Tablet computer sales

DAILY DOT COM - Tablets and e-readers were a popular gift over the holidays. So much so, that the number of people who own them nearly doubled between mid-December and January, a new study finds.

A report from the Pew Internet and American Life Project, released on Monday, found that 29 percent of Americans owned at least one tablet or e-reader as of the beginning of this month.

That's up from 18 percent who said the same in December.  

The iPad from Apple Inc. is perhaps the best-known example of these gadgets, along with Amazon.com's various Kindle devices and the Nook from Barnes and Noble. The iPad put tablets on the map and the cheaper Kindle Fire and Nook devices helped get them in the hands of more people.

The percentage of people who own a tablet jumped to 19 from 10 between mid-December and early January. E-book reader ownership also rose to 19 percent from 10 percent of U.S. adults.  Men and women were equally likely to own tablets, and the likelihood of tablet  ownership was higher for people with higher household incomes, the report found. Those with higher levels of education were also more likely to own tablets than those who completed fewer years of school.

E-readers, meanwhile, were slightly more common among women.  The figures are from ongoing surveys conducted by Pew about tablet and e-reader ownership. They were conducted between November 2011 and January 2012. The first, pre-holiday survey was conducted among 2,986 Americans 16 and older. Two post-holiday surveys were conducted among about 2,000 adults in January.

What to consider before you buy

If you're looking to purchase a tablet or e-reader there are some things to keep in mind.  First, how much do you want your device to do?  E-readers are designed chiefly for reading books, magazines and newspapers, but some will allow you to play music or surf the web. If you need more than that, consider a tablet.

Potential buyers should also consider portability of the device --what's the best size for your purposes?  For instance, will it be used only at home, or taken along on travel trips? 

Lastly, wireless capabilities --Wi-Fi should be enough for your E-reader, but tablet owners might consider a cellular plan to use that device wherever, and whenever.