Although not a device I’ll likely be picking up on launch day, the iPad seems to be taking hold as the device it was intended to be. I’ll be honest; my initial reaction to the iPad was a generic lack of surprise. Aside from the wild speculation taking place, I was nearly convinced it’d be a large iPod Touch. It is. And it isn’t.
The iPad, either by nature or by blunt force (being an Apple product) is already changing things. While the public nearly signed off on the iPad during the keynote, developers were getting really excited. There’s a lot to say about that.
One of the outcomes I’m really looking forward to observing with the iPad is content delivery. I have never been one to even consider anything along the lines of an ebook reader, I’ve never read anything at length on my iPhone, and I thought I simply never would.
Books in the Age of the iPad by Craig Mod has me excited. It’s smart pieces like this which are really turning the gears for lots of people, signifying that this could very well be the beginning of a new era in content delivery.
Comments
I need to experience reading on the iPad. I have tried the Kindle, and it’s nice – but yet there is still something I like about having the physical book. I just can’t get into reading on a device – I like to read away from the device. Last night I printed off the 80 page Sphinx manual, so I didn’t have to read it on my computer (even thought it would have been easier to navigate).
I enjoyed Craig’s article, even though I don’t agree with everything said.
I am not sure I’ll be buying the iPad the day it comes out, either – but I look forward to testing the waters. I am just a tough sell to move completely digital with books – even though I know there are more pros to digital books. Time will tell. ha.
I haven’t even seen a Kindle in person yet to be honest, I’ve been that detached to ebook readers in general. I’ll read a PDF version of a book here and there, but even then it’s just different than reading a physical book. I have my doubts about this device bridging that gap but you’re right; the proof will be in the proverbial pudding when we’re all able to speak from experience.
Lots of people have said you have to use one before you judge it. I want to try one out, but I’m not going to buy one right away. I do enjoy reading on my iPhone (ex. Fever by Shaun Inman) versus reading on my Mac, so I assume I’ll enjoy reading on the iPad.
However, the iPad is not something I will bring around everywhere. Like we’ve talked about before, it’d be a cool gadget to leave on your coffee table that anyone can just pick up and look up something they just saw on TV or just to read. That’s how I see myself using it anyway.
Yeah, the coffee table situation definitely has something going for it. I’ve also been thinking about the other niche that’s been brought up from time to time. I really think the first iPad I pick up will be for my grandmother. She’s had a computer in the house before but never touched it. We’ve sat down and gone over how to send emails and the whole 9 yards but nothing sticks. I think something about the iPad will be less intimidating to her.