With the recent announcement from Apple regarding the forthcoming iPad product, particularly its applicability as an electronic text (e-book) reading device, a number of questions regarding the possible effects it may have upon the book trade should begin to be contemplated. As many people are touting the iPad as being as revolutionary to the written word as the iPod was to recorded music, the potential for it dramatically to change the way books are published, bought, collected, and read is indeed very high. That said, what follows are a few of the questions I have been pondering since the announcement of the iPad. The posting of them here is intended as an invitation to all who may also be contemplating these as well as their own questions on the subject to engage in a discussion that may help all concerned to develop a more rich and nuanced understanding of the topic. Read the rest of this entry »