If the iPad doesn't succeed as a consumer electronics device--its initial target market--it may find a successful second career as an electronic textbook reader.
Yes, I realize it's far too early to write the iPad's eulogy in the consumer market, and I have no intention of doing so. The d
E-Textbooks
But what about education? The iPad, with its large, vibrant color touchscreen, slim and lightweight design, and integrated Wi-Fi (with a 3G option), could be natural e-textbook reader.
Who Wants Them?
Educational institutions aren't exactly clamoring for e-textbook readers now, particularly with school budget cuts nationwide. And Princeton students who tested the Kindle DX griped about the device's slow performance and the challenge of annotating pages. These problems aren't insurmountable, however, and future e-readers will address them.
The e-reader, be it an iPad, Kindle DX, or another device, is particularly well-suited for education. It's an ergonomic and (likely) cheaper alternative to backbreaking, overpriced textbooks.
So how does the iPad compare to the Kindle DX? Here's a quick rundown:
Price: Both devices cost about $500, although the iPad scales all the way up to $829. Both Apple and Amazon would likely offer educational discounts, however, thereby knocking a few dollars off the price.
Features: The iPad wins here, no contest. Considering its origins as a multiuse consumer gadget, that's no surprise. But it does do too much? After all, its distraction factor is high: Gaming, browsing, video, images, and so on. Perhaps a scaled-down iPad for students is on the horizon. In its current incarnation, the iPad is a procrastinating student's dream--or worst nightmare.
Displays: The screens are the same size at 9.7 inches, but the iPad's color LED-backlit is obviously the aesthetic champ. The verdict is split, however. The iPad seems better suited for e-textbooks, particularly those with color image
Size: Not a big difference here. Both are over a pound (Kindle DX: 18.9 ounces; iPad: 24 ounces) and very light.
Battery life: Kindle DX wins easily. Amazon says the DX will run up to a week with the 3D wireless on. Apple says the iPad will run up to ten hours between charges.
Storage: Advantage: Apple. Kindle DX has 4GB of internal storage (3.3GB for user content), which is enough for 3500 books, periodicals, and documents. The iPad has a 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB flash drive. At the $500 price point, the iPad has four times the storage (16GB) of the Kindle DX.
Connectivity: Kindle DX has 3G wireless. The iPad does too, but only if you shell out an extra $130, which raises the iPad price to $629. Advantage: Amazon.
Both Amazon and Apple will be players in the e-textbook market. Future versions of the iPad and Kindle will address the needs of students better than the models we see today.
Contact Jeff Bertolucci via Twitter (@jbertolucci) or at jbertolucci.blogspot.com.