A Tablet And EBook Reader Comparison

							A sudden growth of interest in ebook readers has also inspired an interest in tablets.
The difference between the two however seems to have been blurred by some
manufacturers who are hoping their tablets can be regarded as color ebook readers.
Touting a tablet as a color ebook reader will presumably increase sales.

The fundamental difference between a tablet and an ebook reader is quite simple. A
tablet is a mobile computing device whereas an ebook reader isn't.

The term 'tablet PC' was first introduced by Microsoft in 2001. The concept was built
round a mobile computing device that used a pen to input information and would
generally include handwriting recognition software. Also it would be a truly mobile
device with wireless connectivity.

The accepted screen size of a tablet PC was considered twelve inches; the screen is
measured corner to corner diagonally. There are however numerous tablets that are
smaller than this which isn't a problem because of the improvements in screen
resolutions.

The first portable device that was quoted as an ebook reader was the Personal Digital
Assistant (PDA). Essentially a PDA was an electronic filofax. The drawbacks to the
PDA as an ebook reader were the backlit screen and the size.

The first ebook reader using e ink technology, the Librié EBR-1000EP was
released by Sony in Japan in 2004. This was followed by the PRS-500 in the US in
2007 and then followed by the PRS-505 in 2008. The Kindle was released by Amazon
in late 2007. It is interesting to note that the ilex Iliad was available in 2006 but never
made an impact due to the price, and presumably, because they didn't have the
marketing power of Sony behind them.

The distinction between an ebook reader and the tablet PC is not always easy to pin
down. Manufacturers have included tools that are useful for both types of device.

Most ebook readers and tablets can play mp3 files and many of them have built in
speakers. While tablets can display video and different graphic formats in full color.
ebook readers are restricted to grayscale graphics but the facility is still there and can
be very useful.

A key feature of the tablet PC is the input with a pen or using touch which a few
ebook readers have adopted. It has to be said though ebook readers do not have
handwriting recognition software and any digital input is usually by a virtual
keyboard.

Another feature is the wireless connectivity. This is a key feature for a tablet for data
transfer, effectively allowing streaming video and gaming. Some ebook readers have
adopted this although it is usually in a very limited form.

Having to draw the line somewhere and say what is or isn't an ebook reader we would
have to say that the color ebook reader is not here yet. Fundamentally an ebook reader
should have a display the same as real paper and any device that doesn't use E Ink and
uses an LCD color display simply cannot be classed as an ebook reader.

It is only a matter of time before we see the color ebook reader and then it will be
even harder to make a distinction. Will it be a tablet, an ebook reader, or will we see
the birth of a whole new genre of digital products.