Whether you’re in the crowd that thinks the iPad is worth every ounce of hype and maybe more, or you’re in the crowd that thinks it’s completely overhyped and asking “why are we still talking about this?”, there’s no denying that this little tablet has the potential to revolutionize the way students do business on campus.
As far as college students are concerned, the iPad’s e-reader technology makes it incredibly applicable to their lifestyle. The iPad has the potential to free us up from lugging weighty bags of expensive textbooks to and from campus. Weighing about 24 ounces (or 1.5 pounds), the iPad can easily be taken anywhere you go. Slip inside a satchel bag, handbag or backpack, it’s thinner and lighter than probably any textbook out there.
With the iPad, you can skip the long lines, grumpy cashiers and ridiculous prices and exchange policies and just finger over to the iBookstore, where there are tens of thousands of titles ready for download. There are even free books available, thanks to the epub format, the most popular open book platform. The epub platform makes it easy for publishers to adapt their books to an iBook version.
Other features that help sell the iPad as an ideal student companion, the hi-res LED backlit screen makes it easy on the eyes to cram an all-night reading session in before the exam. Vivid colors that make illustrations pop and crisp font (that you can change and resize) bring the books to life in a way no textbook can. You can bookmark pages for later reference, and when you’re finished reading the iPad will bookmark the page where you’re leaving off. You can also choose landscape view and hold the iPad as you would a book to view two pages at once, or choose portrait view to read one page at a time.
One other remarkable feature is that the iPad gives you text and audio books in one. Using the VoiceOver feature, the iPad will read the book aloud to you, freeing you to take notes.
While the iBookstore isn’t currently stocked with textbooks for iPad, many believe publishers will spend summer vacation prepping for the fall semester. Several publishers are already on board to make their books available for the iPad, including McGraw-Hill, Houghton Mifflin, and Pearson.
I agree as Ipad has came out kindle doesn't have a chance. With its emaculate design and performance its going to be the beginning of the future for Apple Ipad. This is just the beginning of the Apple Ipad and its not going to do anything but get better. As students enter college they will be holding an Apple Ipad. Also I believe the Apple Iphone 4g will be a big success because of its new and improved technology.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt about it! When considering the iPad as opposed to traditional textbook physicality and price, the iPad will easily be the better choice for students. Students can access books without the hefty price tag and weight of the latest editions. My biggest concern with the iPad is the battery life (along with no USB interface). Sure, students will have plenty to do with an one, however books do not lose power with battery life. This is the next issue along with later generations of the device...how to fix the battery issue for those who tend to use it more. Will students always be toting around chargers for the iPad as they do for their cellphones and laptops?
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