iPad Can the iPad replace ebook readers?

[Sischa]

Originally Posted by scottjl

Don't like the shiny screen, pick up one of the many available films to cover it.

Maybe some people forgot the difference between e-ink and LCD in the last few years but a simple "film" won't replace a crappy LCD screen if you read 4+ hours EVERYDAY.

Sorry but i am working 8-10 hours a day in front of an LCD maybe staring inside lets say at least 60% of the time. I also love to read a lot so 4-5 hours at least 3-4 times a week sometimes more on the weekends and on vacations.

I hated PPC's, i hated the old LCD ebook readers. When i see the youtube vid about the iPad i am not able to see a difference between my iPhone and the iPad when it comes to the screen. I hate to read more then an hour on my iPhone (more something i use waiting at the doctor or taking the train).

So maybe it will be a cool solution for hardcore people staring 4-5 hours reading on a LCD, but i doubt so. It will be of course for all the people who read a hour here and there.

I am looking forward to recieve my iPad for couch surfing so i can test my own theory but i am pretty sure after 10 years of continious trying and failing in reading comfortable on LCD's that i am not wrong with this theory

[leebase]

Originally Posted by Over

You assume purchase=reading. I bet most of those downloads were made by new users who are exploring their iPad's features and wanted to try an ebook.

Let's see how many of those will indeed keep buying and reading iBooks.

You'll also want to figure in folks like me who are reading books on the iPad -- but have not purchased any from Apple.

Frankly, until Apple releases a reader for it's iPhone, I don't intend to buy any ebooks from Apple.

Lee

[Elfwreck]

Originally Posted by stustaff

secondly consider that my 505 and most readers dont have USB or flash support nor can they multitask!
so why would that be an issue for replacing an ereader?

My 505 has USB support. I connect it to the computer with a USB cord; it shows up as an extra drive (or rather 2, because the card shows up separately); I throw ebooks into one of those drives, and when I open the Reader later, I can read them. No extra software involved; I can do this on my home computer, my laptop, my work computer, or a friends' computer.

A device that can only load books from a computer registered to that device only is sharply limited as an ebook reader because it doesn't have easy access to many ebook sources.

It'll be great for a lot of people. *Every* ebook device, or ebookable device, that's been made is great for some people, and the iPad has a lot of non-ebook uses that will make it perfect for readers who aren't looking for a carry-everywhere book, the ability to read through plane trips with multiple stopovers, or reading material for a whole vacation away from electricity.

That first one is going to be the dealbreaker for a lot of people. Ebook readers on public transit are growing in popularity, and the iPad is awfully heavy to carry in the hands & read while standing on the train. But for people whose reading is mostly done sitting down, that's not much of an issue, and the iPad's other features may make it better for them than a smaller, more portable device.

[dmaul1114]

Originally Posted by searcher

iPad can't replace anything. it's totally useless device without multitasking, flash support, usb support and glared lcd screen that hurt your eyes.

It doesn't need to replace anything. I want a tablet to supplement the gadgets I already have.

I'd mainly use it (or whatever tablet I end up with) as a reader and mark up tool, and some web surfing, video and random apps.

I've read a good bit on my g/f's iPad so far and it didn't bother my eyes at ALL. Turn the brightness down and you're good to go. Glare is an issue I suppose if you read outside, or under neath super bright lights etc., but I do neither. I thought it kind of sucked reading on my Kindle last night after reading on my girlfriend's iPad over the weekend.

I thought the lack of Flash and multitasking would bother me a lot, but it really didn't. The ABC player, Netflix App and Youtube app cover most of my flash needs. When the Hulu app is out I'd be all set. Sites I thought wouldn't work like ESPN.com worked fine--including the video (even though it intially shows "install flash", so I guess they've updated to support HTLML 5 or something.

Multitasking I thought was something I really needed, but it's so quick to switch apps and reopen to were you were that it's not a big deal. Still some minor annoyance like not being able to keep and IM program open while working etc. But it's not the deal breaker I expected.

Lack of USB doesn't really bug me, easy enough to e-mail files or hook up to the PC.

But I also don't plan to use a tablet like a PC, so I just wouldn't be doing much multitasking on it as I'd mainly grab it to do one thing like read, mark up a document etc.

I think that's where many go wrong as they view the iPad as a laptop replacement, which it's not designed to be. It's a supplementary device that some will find useful, and some like you won't.

[SCION]

Originally Posted by tommyleeh

...The annotation ability that is so coveted by most scientific types is provided in style by iannotate PDF. Its not perfect, but it will let you highlight, scribble, enter notes, etc. ...

Thanks for the info. I see it was just released. Definitely a nice start for a version 1.0 app. With some sort of annotation ability, like this, the iPad has moved up on my list. I'm keeping my Sony for non-pdf reading.

[Harmon]

Originally Posted by leebase

You'll also want to figure in folks like me who are reading books on the iPad -- but have not purchased any from Apple.

Frankly, until Apple releases a reader for it's iPhone, I don't intend to buy any ebooks from Apple.

Lee

Yep. I spent a part of last evening moving non-drm epubs into iTunes. And I have a bunch of Kindle books.

Next I will explore whether the B&N app will read my Sony DRMed ebooks. ADE, y'know.

But my purchases from the iBook store will be limited to those books I *know* I don't want to read on my iPhone. Not many of those, but some, I suppose...

[Graham]

Originally Posted by ColdSun

... The device [iPad] supports more DRM formats than anything other than a netbook ...

Is this true? Can you get reader apps that take advantage of the full screen of the iPad that will read Secure Mobipocket (as opposed to Kindle DRM), Secure eReader, Secure Microsoft Reader or Adobe ADEPT DRM?

I thought the iPad was able to read its own iBooks DRM and the Kindle DRM through the Amazon app.

Any tablet PC (such as the 10" Asus or Lenovo) can also read Kindle DRM plus all the above except the new iBooks one. Also, a Palm device can read Secure eReader and Secure Mobipocket, so the same number as the iPad. The iPad should get one more when/if the B&N app comes out, but still won't match the tablet PCs.

Graham

[Harmon]

Originally Posted by Elfwreck

A device that can only load books from a computer registered to that device only is sharply limited as an ebook reader because it doesn't have easy access to many ebook sources.

You are correct, but only to a limited extent. You don't fully understand how eBooks get on the iPad.

The only "registered computer" situation is for books you buy from Apple. Those seem to be treated just like iTunes files.

But there are more sources for other ebooks on the iPad than for any other ebook reading device. For example, any Kindle book can be read on the iPad. Buying books for the Kindle App is no different than buying them for the Kindle - you go to Amazon on Safari, buy the book, & it gets sent to your App.

And getting free books on to the iPad is easy as pie, once you get the right App.

In fact, the peculiar thing about the way that Apple has set things up is that the iBook Store is actually the MOST limited source of ebooks for the iPad - a setup that's even dumber than the Sony/Adobe rigamarole. When you couple that with the lack of an iPhone/Touch iBook reader app, you have to wonder whether Apple actually understands how people read ebooks on its own devices...

[dmaul1114]

Originally Posted by Graham

Any tablet PC (such as the 10" Asus or Lenovo) can also read Kindle DRM plus all the above except the new iBooks one. Also, a Palm device can read Secure eReader and Secure Mobipocket, so the same number as the iPad. The iPad should get one more when/if the B&N app comes out, but still won't match the tablet PCs.

I think a more correct way to make that statement is supports more DRM formats than any device aside from PCs/laptops/tablet PCs.

The advantage is the form factor is much better for reading that PCs or laptops IMO. For tablet PCs the advantage should be screen quality (maybe some will have IPS screens and match it), speedy interface and 10+ hour battery life that I doubt anything running a full OS will match anytime soon.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by Harmon

But there are more sources for other ebooks on the iPad than for any other ebook reading device.

I'm sorry this simply isn't true. Leave aside sources of DRM-free books as these are the same for all devices. Now look at DRM.

The iPad currently has two sources: iBooks and Amazon.

ebook devices that support Adobe DRM have an ever-increasing number of sources. The sources are surely the stores, and the libraries which are increasing in number. The same is true of devices that support Secure eReader and Secure Mobipocket. There are more than two shops selling books in those formats.

Graham

[Harmon]

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

I think that's where many go wrong as they view the iPad as a laptop replacement, which it's not designed to be. It's a supplementary device that some will find useful, and some like you won't.

You are smack dab on target. The iPad is about 80 percent of a laptop. It won't print, broadcast music, or let you have a document filing system. Well, that's not entirely correct - there are workarounds for those things, for some apps. You can't download music files from the web to iTunes - at lease, I haven't figured out how to do it. You can't install a program like TurboTax.

So the iPad is not a full fledged spaceship. It has to dock at the Mothership every now & then to get repairs, change the crew, & take on supplies. You have to start thinking about your computer routines with that in mind. But it can go places the Mothership can't go, and perform some functions - reading books for example - that are awkward for the Mothership.

[dmaul1114]

Originally Posted by Graham

I'm sorry this simply isn't true. Leave aside sources of DRM-free books as these are the same for all devices. Now look at DRM.

The iPad currently has two sources: iBooks and Amazon.

Yes, but outside of PCs/laptops and full os tablet PCs, what can access more than one DRM format?

Most devices we discuss are dedicated readers, and most only support one DRM format--especially the main selling ones like Sony and Kindle.

At least the iPad currently has two DRM formats, will likely get the B&N reader app soon to add a 3rd etc. So it has more flexibility than other reader devices.

No more (and probably less) than a tablet PC, but I doubt we'll see full OS tablet PCs matching the form factor, screen quality, battery life, the smoothness/slickness of opening apps,scrolling etc. any time soon.

Android tablets will have the best chance at being better IMO. Those will likely be more open and flexible, and may have just as many reading apps (iBooks aside of course).

[Graham]

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

No more (and probably less) than a tablet PC, but I doubt we'll see full OS tablet PCs matching the form factor, screen quality, battery life, the smoothness/slickness of opening apps,scrolling etc. any time soon.

They're getting there. Available now:

http://www.liliputing.com/2010/04/as...-shipping.html
http://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-0651-37.../dp/B0032ALW5C

But with regard to formats we'll agree to differ. Surely access to more stores is more important than access to one more format?

Graham

[Harmon]

Originally Posted by Graham

I'm sorry this simply isn't true. Leave aside sources of DRM-free books as these are the same for all devices. Now look at DRM.

The iPad currently has two sources: iBooks and Amazon.

ebook devices that support Adobe DRM have an ever-increasing number of sources. The sources are surely the stores, and the libraries which are increasing in number. The same is true of devices that support Secure eReader and Secure Mobipocket. There are more than two shops selling books in those formats.

That's true for iPad *native* sources, but you have to remember that any iPhone/Touch app will run on the iPad. Kobo (althought I think that's native, too) B&N, etc. And those sources will be native soon.


However, your point about ADE & libraries is well taken, I think. If there's a way to get to those from the iPhone/Touch/iPad, I don't know what it is, unless maybe it's the B&N app.

[dmaul1114]

Originally Posted by Graham

They're getting there. Available now:

http://www.liliputing.com/2010/04/as...-shipping.html
http://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-0651-37.../dp/B0032ALW5C

From what I've seen and read those fall well short of the iPad in terms of battery life, slickness of the touch screen and UI etc. which was more my point.

I know tablet PCs are out and coming out. I just don't see them matching the battery life and intuitiveness of the Ipad and think the Android tablets have the best chance of doing that.

I don't need or want a full PC OS on my tablet as it's mostly a reader, net surfing and video watching machine for me. I want something that's as fast as the iPad and gets at least the 10 hour battery life it does over having more features, but in a slower OS with less battery life.

But to each their own.

But with regard to formats we'll agree to differ. Surely access to more stores is more important than access to one more format?

Depends on the needs of the individual. I'm a pretty casual reader, and stick with mainstream stuff. So I've yet to come across something I wanted to read and wasn't available in the Kindle store. Well, some academic books (research findings etc., not text books), but I prefer paper books for those anyway.

I've had my Kindle for over a year, and only bought books from Amazon, and got free ones from Feedbooks. So I don't care much about either formats or store access personally. Was just pointing out that the iPad is more flexible than dedicated readers (though of course anything with a full windows OS will be the most flexible).

Others read more, obsess about finding the best price etc. and need access to multiple stores. So yeah a tablet PC may be their best option, as neither the iPad nor any dedicated reader will offer that much flexibility.

Though it's all moot if one has no issues with stripping DRM and converting the file to their reader's format in Calibre.