

Generally the more serious a person gets about an activity the less likely they are to have one item that does many things within that activity. As an example a recreational cyclist might have one bicycle and set of kit to do all types of cycling while a serious cyclist will have a different bike for every type of riding.

Same with cameras and all types of things. The more you read the more likely you are to use a dedicated reading device. Simple really.

This is based on the assumption that a dedicated device is better for reading. In this case, "better" is subjective. E-ink fans often insist that it's better for eyes and in direct sunlight. Personally, I don't have eye trouble and don't read in direct sunlight, so that assumption of "better" doesn't apply. I also read lots of online news and want to have wide access to e-bookstores without the trouble of converting. So for me, iPad is a better e-reader because I'm a heavy reader. That's why I no longer use a dedicated device; it's too limited for what I want to read.

[J. Strnad]

I like having the right tool for the job. I have various sized screwdrivers, including one with the tip mounted at a right angle so you crank it like a wrench (for tight spaces). My wife just uses a kitchen knife no matter what.

I have a phone that takes pictures, but I prefer my digital camera: better pictures, more flexibility.

I have a computer that I wouldn't think of watching movies on. I have a TV set with a sound system for that...which I never use for surfing the net.

And so on.

Why should the sales of any dedicated device be measured against the sales of any general purpose device? If you sell enough units to make a profit, who cares if somebody else is selling more units of something else? As a former employer used to say, "They sell more corn than caviar."

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by J. Strnad

If you sell enough units to make a profit, who cares if somebody else is selling more units of something else?

Well for one because the more successful companies can lower prices and force you out of the market. Which is pretty much what is happening now. Would you want to be a small eInk device manufacturer trying to compete with the Kindle and Nook, and the money behind them?

[Bremen Cole]

Originally Posted by murraypaul

Well for one because the more successful companies can lower prices and force you out of the market. Which is pretty much what is happening now. Would you want to be a small eInk device manufacturer trying to compete with the Kindle and Nook, and the money behind them?

So true... What is going on is a much needed purging of the industry. It is completely normal market segment (in this case eReaders) at the beginning for there to be dozens of little start up companies.... but sooner or later some will rise to the top, and they will apply market pressures (price wars) that will drive the weaker companies out. Exactly what happened in the computer industry in the early 90's, cars in the mid 20th century, wireless phones.....etc.......

No one can tell you who all will survive, but we all know Amazon will be there..... Amazon can sell the Kindle at cost, and make their money on ebooks... I bet that is close to being the case even now.....

[Bremen Cole]

Originally Posted by stargazertony

The term "Kindle Killer" is used by the biased press. You rarely see it anywhere else.

I laugh at the silly Kindle killer, iPod killer, iPhone killer and now iPad killer folks. The very using of their name to show the new product, gives deference to the original.

[leebase]

Same with cameras and all types of things. The more you read the more likely you are to use a dedicated reading device. Simple really.

That doesn't hold up. My dedicated cameras are WAY better for phi tis than the camera on my phone. The kindle is not way better for reading....except for reading in full sunlight.

The kindle has a few advantages....the iPad has a lot of advantages. Very dedicated readers have ample reason to pick one or the other according to preferences.

This notion that serious readers want an eink device is a fantasy in the minds of eink fans.

Lee

[nekokami]

Originally Posted by murraypaul

Well for one because the more successful companies can lower prices and force you out of the market. Which is pretty much what is happening now. Would you want to be a small eInk device manufacturer trying to compete with the Kindle and Nook, and the money behind them?

Not really relevant when comparing the Kindle to the iPad, though. They are different devices and do different things well.

I wouldn't be too surprised if dedicated e ink devices don't gain much more market share than they already have, though. People who really like them mostly already have them. More people will end up reading ebooks on multipurpose devices, I suspect, but this does not in any way make the purpose-built devices less useful, and if enough of them sell, they'll continue to be made.

[afa]

Originally Posted by afa

Amazon.com currently states the Kindle to be "Temporarily Out of Stock". I don't really recall that happening before.

Personally, I suspect that they might have halted production of the current gen Kindle because the new one (Kindle "3", though they won't call it that) must be coming soon.

What do you guys think?

I must be psychic.

[Crowl]

Originally Posted by Bremen Cole

I laugh at the silly Kindle killer, iPod killer, iPhone killer and now iPad killer folks. The very using of their name to show the new product, gives deference to the original.

There must be something about tech journalists that makes them more morbid than average because if they aren't talking about a device killer then it seems to be about a product or company dying regardless of the reality of the situation.

[J. Strnad]

Originally Posted by murraypaul

Well for one because the more successful companies can lower prices and force you out of the market. Which is pretty much what is happening now. Would you want to be a small eInk device manufacturer trying to compete with the Kindle and Nook, and the money behind them?

That's apples-to-apples competition, and I agree completely. I was thinking of apples-and-oranges, the iPad and other slate computers vs. dedicated ereaders. "They sell more cars than motorcycles, but so what?" kind of a thing.

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by J. Strnad

That's apples-to-apples competition, and I agree completely. I was thinking of apples-and-oranges, the iPad and other slate computers vs. dedicated ereaders. "They sell more cars than motorcycles, but so what?" kind of a thing.

Well i think it is reasonable to assume that the iPad is going to cut into the sales of large-screen devices. Up to now if you wanted a tablet-format device with a large screen for reading PDFs it would be a Kindle DX, an iRex device or something similar. Now people might think "if I'm paying that much, why not just get an iPad?" I think the iPad limits the market at the high-end, even if it doesn't directly impact the low end.

[HappyMartin]

Originally Posted by leebase

That doesn't hold up. My dedicated cameras are WAY better for phi tis than the camera on my phone. The kindle is not way better for reading....except for reading in full sunlight.

The kindle has a few advantages....the iPad has a lot of advantages. Very dedicated readers have ample reason to pick one or the other according to preferences.

This notion that serious readers want an eink device is a fantasy in the minds of eink fans.

Lee

I think I said a heavy reader is MORE likely to want a dedicated reader, not will DEFINITELY prefer a dedicated reader.

Anyway there are other reasons a dedicated e ink device will be better for reasons other than just reading in full sunlight. How about weight and battery life. Both very important with my lifestyle. I am often out in the wilds without electricity and carrying all my gear.

I am not knocking the Ipad, I will buy one but I will also be purchasing the new Kindle.

[Redfox]

True. I seriously considered buying an iPad (I'm an owner of multiple Macs as well as an iPhone 3G), but it's expensive, heavy and has no Dvorak keyboard layout. A small ebook device for reading plus an Alphasmart full-keyboard word processor give me all the functionality I need for the same combined price. The Alphasmart is even more robust than my PRS-600 and has 700 hours battery life!

Plus I'm old-fashioned enough to like having a stylus to doodle and annotate with! If I could buy an ereader with Palm-style handwriting recognition, I'd be in hog heaven