One of the reasons I read on the iPad so much is because of tools like Instapaper, Reeder, and Times. I think of my Dad every time I use Instapaper, as I imagine the plentiful snippets of articles I send him are immediately dropped into a “do later” folder that never gets checked. His ability to readily read content would be dramatically increased via Instapaper’s web app on his aging Dell, especially if I created a script for it. I haven’t heard from him lately, but I imagine he’s still perusing through Yahoo or MSN news rather than reading the few All Things Digital or Ars Technica gigs I send him.
I used to visit sites every day, but by achieving a workflow with so many wonderful tools that all do different things, I’m able to delegate content for later reading, tackle it now, or share good articles with my friends. You can bookmark and highlight text in a paperback book or a newspaper in real life, but the digital savviness acquired by the iPad (and even the Kindle) have made digital content less disposable than physical paper. Mind blown right? Obviously it should be the other way around. While we’ll elaborate on this some more another time, a recent survey in the United Kingdom has me hoping that people live along the same lines of thinking I do. Digital content is more convenient, accessible, and engaging than paper equivalents.
The iPad, the Kindle, and the Nook have all become the de-facto go-to device for many United Kingdom readers, all 1,034 of them. Via a telephone survey, 43% use the iPad for more than ten hours per week. It’s only fair considering the iPad’s battery will last that long, if not longer. While TechCrunch snarkily comments about people putting up with the “blue legos” (thanks to the absence of Flash), a Hulu Plus subscription, Frash, and Devour have alleviated this issue. (Thanks again to John Gruber for turning us all on to the awesome sauce that is Devour.)
Of these savvy iPad users, 41% prefer the iPad over physical books. I’m still on the edge about which is better – I’ve read a few books on the iPad with no complaints, but high prices still have me clamoring to Amazon to find the best prices on paperbacks if I can buy a couple and get free shipping. 38% enjoy using the iPad for web-browsing, while 37% enjoy gaming on the iPad. With titles like The Incident and Chaos Rings, there’s certainly something for everyone between time wasters and console alternatives.
31% of the UK consumers surveyed also prefer the iPad to the laptop, mobile phone, and even their e-readers. If I owned a Kindle and an iPad, I would probably use the Kindle in the evening so I could still read and adjust my eyes for sleeping (the light from electronic devices is what keeps you geeky insomniacs awake at night), especially since the Kindle is compatible with a few of the things I use on my iPad. Although during any other time of the day, I would pick up the iPad before an E-Reader unless I was looking for something super lightweight to carry to the local deli or to the beach. TechCrunch mentions Flipboard and Pulse being applications that have turned iPad owner’s eyes away from printed media such as newspaper and magazines. Again, I agree.
It might not multitask. It might struggle playing Flash (though it can be done). But the iPad is a can-do it all machine that’s likely to take center stage in any owner’s life. This small survey is probably true for a majority of iPad owners around the world, and I’d love to hear your feedback on how you’ve incorporated it into your lifestyles.
[via TechCrunch]
