More plan to buy iPad

The Amazon Kindle is by far the most recognized e-book reader, but not the one most people are hoping to buy in the near future, a study from PriceGrabber suggests. The comparison shopping website notes that between February 8th and the 25th, it conducted an online survey with 1,631 respondents. Of these, 61 percent are said to have heard of the Kindle, whereas 55 percent had heard of the unreleased Apple iPad.

The results were less favorable towards the Sony Reader, which was recognized by just 34 percent of the poll group. At the bottom of the major devices was the Barnes & Noble Nook, known by only 28 percent of people. Unmentioned in the report are some devices which have only since gained attention, like the Microsoft Courier and the Kobo eReader.

In terms of e-readers people actually plan to buy in the next year, however, the iPad ranked first in the study at 20 percent. Roughly 12 percent said they intended to get a Kindle, while 6 percent mentioned wanting a Sony Reader, and 5 percent cited the Nook. The iPad's advantage is noted to come from its multipurpose design, which while not ideal for reading can also handle tasks beyond books.

In fact a mere 13 percent of the survey said their main use for an iPad would be reading. The most prominent purpose was "mobile productivity," claiming 20 percent of respondents. About 19 percent said they would use it to replace a laptop or netbook, and 10 percent were interested in entertainment.

Price might otherwise be a potential obstacle, as four out of five in the survey said they would spend no more than $250 on an e-reader. The cheapest iPad starts at $499, and the entry Kindle is currently $260. PriceGrabber points out that the average price of the top 10 readers on its site is $241.

By Electronista Staff