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Survey: iPad edging out e-readers, game devices

Many iPad owners say they won't buy dedicated e-readers or portable game consoles after buying Apple's tablet, Resolve Market Research finds.

Lance Whitney Contributing Writer
Lance Whitney is a freelance technology writer and trainer and a former IT professional. He's written for Time, CNET, PCMag, and several other publications. He's the author of two tech books--one on Windows and another on LinkedIn.
Lance Whitney
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Is the iPad edging out e-readers and portable game consoles?
Is the iPad edging out e-readers and portable game consoles? Resolve Market Research

Apple's iPad may be putting a damper on demand for e-readers and portable game consoles, according to the results of a new survey by Resolve Market Research.

The study examined the spending habits and attitudes of current and potential owners of iPads and other mobile devices.

Among those who own or plan to pick up an iPad, 60 percent see the tablet as most enjoyable for playing games. As a result, 38 percent say they won't buy a dedicated portable game console after picking up an iPad.

E-readers may also take it on the chin. Among the folks who own or will buy an iPad, 50 percent say they won't purchase a dedicated e-reader after bringing home Apple's tablet.

"What's surprising about this research is that consumers end up spending a lot of time playing casual games on their iPads and many will not buy a new portable gaming device as a result," Elaine Coleman, chief research officer for Resolve Market Research, said in a statement. "This negatively impacts portable gaming as consumers want to carry fewer devices over time."

When asked their reasons for wanting to own an iPad, 56 percent said it was for entertainment, 42 percent cited the "cool factor," 40 percent said it was for convenience, and 28 percent said it was because of the Apple brand.

Where do iPad owners use their tablets? Resolve Market Research believes Apple's ad campaign showing people using the tablet in "casual and comfortable" places hit the nail on the head. Among current users, 68 percent said they use it on the couch, 40 percent in bed, and 31 percent on the porch.

The iPad is certainly enticing to many of those surveyed, both in bed and elsewhere, and in fact many do see it as a device more for amusement than for practical purposes, according to the study, with 55 percent calling it a "very expensive toy."

But among those who have no plans to pick up an iPad, 54 percent said they see the device as unnecessary, 46 percent believe it's too expensive, 17 percent cited the required subscription fee for 3G coverage as a negative, and 16 percent said it duplicates functions of other devices they already own.

To compile its study, Resolve Market Research conducted an online survey of 406 people in the U.S. who own or plan to buy an iPad, smartphone, e-reader, or portable game devices. The survey ran from June 5 to June 10.