E-Readers Will Shrink in Popularity But Not Disappear, New Report Says

From Jeremy Greenfield at Digital Book World:

While tablet growth surges and annual e-reader shipments decrease, there will be a place for the latter device in the foreseeable future, according to a new report.
“There still remains an audience for a dedicated device that replicates the print reading experience,” said Jeff Orr, senior practice director for global devices at Oyster Bay, NY-based ABI Research, the mobile device research firm that produced the report.

See Also: Dedicated eReaders to Survive the Media Tablet Onslaught as a Niche Play (Press Release from ABI Research)

eReaders maintain advantages over media tablets for reading purposes. Electronic paper (ePaper) displays are able to better replicate the print reading experience and are usable in direct sunlight conditions unlike LCD technologies. The eReader battery life of weeks between charging is significantly greater than the media tablet. And of course, eReaders are priced significantly less than entry-level tablets.

See Also: Amazon says Kindle Fire takes 22% of US tablet market, won’t disclose sales (via AppleInsider)

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