[dapriuk]

Not to be pedantic .. well perhaps, three different kinds of devices have been talked about here;
- an eReader such as a Sony PRS 505 or Kindle
- a Tablet such as an iPAD, Galaxy etc
- a Tablet PC such as a Lenovo X61, HP 1750 etc

Do you mean a Tablet PC which runs Windows XP/Vista/7 or what used to be called a Web Pad/Tablet which runs Android/iOS etc such as the iPad?

To my mind an eReader is a device optimised for reading mainly text and supporting a limited and normally proprietary set of applications to support that primary function. The screens tend to be suitable for paperbacks but not big enough for technical documents

A Tablet like the iPad is more of an expanded phone with a restricted operating system that supports a range of apps from multiple providers. The apps can include eBook readers and the current generation of tablets supports touch interfaces

A Tablet PC is essentially a full windows or Linux laptop but with a stylus based digitizer on the screen enabling pen input that may or may not replace a keyboard. As a full Windows/Linux machine it can support the same applications as a standard laptop. Like a (web) tablet such applications can include eBook readers as well as document readers and processing. The pen interface typically allows notes capture and annotation as well as acting like a mouse. Some have a multi-touch interface like the iPad.

I currently use an eReader and a Tablet PC, the only reason I would get a (web) tablet is if I can't get a cheap enough A5 colour eReader in the UK for technical material. It wouldn't be an expensive iPad though, more like a cheaper Advent Vega.