The long awaited Apple tablet computer has been revealed to the public at last. It’s called the “iPad” and has had a fairly mixed reception so far. That’s no big surprise – Apple always seem to generate polarisation, and there’s plenty of that in evidence right now.
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.
Drawing comparisons between the iPad and the Kindle seems to be pretty much par for the course right now. The devices are very different, so comparing them doesn’t make a lot of sense on the face of it. On the other hand, the Kindle has been the absolute “must have” gadget for months now – and has often been suggested to be the “iPod of books” – so perhaps the comparison makes more sense than it appears to. Perhaps we shall find that the iPod of books is actually the iPad before much longer?
The Kindle is a specialist. It concentrates on performing its main role – letting people read e-books – and it does this very well. It possesses a few additional functions – a basic browser and a dictionary for example – and these are somewhat less effective. The iPad is a very versatile device which has the capability to perform a wide range of different tasks. Its color screen, which incorporates touch screen controls and an accelerometer, means that it is a great browser, is able to playback video, can be used as an e-book reader and can run any of the numerous “apps” already developed for the iPod Touch. If you want, you can even play music on it.
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.
So, Amazon have a potential increase in the size of the market for Kindle books. It will also do very well in its capacity as a merchant retailing the iPad. The Kindle DX will probably see a downward price adjustment (which was going to happen anyway) but they will continue to sell well. It really just underscores how well suited Amazon’s business model is to selling electronics and books (e-books).
Learn more about the Amazon Kindle and cast your eye over the wide range of Kindle accessories available to help you personalise, protect and enhance your reader.
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