A Swift Victory: iPad Knocks Kindle Down to Niche Market

I’m a reader, and expected to buy a Kindle (or another ebook reader) in the next year or two. I was just waiting for the next generation — more features, better design. I was also waiting for the price to come down. For such a non-versatile product, it wasn’t worth the several hundred dollars asking price.

When the iPad came out, I wasn’t sold on the theory that it could replace the Kindle. I mean, all that research and development into the E Ink technology, it can’t be so easily toppled by Apple’s version of a tablet computer, which has been out for years. Eye strain and all that hoopla had to stand for something, right?

Turns out, Amazon was too smart for its pants. E Ink isn’t dead, but was completely unnecessary for the mass market. With the iPad’s introduction, it can only survive in a niche market.

There are three advantages that a stand alone ebook reader offers over the iPad:

• 1. Free 3G
• 2. Weight
• 3. Battery Life
• 4. E Ink

Free 3G

Ok, it’s really great that there’s free 3G, and the last thing customers want is to pay yet another fee to AT&T for not-so-great 3G coverage. But turns out that it’s not that big a deal. Wireless is fine. And with the iPad’s easy one-month at a time subscription, impulsive shoppers will pay the fee. More resourceful users will buy the ebooks when they’re in range of a wireless connection.

Weight

The iPad is a little heavy for its size. Holding it up without support for a long period of time is difficult and not recommended. However, it’s no heavier than a hard cover book, and readers have found ways to read those.

Battery Life

Weeks of battery life versus 6-8 hours is a big difference, except who’s not around a charger these days within a few hours?

E Ink

While eye strain is not an issue E Ink can claim over the iPad, glare is. It’s definitely difficult to read on the iPad when you’re outside in bright sunlight.

Mass vs. Niche

The advantages prevent the ebook readers from becoming obsolete, but the iPad has relegated them to a niche market. They’re only useful for people who travel to remote areas with no electricity, and those who often read outdoors. Some may even find the weight a valuable feature. But even for these consumers, to really survive, the price needs to come way down.

For the rest of us, the iPad is the only thing that makes sense. While still pricey, for those in the market for an e-reader, there’s no reason not to get the iPad instead. Not only is it multiple e-readers in one (buy a book on BN or Amazon or anywhere else in PDF form and there’s an app to read it), it also has access to internet browsing, email, and all the apps in the world.

After having the iPad for just 2 weeks, I can say that I do indeed love my iPad, and am extremely happy that I never bought the Kindle or the iPhone.