iPad on my mind

Here is my iPad, fresh out of its minimal and exceedingly well designed packaging. It arrived Saturday on its first day of release. It’s unlike me to adopt new technology as soon as it’s available — I usually wait for the second or third generation. But in this case, I felt that the iPad was too important for me to wait. First off, as an iPhone developer, I wanted to make certain my apps were operative. Secondly, I suspect this is the first  “real” e-book reader that will be a contender on the publishing market. (Sorry, Kindle, Nook and Sony Reader!)

I must admit to being amazed at how many people have asked me about my experiences with the iPad so far. And I also must admit to enjoying the frisson of attention that came my way whenever I’ve used the iPad in public. It was a lot of fun to pull it out at my local coffeehouse and see the heads swivel in my direction.

Here are some quick thoughts on the iPad so far:

1. I like the iPad very much — it’s very well done. Some have commented on the 1.5 lb weight. At first it felt slightly heavy to me. But now it doesn’t. It feels solid and ergonomic. The size feels right too — not too big, not too small. It’s a pleasure to hold and look at. Screen is gorgeous!

2. My apps work well on the iPad. (Whew!) That written, I do intend to eventually redesign the Goddess Tarot app for the iPad, to take advantage of the larger screen size.

3. As an author, I recognize that digital books are now a permanent part of the publishing landscape. I don’t see them as replacing print books, however — just an extension. As such, the iPad is the only device (to date) that is appropriate for full color, illustrated books. I do plan to develop e-books for the iPad. First up is a digital version of THE BOOK OF GODDESSES. In time I hope to make my backlist of children’s picture books available anew.

4. Related to #3: I do have a Kindle. Alas, I never bonded with it. It just never felt comfortable to me, with that button to click to turn the page, the fugly (no other word for it) design of the device as well as the e-books themselves. There’s only one scenario in which the Kindle outshines the iPad — if you’re reading in direct sunlight, the iPad’s glossy screen is almost impossible to make out, like most laptops.

5. The big “if” to me was the quality of the iPad’s iBook app. I immediately downloaded it, nervous but excited. I must admit to feeling a bit emotional (yes, several tears were shed) the first time I opened the iBooks app. After all, I’ve been a book designer for well over two decades –  in this regard, the iPad is MAJOR. (I’m sure Guttenberg is rolling in his grave at this pronouncement.) The book which comes loaded in the iBooks app is a fully illustrated edition of WINNIE THE POOH. It’s a smart choice for showing off the strengths of the iBooks interface. Plus who doesn’t like WINNIE THE POOH? The illustrations look gorgeous. The type design is lovely, though not as stellar as I’d like to see. That written, compared to the e-books available on Kindle, the iBook e-books feel like gorgeous high end art books!

6. I’m happy to report that, based on my few hours here using the iPad, the iBooks app is deeply immersive for reading — so much better than a Kindle or a computer. The iPad’s strong point as an ebook reader is that it replicates a similar sensory experience where you can “disappear” into a book. The pages actually roll and curve as you “turn” the page.  As mentioned in #5, the book design still needs much refining, but it’s moving in the right direction.

7. For comparison’s sake, I also downloaded the Kindle app for iPad. It’s a much clunkier reading experience, though there’s many more books available via Amazon than from iBooks. But all this will change over time, especially since iBooks have wisely chosen to use the ePub digital book standard, which most digital publishers use. The Kindle format is proprietary to Amazon only.

8. The first book I downloaded was WOLF HALL, which I’ve been dying to read about Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn et al. It’s a big, thick book –  one that it would be hard to carry around to read on the subway, for example. So I’m curious how it will hold up on an e-book reader. For example, I can easily imagine reading it in bed — the backlit display means that I can read without an external light source. So say goodbye to reading with a flashlight under the covers!

9. One technical note: The only iPad downside I’ve noticed so far is that it seems less sensitive to picking up wifi signals than my iPhone or laptop. This is hopefully a first generation glitch, not something serious. I’ve read that other users have had this issue too.

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Some people have asked me if I consider the iPad a substitute for a computer. My cut-to-the-chase answer: No. That written, the iPad is so light and portable I can easily imagine using it in the place of my laptop for when I’m out and about — to check my e-mail, or to edit a manuscript. (You can edit and write on the iPad, using Apple’s proprietary Pages application, which is similar to Word.) The iPad is also great for videos; instead of dragging a portable dvd player along to entertain my child during a long plane ride, I can bring the iPad.

The short version is that the iPad is really a device for consumption, rather than creation. And sometimes that’s all you want.

In closing, Farhad Manjoo of Slate recently wrote a round up of the iPad that sums up many of my thoughts. Here’s an excerpt:

So, why would you pay at least $500 for a machine that merely replicates your other gadgets’ functions? Because the iPad is the best media-consumption device ever made. Or, to put it another way, there is no better machine to use on the couch, the bed, or in the bathroom…. The iPad’s killer app is reading. The iPad is especially great for settling in with a book or a long article. Indeed, in nearly all scenarios, the iPad makes a better book-reader than the Kindle. Yes, Apple’s tablet lacks the Kindle’s paperlike E Ink screen, but that’s a feature, not a bug. E Ink e-readers can’t display color images and animation, and they don’t do graphic design. Those elements are critical to the presentation of newspapers, textbooks, magazines, children’s books, and lots of other printed content—all of which the iPad handles beautifully.”

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