YesÂterÂday mornÂing, I headÂed to the Palo Alto Apple Store, spent an hour waitÂing in line, then finalÂly gained entrance to the store. And who entered alongÂside me? Steve Jobs! An ausÂpiÂcious beginÂning. I left with a 32 gig iPad, took it home, and startÂed playÂing parÂticÂuÂlarÂly with the eBook readÂer. Here are my very earÂly impresÂsions:
15 months ago, I bought a KinÂdle and returned it. I just couldÂn’t read with it at night (a non-starter for me), and figÂured that Apple would evenÂtuÂalÂly get it right. Well, they largeÂly have. The iPad iniÂtialÂly feels a litÂtle heavy. But, it’s actuÂalÂly no heavÂier than your averÂage hardÂback book. Plus it’s fairÂly easy to hold. Score one for the iPad.
Then, when you fire up the eBook readÂer, you instantÂly like what you see. The fonts are crisp, and the images are in colÂor, which means that you can read chilÂdren’s books, comics and othÂer graphÂic intenÂsive texts. Plus, you can change the size and kind of the font. You can adjust the brightÂness of the screen. And, in some casÂes, you can even alter the backÂground colÂor of the screen. (Most of this you can’t do with the KinÂdle.) All of this conÂtributes to a readÂer-friendÂly screen that’s easy on the eyes. And, yes, I can read with this device at night. (ReadÂers make othÂer good obserÂvaÂtions in the comÂments below.)
How about buyÂing books for the iPad? Well, it’s pretÂty easy. Both Apple and AmaÂzon sell books for the device, with prices genÂerÂalÂly rangÂing between $9.99 and $12.99. Rather notably, they also offer access to a sizÂable colÂlecÂtion of free books in the pubÂlic domain. (You can get more freeÂbies here, too.) OverÂall, AmaÂzon has a much largÂer invenÂtoÂry, and their books tend to be cheapÂer. But othÂerÂwise these are pretÂty simÂiÂlar serÂvices. And, because Apple now has a far supeÂriÂor device, you have to wonÂder whether this is the beginÂning of a big shift in the book marÂket. In five years, AmaÂzon might not be quite the beheÂmoth it is today — someÂthing that’s probÂaÂbly letÂting Steve Jobs sleep easÂiÂer than Jeff Bezos at night.
A final point worth menÂtionÂing here: NeiÂther comÂpaÂny will let you have true ownÂerÂship over the books you buy. Both venÂdors lock down their books, dicÂtate the operÂatÂing enviÂronÂments in which you can read them, and conÂtrol the user interÂfaces that shape the readÂing expeÂriÂence. (PC World has more on that here.) You don’t have much ultiÂmate conÂtrol over the underÂlyÂing file. So the upshot is that you had betÂter like the iPad (or KinÂdle) readÂing expeÂriÂence before decidÂing to amass a large and costÂly library.
Now for a few ranÂdom obserÂvaÂtions:
1) The video genÂerÂalÂly looks great (unless, of course, it’s proÂduced in Flash). I was realÂly impressed with the qualÂiÂty of YouTube videos, and NetÂflix movies (free app here) stream over the iPad rather brilÂliantÂly.
2) On the downÂside, I found typÂing on the iPad to be rather difÂfiÂcult — even more so than typÂing on an iPhone. The device is large enough that it’s hard to stretch your finÂgers to reach varÂiÂous keys. Maybe I will get a hang of it. But, for now, it’s unwieldy.
3) The New York Times and Wall Street JourÂnal have develÂoped new apps for the iPad, and they delivÂer a pleasÂant readÂing expeÂriÂence, to be sure. But I don’t see this sudÂdenÂly makÂing conÂsumers any more (or less) willÂing to pay. The conÂcept of the iPad savÂing the newsÂpaÂper indusÂtry seems fairÂly overÂplayed, I’m sorÂry to say.
4) Is this a must-have device? Or just nice-to-have? Right now, I’m inclined toward the latÂter (and so is Slate). Aside from the eBook readÂer, your home comÂputÂer or smart phone can accomÂplish most of what the iPad can. HowÂevÂer, the iPad will rapidÂly difÂferÂenÂtiÂate itself. It will become a nice low-cost, portable comÂputÂer — one that lets you store data in the cloud, and proÂvides access to a large volÂume of cheap or free softÂware (at least more than your averÂage conÂsumer norÂmalÂly gets). Give it a year. Wait for the flood of apps to come. Wait for innoÂvÂaÂtive softÂware develÂopÂers to extract the potenÂtial of this machine, and wait for Apple to make the iPad lighter, cheapÂer, and even faster. Right now, it’s not a game changÂer. But it will be down the line.
Are you a new iPad ownÂer? Have any thoughts in genÂerÂal? Or parÂticÂuÂlarÂly about the eBook readÂer? Add them to the comÂments below, or send them our way. We look forÂward to hearÂing what you have to say …
A quick fyi: AmaÂzon has released an app that will let you read KinÂdle texts on your Mac (finalÂly!) and the upcomÂing iPad. If you’re lookÂing for free KinÂdle texts, we’ve proÂduced a long list here, includÂing many great clasÂsics. You can find KinÂdle apps (all free) for othÂer devices below.
Last fall, PrinceÂton launched a small experÂiÂment, replacÂing traÂdiÂtionÂal textÂbooks with the KinÂdle DX, AmaÂzon’s large e‑book readÂer. Almost from the beginÂning, the 50 stuÂdents parÂticÂiÂpatÂing in the pilot proÂgram expressed disÂsatÂisÂfacÂtion with the devices. YesÂterÂday, a uniÂverÂsiÂty report offered some more definÂiÂtive findÂings. On the upside, stuÂdents using the KinÂdle DX endÂed up using far less paper. (Paper conÂsumpÂtion was genÂerÂalÂly reduced by 54%.) On the downÂside, stuÂdents comÂplained that the KinÂdle was funÂdaÂmenÂtalÂly “ill-suitÂed for class readÂings.” As one stuÂdent put it:
I expectÂed it to be a realÂly useÂful tool that would enhance my expeÂriÂence, but it has hinÂdered my studÂies in a lot of difÂferÂent ways… I wasn’t able to absorb the mateÂrÂiÂal as well as if I had hard copies of the readÂings, and I had to deal with a lot of techÂniÂcal inconÂveÂniences just from the design of the KinÂdle.
More than 65,000 19th-cenÂtuÂry works of ficÂtion from the British Library’s colÂlecÂtion are to be made availÂable for free downÂloads by the pubÂlic from this spring.
OwnÂers of the AmaÂzon KinÂdle, an ebook readÂer device, will be able to view well known works by writÂers such as Charles DickÂens, Jane Austen and Thomas Hardy, as well as works by thouÂsands of less famous authors.
You can read the rest about this Microsoft fundÂed iniÂtiaÂtive here. In the meanÂtime, we’ve made it relÂaÂtiveÂly easy to downÂload major clasÂsics to your KinÂdle, iPhone, smartÂphone or comÂputÂer. See our colÂlecÂtion of Free eBooks (and Audio Books).
10.) Books with graphÂics. Many books conÂtain phoÂtos, graphÂics and diaÂgrams that the KinÂdle does not hanÂdle well, if at all. When peoÂple realÂize that the iPad will do this flawÂlessÂly, they’ll head in that direcÂtion. ExamÂple: while readÂing the new CarvÂer biogÂraÂphy on my KinÂdle, an expeÂriÂence that I loved, I had to miss out on all of the picÂtures colÂlectÂed from Carver’s life. Once you take into account newsÂpaÂpers and magÂaÂzines, there’s even more weight on iPad’s side.
9.) Cost: SeriÂousÂly, AmaÂzon realÂly overÂstepped their boundÂaries when they set Kindle’s price at around $300, as they did. If they had made it $100 or less, they would have probÂaÂbly have sold 4 or 5 times the numÂber of devices, hookÂing more readÂers to their bookÂstore and their device. Look at Gillette as an examÂple: which costs more—the razor or the razor blades?
8.) “I love my KinÂdle!” – less than two milÂlion peoÂple have bought the AmaÂzon prodÂuct. By comÂparÂiÂson, over forty milÂlion iPhones and iPod TouchÂes have been sold. No one knows how many folks will rush out to buy an iPad, but if preÂviÂous iPhone sales and the buzz around the iPad are any indiÂcaÂtion, this is going to be anothÂer big win for Apple.
7.) iPad is a KinÂdle: just use that free KinÂdle app on your iPad and you’ve got the whole KinÂdle store wide open to you. You can even take your whole KinÂdle library right over to Apple’s iPad with the KinÂdle App.
6.) Cost, again: with iPad comÂing in at a low $499 for a device that’s much betÂter made and feaÂtures much more capaÂbilÂiÂty than the KinÂdle, with at least four times the memÂoÂry… well, you get the picÂture. Oh jeez… I just found out the KinÂdle DX goes for $489. Oh, Mr. Bezos… what are you thinkÂing?
5.) CapaÂbilÂiÂty. PeoÂple don’t want a dedÂiÂcatÂed readÂing device: if you can carÂry around a device the size of your e‑reader, but also use it to check email, surf the web, watch TV and movies, lisÂten to music, use office-type apps, etc. then that’s going to win in today’s econÂoÂmy.
4.) Book pricÂing. It looks like Apple, the diaÂbolÂiÂcal pricers of all songs at $.99, might wind up being the pubÂlishÂers’ darÂling in the e‑book marÂket by pricÂing their titles highÂer than AmaÂzon has been. So far it looks like ibooks will be closÂer to the $14.99 price point that pubÂlishÂers like. Right now, as evinced by this past weekend’s squabÂble between AmaÂzon and MacmilÂlan, pubÂlishÂers appear to be fed up with Amazon’s pricÂing stratÂeÂgy. Apple may just become pubÂlishÂers’ white knight. (more…)
Caveat: before half of you get your shorts in a bunch, tomorÂrow’s post will be: Top 10 ReaÂsons Why iPad Means KinÂdle Is Dead. With that said, have at it!
10.) TakÂing readÂing from a simÂple printÂed page to an e‑book enviÂronÂment such as the KinÂdle is a great step forÂward. Its ease of use, portaÂbilÂiÂty and storÂage are ideÂal for readÂers. No more innoÂvaÂtions needÂed!
9.) The enjoyÂment of readÂing has always takÂen place withÂin a reader’s mind. This is both why readÂing is great and why the words on the page don’t need to be in flashy colÂors or feaÂture fanÂcy graphÂics.
8.) Added cost of iPad and $30/month fee for 3G from AT&T (the realÂisÂtic cost) make KinÂdle a betÂter deal. Enough said.
7.) EveryÂone hates AT&T, their 3G serÂvice is spotÂty at best, and NO ONE who’s buyÂing a 3G iPad will use less than 250MB a month, so the $14.95 price point for 3G is useÂless!
6.) Glare/e‑ink. You can always read durÂing the dayÂtime with your KinÂdle. Take it to the beach, read in broad dayÂlight. e‑ink is simÂply easÂiÂer on readÂers’ eyes than back-lit pixÂels.
5.) There’s no need for a device that fits between lapÂtop and smart phone. Both are extremeÂly portable and serve difÂferÂent purÂposÂes. If I want to curl up in bed with a movie or the web, I can use my lapÂtop for that already. If I want to curl up in bed and read, I can use my KinÂdle!
4.) Apps! That’s right: The new openÂing up of Amazon’s KinÂdle forÂmat to app develÂopÂers will mean a lot more verÂsaÂtilÂiÂty on the device. Once a few folks come along and develÂop email clients or web browsers for the KinÂdle, KinÂdle will become even more useÂful as a potenÂtial smart phone substitute—the niche that iPad seems intent on fillÂing.
3.) The new price-sharÂing announceÂment (70% publisher/30% AmaÂzon) for AmaÂzon’s DigÂiÂtal Text PlatÂform (DTP) makes KinÂdle more attracÂtive once again to all the powÂers that be in pubÂlishÂing. If they can get this pesky text-to-speech batÂtle cleared up, things will be even betÂter.
2.) Big pubÂlishÂing is curÂrentÂly doing so much of their sales through AmaÂzon, that they might be afraid to carÂry busiÂness over to Apple. Sure, they will sell books there, but keep in mind that Apple might have to keep prices in the iBook store highÂer than at AmaÂzon.
1.) “I love my KinÂdle!” –SeriÂousÂly, a lot of readÂers are devotÂed to these devices, includÂing me. I’ve found a nice covÂer that makes the KinÂdle easy to hold. I realÂly like the ease of buying/storing books on it. And I just want a plain, simÂple device to use for readÂing.
The opinÂions expressed above are not necÂesÂsarÂiÂly those of Open CulÂture or the author.
Up next (tomorÂrow): Top 10 ReaÂsons Why iPad Means KinÂdle is Dead
Seth HarÂwood is a voraÂcious readÂer, subÂverÂsive pubÂlishÂing maven and crime novÂelÂist. His next book Young Junius will be availÂable from Tyrus Books this fall. He’s sure to have some crazy proÂmoÂtions going at his site this spring as well.
Today we have a guest post by William Rankin, direcÂtor of eduÂcaÂtionÂal innoÂvaÂtion, assoÂciate proÂfesÂsor of medieval litÂerÂaÂture, and Apple DisÂtinÂguished EduÂcaÂtor, AbiÂlene ChrisÂtÂian UniÂverÂsiÂty. ACU was the first uniÂverÂsiÂty in the world to announce a comÂpreÂhenÂsive one-to-one iniÂtiaÂtive based on iPhones and iPod touchÂes designed to explore the impact of mobilÂiÂty in eduÂcaÂtion. For the past year, they have been conÂsidÂerÂing the future of the textÂbook. Rankin, who made a brief appearÂance on NBC NightÂly News last night, does a great job here of putting the new Apple iPad in hisÂtorÂiÂcal conÂtext and sugÂgestÂing why it may solve the great inforÂmaÂtionÂal probÂlems of our age.
It may seem strange in the wake of a major tech announceÂment to turn to the past—570 years in the past and beyond — but to conÂsidÂer the role of eBooks and specifÂiÂcalÂly of Apple’s new iPad, I think such a diverÂsion is necÂesÂsary. Plus, as regÂuÂlar readÂers of Open CulÂture know, techÂnolÂoÂgy is at its best not when it sets us off on some isoÂlatÂed yet sparkling digÂiÂtal future, but when it conÂnects us more fulÂly to our humanÂiÂty — to our hisÂtoÂry, our interÂreÂlatÂedÂness, and our culÂture. I want to take a moment, thereÂfore, to look back before I look forÂward, conÂsidÂerÂing the simÂiÂlarÂiÂties between GutenÂberg’s revÂoÂluÂtion and recent develÂopÂments in eBook techÂnoloÂgies and offerÂing some basic criÂteÂria we can borÂrow from hisÂtoÂry to assess whether these new techÂnoloÂgies — includÂing Apple’s iPad — are ready to proÂpel us into information’s third age.
In the world before Gutenberg’s press — the first age — inforÂmaÂtion was transÂmitÂted priÂmarÂiÂly in a one-to-one fashÂion. If I wantÂed to learn someÂthing from a perÂson, I typÂiÂcalÂly had to go to that perÂson to learn it. This creÂatÂed an inforÂmaÂtion culÂture that was highÂly perÂsonÂal and relaÂtionÂal, a charÂacÂterÂisÂtic eviÂdenced in apprenÂticeÂships and in the teacher/student relaÂtionÂships of the earÂly uniÂverÂsiÂties. This relaÂtionÂal charÂacÂterÂisÂtic was true even for texÂtuÂal inforÂmaÂtion. The manÂuÂal techÂnolÂoÂgy behind the proÂducÂtion and copyÂing of books and the immense assoÂciÂatÂed costs meant that it was difÂfiÂcult for books to proÂlifÂerÂate. To see a book — if I couldn’t afford to have my own copy hand-made, a propoÂsiÂtion requirÂing the expenÂdiÂture of a lifetime’s worth of wages for the averÂage perÂson — meant that I had to go visÂit the library that owned it. Even then, I might not be allowed to see it if I didn’t have a privÂiÂleged relaÂtionÂship with its ownÂers. So while the first age was rich in inforÂmaÂtion (a truth that has nothÂing to do with my perÂsonÂal bias as a medievalÂist), its priÂmaÂry chalÂlenge involved access.
Gutenberg’s revÂoÂluÂtion, ushÂerÂing in the secÂond age, solved that probÂlem. DriÂven by one of the first machines to enable mass-proÂducÂtion, inforÂmaÂtion could proÂlifÂerÂate for the first time. MulÂtiÂple copies of books could be proÂduced quickÂly and relÂaÂtiveÂly cheapÂly — Gutenberg’s Bible was availÂable at a cost of only three years’ wages for the averÂage clerk — and this meant that books took on a new role in culÂture. This was the birth of mass media. Libraries explodÂed from havÂing tens or perÂhaps a few hunÂdred books to havÂing thouÂsands. Or tens of thouÂsands. Or milÂlions. And this abunÂdance led to three disÂtinct revÂoÂluÂtions in culÂture. Though the uniÂverÂsiÂty iniÂtialÂly fought its introÂducÂtion, the printÂed textÂbook proÂvidÂed broad access to inforÂmaÂtion that, for the first time, promised the posÂsiÂbilÂiÂty of uniÂverÂsal eduÂcaÂtion. WideÂspread access to bibles and theÂoÂlogÂiÂcal texts fueled sigÂnifÂiÂcant transÂforÂmaÂtions in reliÂgion across the WestÂern HemiÂsphere. And access to inforÂmaÂtion, phiÂlosÂoÂphy, and news led to the disÂmanÂtling of old politÂiÂcal hierÂarÂchies and some of the first experÂiÂments with democÂraÂcy (have you ever stopped to notice how many of the AmerÂiÂcan revÂoÂluÂtionÂarÂies were involved in printÂing and pubÂlishÂing?). (more…)
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