E-Book Devices a Hit With Older Readers

The survey found that 7 percent of people aged between 47 and 56 and 6 percent between 66 and 74 had an Amazon Kindle, a Barnes & Noble Nook or a Sony Reader. Younger people used e-book readers too, just at slightly lower concentrations, with 5 percent of 18-to-46 year-olds using e-readers.

For tablets, numbers were higher among the younger generations, with 5 percent of people aged 18 to 46 owning tablets, compared to just 4 percent of readers aged 47 to 56, with ownership declining thereafter.

"E-book readers and tablet computers so far have not seen significant differences in ownership between generations, although members of the oldest generation, adults aged 75 and older, are less likely than younger generations to own these devices," said Kathryn Zickuhr, the Pew Internet & American Life Project's Web coordinator.

The Pew survey indicated that penetration of e-book readers is slightly higher than tablet devices. But that result comes with several important caveats. Amazon's Kindle device debuted in 2007, for example, while the iPad launched in just April last year, demonstrating again the rapid growth of the Apple device.

Now, e-readers face a number of important threats. Tablets are becoming a popular reading platform and are considered to be technologically superior to e-readers. Notre Dame recently chose iPads as a digital textbook platform because the device was available in color and offered more applications than just reading, and the iPad 2 is set to emerge later this year, pushing the technological advantage further.

In addition, an explosion of tablets will hit the market this year, offering a wider range of devices at many different price points. Price has been one of the most important remaining advantages enjoyed by e-readers, allowing a lower barrier to entry for more consumers. E-book readers have sold in the millions as Kindle books are now outsells physical editions on Amazon.

While e-book readers are currently holding their own according to the latest survey data, they must negotiate significant difficulties in the year ahead.

The Pew survey findings were based on data from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International between August 9 and September 13, among a sample of 3,001 adults over 18.