Tablet-style PC 'does more' than ebook reader

The future of the computer could be in the tablet-style PC, according to one industry expert.

Stuart Miles, owner and editor of Pocket-lint – a gadget review site – said the tablet device has a screen which "does a lot more".

He added: "The PC market is now looking at shifting towards a tablet-style device, which may be a better ebook reader."

However, Mr Miles does not believe ebooks are here to stay and went as far as predicting they wouldn't be about in five years time, despite their "long" battery life.

These comments come after technology research network ChangeWave found in a survey earlier this month the Amazon Kindle has 68 per cent of the consumers who already own an ebook reader with the Sony Reader having ten per cent of the total ownership.

And the report showed just under half (45 per cent) of people with the gadget said they would have still purchased it even if the Apple iPad had been available at the same time as when they bought their ebook.