14 DAY TRIAL // Though some hypothesized that tablets would severely impact existing market segments, like they did on the smartbook front, analysts are now saying that the e-reader front, at the very least, is in no danger of dying from exposure to slates.
E-readers have been selling and selling for many months now and they don't look like they will stop growing as a market any time soon.
In fact, makers of such products, and of components used in them, are quite optimistic when it comes to the outlook for the following years.
Initially, some speculated that tablets would steal some of e-readers' share, but it appears that analysts, or a least some of them, do not share this opinion.
In fact, e-reader sales are expected, by In-Stat, to grow a great deal between 2010 an 2014, from 12 million to 35 million to be exact.
In parallel, tablet shipments are believed to be on track towards scoring a figure of 58 million by 2014.
The rapid rise of the markets will be spurred by continuously decreasing prices and, of course, improvements to the hardware and software.
"Tablet PC shipments are taking off, fueled in particular by the Apple iPad introduction,” said Stephanie Ethier, a senior analyst at In-Stat.
“Yet, there will still be a revenue opportunity for e-reader suppliers and OEMs since tablet PCs and e-readers target different consumers. Standalone e-readers will address the needs of avid readers, to whom the reading experience is central,” Ethier added.
“Tablets are better suited for consumers who prefer a stronger multimedia experience, and only light reading," the senior analyst went on to saying.
E-book reader prices should actually drop to under $100 as early as this year's holiday season, prices set to keep dropping over the next four years.
The value of the NAND products used in such gadgets should lower by 60% during that time, while the average selling prices of processors will decline only 18%.