Consumers more interested in tablets than e-readers, study finds

Tablet computers and e-readers have grown up together in a sense during the past several years, but moving forward, it appears as though the former will eventually pull away, research from marketing firm Verso Advertising and online publisher Burst Media shows.

According to industry news provider eMarketer, the two companies polled American consumers in December 2011, and found that while 15.8 percent already own an e-reader, another 52 percent say they are not at all likely to purchase one.

On the other hand, eMarketer said, the popularity of tablets continues to swing upward. That's because the devices are seen to have more functionality than their e-reader cousins.

"[F]or the average consumer, tablets seem to hold greater appeal, and as their prices come down, ... fewer web users will likely see the point of a device that does little more than display text," the eMarketer report states.

In a note to investors, Jeffries & Co. analyst Peter Misek predicts tablet shipments will reach more than 125 million units in 2012. He adds that the iPad® will continue to pace the market, but devices run on the Android™ operating system will also fare well.