iPad Launch Announcement – Shipping Starts In March
The much anticipated Apple tablet computer has finally been revealed. It’s going to be called the iPad, which took some industry watchers by surprise, and it’s received a mixed reception thus far. That’s not too surprising – where Apple is concerned there always seems to be a fair bit of polarisation – and that’s certainly what’s in evidence at the moment.
Many reviewers seem to be of the opinion that it is little more than a larger version of the iPod Touch. Others are considerably more complimentary about Apple’s new baby and are suggesting that it will lead to the death of netbooks, notebooks and Amazon’s Kindle reader. No doubt all will be revealed in March when the first iPads begin shipping. At this time, another success for Apple seems to be very much on the cards.
Currently, the device is being compared to the Kindle reader quite a lot. These are two very different devices – so a comparison of the two doesn’t make a lot of sense at first glance. However, since the Kindle has been the hottest gadget on the market for some months now – and not forgetting that it was frequently given the title of the “iPod of reading” – it may be that the comparison is inevitable. It may also be that the iPad is the iPod of reading.
Of course, the Kindle is a specialised device. It performs its primary function – allowing users to read books – very well and has a few supplementary functions, a basic web browser, a dictionary, receipt of newspapers and magazines etc., which it performs, quite frankly, less well. The iPad, on the other hand, is an extremely versatile device which performs many different functions. Unlike the Kindle it has a color display, which features touch screen control functionality and incorporates an accelerometer. It is therefore a great web browser, good for watching video, an mp3 player, an e-book reader and all of the huge library of “apps” developed for the iPod Touch will function on it. Expect to see some pretty radical games appearing soon.
So – should Amazon be concerned about the iPad? Is it going to kill the Kindle? Actually, it seems unlikely. In spite of all the hype there is not only a difference in the price of the devices but a different pricing model is being used for each one. The entry level iPad may have a selling price which, at $ 499, is just $ 10 higher than the Kindle DX, but it doesn’t include 3G – that costs more. There is also a monthly connection charge – $ 15 per month, which could rise to $ 30 depending on how much stuff you download on a monthly basis. The Kindle has 3G included and there’s no ongoing monthly fee. Of course, it’s quite likely that the launch of the iPad may “encourage” Amazon to drop the DX ticket price – just as they did with the Kindle 2.0 last year. However, that was always on the cards. It was more a question of when rather than if.
One of the apps that many will use on the iPad will be the “Kindle app”, which basically allows users to read Kindle books on their Pod or Pad. It may be an opportunity for Amazon to increase the size of their potential market in this area. Apple will also have its own book store for iPad users – so there could be some price competition in future. If so, it will be the consumers who benefit.
It’s also worth remembering that many prospective buyers will be visiting Amazon’s website when they come to place their iPad order in March. It’ll probably be a good month for both Amazon and Apple.
Amazon have the possibility of growing the Kindle book market quite significantly. It will also sell the iPad as a merchant, and probably do very well. The Kindle DX ticket price will probably be reduced somewhat – which would have happened at some point in time anyway – but will continue to sell well. It just emphasises how robust the Amazon way of doing business is.
Check out the Amazon Kindle and cast your eye over the wide range of Kindle accessories available to help you personalise, protect and enhance your reader.