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De85 on 28 January 2010
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Grimes said:
twesterm said:

I just don't know how Apple will advertise the iPad as an eReader though.  I'm sure they'll have the usual iPhone App store videos that show the eReader app, but I just don't see it taking away from the Kindle, Nook, or even Sony eReader.

I absolutely agree that the iPad is shinier than the usual eReaders, I just don't see it being sold as one. 

Amazon advertises the Hell out of the Kindle and no other eReaders, Barnes and Noble advertises the Hell out of the Nook and no others, and Sony has portable stands in the middle of malls advertising the eReader.  The iPad will have the Apple store, Best Buy, and other electronic stores, but I'm not sure if people looking for eReaders will go to those places. 

I don't think Best Buy or other electronic stores even sell eReaders other than the Sony one which is doing the worst of any of them.

I think just showing the eBook reader on TV is going to wow a lot of people. Seeing the pages move back and forth with the touch looks very fluid and smooth. That is enough to sell the device. It's fun to watch.

It isn't about the consumer that is looking for the ereaders. It's ALL about the consumers that haven't considered an ebook. That is where Apple will have a huge advantage by being able to show a bright shiny product that lets them read books, browse the web and watch videos. It's very easy to demonstrate all these things in a short commercial or quickly in a store. Remember, it's not about you, it's about the untapped audience that may not like laptops or computers but reads books, browses the web and watches tv. Apple can afford to buy Super Bowl spots and advertise it in a way other companies cannot.

This completely contradicts your earlier statement that this will devastate kindle sales. People who buy a kindle ARE those who are looking for ereaders.  I think in the long run the effect on kindle/nook/sony whatever sales will be at worst, slightly positive because most who get it will not use the ebook feature.  Of those who use it, most will try it and only use it once in a blue moon.  For those people who had never previously considered an ereader, but got hooked on the concept by the ipad, the device will be woefully inadequate as such.  10 hours of battery life is laughably short for an ebook, and the backlighting will strain eyes like no other.  Those people will look elsewhere for a more efficient ereader, and amazon/barnes&noble/sony will be there waiting for them when they do.