The Tablet Takeover

Updated: October 25, 2010

Market data suggests that the Apple iPad has led to a new ultra-mobile device marketing that is poised to make inroads against laptop, netbook and even desktop computer sales. As computer manufacturers launch new tablet devices to compete with the iPad, the market is expected to experience accelerating growth over the next several years as it slowly grows to accept tablet devices other than the iPad.

According to available data, more than one-tenth of shoppers online are planning to purchase a tablet within the next half-year, suggesting that as many as 28 million of the devices could be sold in the coming five months, numbers suggest that demand could outpace supply.

Tablets will dramatically effect the dynamics of the computer market beyond the types of computing devices sold. Touchscreens on tablets eliminate the need for the mouse while the games sold for the mobile devices are eating into sales of portable mini gaming systems.

Studies also show that obstacles must be overcome by tablet manufactures if the devices will truly replace today's personal computers. For example, users often need external keyboards to be productive with a tablet and their processors still seem to lack power to provide for adequate application multitasking.

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