News article in Wall Street Journal by Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg:

Publisher, Apple Talk E-Books For Tablet 19 January 2010

- that Harper Collins is negotiating e-Book distribution with Apple for the rumored tablet device sometimes referred to as the "iPad" - now scheduled to be announced at a January 27 San Francisco event.

What is interesting about this is that it acknowledges the publisher opportunity & the educational user necessity of what is beginning to be termed the "enhanced e-Book." What is the enhanced e-Book? An e-Book that contains rich media and interactive features. Yes, kind of like a hybrid online course/e-Book. In IMS we sometimes refer to it as the "Educational e-Book".

The enhanced e-Book is a major motivator for content providers because rather than a reduced price text-only book ($9.99), it is potentially a premium priced product. Not unlike the online "homework applications" that most educational publishers are providing today. See the article on Harper Collins challenges in dealing with the Amazon $9.99 e-Book.

What does this have to do with e-Book readers? Simple. Kindle cannot handle this type of content and interactivity. If the iPad can, then it will make it and devices like it the more likely platform for Educational e-Books.