“The iPad launched in US Apple retail stores on 4/3, impacting nearly the entire month of Apple’s sales in April. As a result, April NPD data gives us the first sign of the degree to which the iPad cannibalizes iPod or Mac sales,” Munster noted. “From the early NPD data, it appears that the iPad has a minimal cannibalization impact on Mac sales, and could be slightly cannibalizing iPod sales.”

The analyst doesn’t expect this to be a big problem for Apple (AAPL). “We believe in the long run Mac cannibalization will exist, but will be minimal,” he concludes. “Apple has successfully limited the iPad functionality to primarily content consumption, vs. content creation on a Mac. And relative to the iPod, the physical size of an iPad provides a meaningfully different value proposition (portability vs. screen size).”

Obviously, it’s a little early for definitive calls on just what sort of effects the iPad is having on sales of Apple’s other products. That said, Munster’s analysis of NPD’s data does jibe with a small survey by UBS analyst Maynard Um that found that most iPad buyers do not view the device as a replacement for their traditional computers.

As I wrote in an earlier post, “So most likely, the iPad will prove additive for Apple. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if it generates a halo effect around the company’s products similar to that created by the iPod. Certainly, that’s the sense one has paying a visit to an Apple Store these days or being spotted with an iPad in public.”

That said, even at this reduced price, the Amazon Kindle still costs $299 more than Kindle for Apple’s iPhone, which I’ve found to be a compelling way to read books. After six or so novels, I have no complaints about eye strain, screen size or glare. And honestly, I think I’m reading more now than I ever did before simply because I always have the book I’m currently reading in my pocket.

Anyway…

Today’s price cut makes you wonder if this presages a similar reduction for the Kindle DX, which at $489 could really use one. A bit too early, I suppose, since Amazon (AMZN) hasn’t yet announced pricing for subscriptions to the Washington Post (WPO) and New York Times (NYT). We’ll see, I guess.