E-reader Owners Prefer Kindle Over iPad

Though consumers say the Apple iPad is "more compelling" than the Amazon Kindle, 64% of e-reader owners say they prefer the Kindle to the iPad, according to a new survey from One News Page.

Consumers are most interested in the iPad's multi-functionality, the survey finds. Even so, they're more confident in the Kindle's future. In a market showdown between the iPad and Kindle, 51% of surveyed e-reader owners say the Kindle would likely be the victor and 49% say the iPad would win.

But the Kindle vs. iPad battle may not be a zero-sum game: 16% of e-reader owners say they own both a Kindle and an iPad.

Physical Books Not History Yet

Despite Amazon's July-2010 announcement that sales of e-books had surpassed those of hardcover books, physical books have a healthy future: 73% of e-reader owners say there is still a place for physical books.

But for vacationing consumers, e-books are the more popular choice: 53% of e-reader owners say they prefer to pack e-books rather than paperbacks for reading on the beach.

"The e-book has come of age," said Dr. Marc Pinter-Krainer, CEO of One News Page. "The Kindle has built a strong position as a specialist e-reader. Its new version is considerably cheaper and lighter than the iPad, which may explain why two-thirds of our users preferred it to the iPad as an e-reader."

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