New York - The 2011 holiday season saw the number of tablet owners in the United States almost double.

According to the Pew Internet & American Life Project, the number of Americans owning a tablet jumped from 10 percent, to 19 percent, between mid-December and early January. E-book readers also fared well, with ownership vaulting from 18 percent, to 29 percent, during the same time perioed.

Pew researchers said this increase was striking because from mid-2011 into the fall months, tablet and e-book ownership had remained steady. Giving a lift to sales were the introductions of the lower-priced Kindle Fire and Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet, along with basic e-book readers costing less than $100.

Pew surveyed 2,986 people, 16 years of age and older.