Tablets versus e-readers

Thanks to the advancement of technology in this contemporary era, people around the globe are becoming more and more dependent on smart phones, Androids and iPad.  With these gadgets, standalone e-book gadgets are slowly declining now. Most of the people nowadays are looking for multimodality in these gadgets where they are allowed to surf the internet, play videos and movies and also not forgetting allowing them to read e-books.

Source: http://jpsblog.org/blog/2010/02/04/the-e-book-face-off/

Recently, the UK market research firm Informa Telecoms & Media predicts that the sales of eBook reader will soon die with the convergence of new tablets such as the legendary iPad that allows its users to do many things other than using it as a sole purpose to read.

Source: http://mac.appstorm.net/general/app-news/an-in-depth-look-at-the-apple-ipad/

As much function as tablets have now, e-readers have their advantages and usability as well. A self experiment that was carried out by Nielson, J, 2009, he asserted that it is easier to read from an e-reader because this gadget allows their users to enlarge the fonts up to their likings and it is convenient to carry around.

Comparison between tablets and e-reader

Tablets allow it users to view books and graphics in colors but e-reader comes only in the form of black and white. Even though e-reader has the e-ink technology which does not strain the eyes, it is still relatively boring to use an e-reader only.  Apart from that, tablets allow its user to view videos but e-readers do not support the playing of videos.

When it comes to the choosing of buying tablets or e-reader, the users must be determined what is the purpose of buying these gadgets is. A person who enjoys reading very much will opt for e-reader whereas a person who loves multimodality will opt for the tablets. It all depends on the needs of the users.

References

Siegenthaler, E, Wurtz, P & Groner, R, “Improving the Usability of E-Book Readers”, Journal of usability studies, viewed 12^th June 2011 http://www.upassoc.org/upa_publications/jus/2010november/siegenthaler1.html

Bellaver, R, F, 2001, “The Usability of eBook Technology:Practical Issues of an Application of Electronic Textbooks In a Learning Environment”, UPA, viewed 12thJune 2011 http://www.upassoc.org/upa_publications/upa_voice/volumes/5/issue_1/ebooks.htm

What Does a Tablet Book Reader Offer over a Regular eBook Reader That Makes It More Powerful, best ebook reader central, viewed 12^th June 2011 < http://www.bestebookreadercentral.com/what-does-a-tablet-book-reader-offer-over-a-regular-ebook-reader-that-makes-it-more-powerful/>