Murdoch praises "wonderful" iPad

Rupert Murdoch has praised Apple's iPad tablet computer as a "wonderful tool" that could rule out newspaper publishers' need for traditional print.

Speaking at a press event in the US, the News Limited chief executive said the device would help bring down the costs of newspaper publishing because "you don't have the costs of paper, ink, printing, trucks".

"I'm old, I like the tactile experience of the newspaper," he said. "(But) if you have less newspapers and more of these, that's OK. It doesn't destroy the traditional newspaper, it just comes in a different form."

Murdoch said he expects "tens of millions" of the devices to be sold around the world, and that eight to nine similar devices would appear from competitors in the coming year.

The iPad was released to the US public earlier this week. Apple claimed that over 300,000 of the devices were sold in its first day, as well as 250,000 e-book downloads from its iBooks store, which was launched in tandem with the iPad. An Australian release date for the iPad is yet to be confirmed.

Controversy has surrounded the pricing of some print media material on the iPad, with some iPad editions of newspapers and magazines retailing for a higher price than their printed counterparts. The Wall Street Journal application, for example, is retailing for US$17.29 a month, while a bundled print and website subscription costs US$11.69.

Major book publisher Random House has also opted out of making their titles available on the device, after baulking at their pricing on iBooks.

The iPad was launched with much fanfare earlier this year, though book printers and catalogue printers have expressed mixed sentiments as to whether the device is a threat to their livelihoods.

Note: One of ProPrint's sister titles has published a list of 12 reasons why 'you shouldn't buy an iPad.