The portability is perhaps the biggest advantage of the tablet And that will remain true even after the mass market consumes its fill of these innovative products. What will be interesting to see is how well the manufacturers service the vertical market segments in order to keep the sales trends up. Will they construct more rugged versions for field applications that already use wireless technology - utility companies, shipping and logistical services, etc. These segments have already been adapting wireless/RF for years and it's a sure bet you'll see a tablet in the hands of your friendly neighborhood parcel deliveryman, and he won't be using it to view movies or games.
@Tvotapka good point - "One major thing that affects the tablet's upswing: Good, consistent marketing. If you look carefully at the ads, you'll see they're targeting a fairly young, highly mobile demographic".
High graphical features and easy rotation of the device - flipping from horizontal to vertical make ipad more attractive to young people, may be other unique features. Another observation on the ipad is integration of Autodesk app which has simplified art works on the device. Can art designers naturally work around with Autodesk tools - pencil, artbrush and digital ink?
I would like to see how the larger percentage of age groups get use to it . Whether it becomes workable device like laptop. Future determines this, am sitting on the fence though.
One major thing that affects the tablet's upswing: Good, consistent marketing. If you look carefully at the ads, you'll see they're targeting a fairly young, highly mobile demographic. Not too many years ago, the Nano was the hot product and it had its brief spot in the limelight. Either way, the product is promoted heavily and it becomes a "must have" simply because it touches on certain buttons known to that cause a response.
I'd be more interested in seeing a more segmented breakdown on where the sales are for these devices, particularly in business-to-business settings.
I agree with you that if Ipads will add more features and still remain portable may definitely not phase out Laptops completely but reduce the demand for it
In my opinion IPADS will compete both the smartphones and the laptops in the near future as they integrate most of the features of smart phones and a bigger display and keypad ( touchscreen) like in laptop. They have weight much less than the laptops and hence more portable than the laptops. I predict demise of the laptops in the near future.
This is an engaging debate. I think the tablet age has arrived in abundance, but this does not mark the extinction of the laptop. One scores high for its appealing portability and convenience. The other has its operating system and breadth of capability.
I agree, and I think I've changed my opinion that I posted earlier. If IPad type devices continue to get more powerful with processing, I can see these types of devices taking over laptops. Technologies such as infra-red keyboards that tech4people mentioned, and virtual LED keyboards, could allow IPad type devices to do just as much and be as convenient as laptops.
Its difficult to predict the future in the fast changing and rapidly evolving Technology space.
One thing you mention that is quite accurate is that we need Keyboards today for most of our Professional work.But can't we do the same work with excellent Voice-Text converters?
What about with those Infra-red keyboards which get easily plugged into most Ipads via a USB drive???
I am not saying that I have the answers either,but things could go in ways we least expect them too.
I think ipads cannot be fully replace the laptops. Ipads are mostly used for playing games, reading books and more of entertainment. And also ipads cannot be used for our office work and we cannot install all kinds of softwares when comapred to laptop.
Its like Ipad's can never replace laptops and laptops can never replace desltops. I just thought of a very funny comparison season to season we keep changing our wardrobe according to the fasion weather etc, similarly Ipad is fashion of today and it should be placed in our hands. Ipads can never take over laptops.
EBN Dialogue enables and encourages you to participate in live chats with notable leaders and luminaries. Not only editors and journalists, but the entire EBN community is able to comment and ask questions. Listed below are upcoming and archived chats.
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Thailand Stages a Comeback Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Euro-Crisis: What It Means for High-Tech Firms Join EBN Editor in Chief Bolaji Ojo and Contributing Editor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday, July 12, at 10:00 a.m. EDT for a Live Chat on high-tech and Europe's economic difficulties.
Microsoft Surface: Potential Winners & Losers What are the implications for the electronics industry supply chain of Microsoft Corp.'s decision to launch its own tablet PC? Join industry veteran and EE Times' systems and OEM expert Rick Merritt on Tuesday, July 3, at 12:00 pm EDT for a Live Chat on this subject.
Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Peter Drucker famously said "Trying to predict the future is like trying to drive down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window." Yet in the razor's-edge world of electronics—with a lean supply chain and just-in-time demands—the need to know the future is vital.
You've heard the saying "the No. 1 supply chain risk is your people." That hasn't always been the case. But today's complex global supply chain requires a new type of multitalented employee. It's one who understands, finance, marketing, economics, is savvy with technology, graceful with relationships and can think analytically.
Where are these people? Are universities properly preparing the next generation supply chain professionals? How do train your existing workforce for these new, demanding positions?
Brian Fuller, editor-in-chief of EBN, will lead a 60-minute Avnet Velocity panel discussion that will ask and answer these and other questions swirling around today's supply-chain talent challenges.
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