Friday, January 29, 2010

The iPad eReader Feature

The new iPad launched this week and it's been all over the news. It's 1.5 pounds, half an inch thick, and boasts a 9.7-inch display. The base model with 16GB is $499.
While some features are lacking (no camera or Flash capability) it does do everything that the iTouch does and more - video, music, games, Internet, a word processing program... and an eReader!
Apple has launched the iBook store and it is similar to iTunes. The iBook program uses the ePub format, which is the most popular in the world. Pages can be changed with the press of a button or by touching the screen and turning pages naturally. One can also adjust the font size. Of the big publishing houses, only Random House has yet to sign a deal, and they are currently in talks with Apple.
For those of us with an iPhone or iTouch, unless we just gotta have one, it presents nothing revolutionary. However, for anyone who is debating whether to buy a Kindle (the eBook store's prime competition), a Sony, or a Nook, this deal is a no-brainer. For only $200 more, you not only get a really awesome eReader - you get to watch movies, play games, listen to music, and surf the web. How cool is that?
 

15 comments:

Helen Ginger said...

I'm still waiting. Something even better will come out.

I've heard people taking about the IPad maxi, but I don't get the joke.

Helen
Straight From Hel

Jim Harris said...

I have an iPod touch too, and think of the iPad as just a giant version of the touch. I'll probably wait for iPad 2.0 or a competing touchpad device, but I do want one. I was impressed the iPad supports ePUB, and disappointed it didn't support Flash. But then Steve Jobs must hate Flash because it destroyed Quicktime in the marketplace.

Sarah Ahiers said...

$500 is way out of my price range. Especially since i still don't have a PS3. So by the time i can afford one (and i do want one...) they will have come down in price and have super awesome new versions

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Jim, they really missed the boat leaving out Flash. So many websites have Flash.

Fallen, I'm with you! Next year it will be improved and cheaper. I can live with my iTouch until then.

joe doaks-Author said...

To get this straight, you're saying it has the same ebook capabilities of Kindle and Nook...plus more. Do you know how big the library of books it can download? Thanks for the nice writeup!

Best Wishes Galen.
Imagineering Fiction Blog

Creative Chronicler said...

Love the picture! I finally broke down and got a new computer, which will take me awhile to get used to the new Windows 7, actually the time will be spent playing with all the cool new little things it does. Haven't invested in a Kindle or nook yet and will probably be like Falen and wait until the updated and cheaper version comes up of the iPad, then I might invest or not. I love the concept of it. Great post!!

The Old Silly said...

I've been hearing about this lately. Getting pros AND cons, depending on who you listen to. Appreciate your post and take on it. But I'm not buying it - seems to be another quick stop on the techie evolutionary scale that is leading god knows where!? lol

Marvin D Wilson

Hannah said...

I will wait as well I think. I still prefer dead tree books but I do love the idea of thousands at my fingertips and I heart gadgets of all kinds.

As soon as I heard the name, I thought, "With wings?"

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Galen, it probably depends on which one you get - 16, 32 or 64GB.

Creative Chronicler and Old Silly - hope my little post helped.

And Palindrome, I think it's with wings!!

Anonymous said...

I have to be honest, I've never been an apple person and most of the features here I would never use. I was told, though I haven't bothered to look yet, that the iPad has a back lit screen which would mean it would be like trying to read a novel on the computer screen.
I'm still looking into e-readers and I'll hold off a while longer before I buy one but I don't think the iPad is going to be my first choice.

JournoMich said...

Dead trees and book glue all the way.

Wed. or Thurs. to guest blog?

Michele
SouthernCityMysteries

Jemi Fraser said...

It sounds like a fun toy - but I'm quite happy with my iTouch :)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Cassandra, hope you enjoyed the final picture then!

Michele, I still like dead trees, too. Thursday! Give me time to get my ramblings into something that would make sense.

Jemi, I like my iTouch, too. Not switching just yet.

Anonymous said...

I was disappointed. Looks like a glorified Kindle. I can see buying one if you download a tone of books. College students could replace all their text books withone. But other than that, it doesn't offer me anything neww.

Stephen Tremp

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Stephen, it's actually a glorified ITouch. Same features, except with an eReader. I'm waiting for version 2.0...