Tablet computers are all the rage in the tech industry for the moment. The sleek hand-held computers offer users an intimate and portable way to experience a variety of media and complete some lightweight tasks. However, each new generation of tablet computers addresses more and more user concerns as far as processing power and new features. The line is already blurring between many tablet computers and notebook computers, but can tablets ever manage to replace the workhorse desktop computers users have been staring at for years?
The Tablet Revolution
Cnet reports that Apple is expected to sell 13.5 million iPads in the December quarter of 2011, and Amazon is expecting to sell 3 million or more Kindle Fire units before the end of 2011 according to ConnectedPlanet, which is amazing considering the middle of November release for the device. In addition, different tablet PCs are being debuted what seems like every month. Every generation moves the technology and those bright colored touchscreens one step closer to market dominance.
The PC Fights Back
The knock against tablet computers in general is that they are designed for media consumption and not friendly for creation. While video and photo editing are tasks many users enjoy, many tablet computers lack the horsepower to effectively complete the task, for now. PC sales are not what they were a few years ago, but PCMag.com reports that more than 90 million PCs were sold in the third quarter of 2011, which means the death of the PC is greatly exaggerated.
When it comes to creating a document, many users still opt for the PC or laptop. The difference made by the physical keyboard is instrumental for many content or media creation professionals. Even tasks like writing an email are greatly simplified by the presence of a keyboard. However, as computing needs change the PC will see that particular competitive advantage begin to vanish.
Evolution
Even now tablet PC keyboards are being sold, some tablets even feature slide out keyboards, and newer tablets computers, like the Asus Transformer, are even designed to work with a keyboard. Sure, the keyboard is not important to many users, as many users can become accustomed to using the virtual keyboard on the touchscreen devices. However, tablets are becoming more powerful every year, and for social media, streaming video, viewing pictures, surfing the Internet, and writing emails, tablets offer users a smaller and less intrusive technological presence. All things considered, the line will likely continue to be pushed farther and eventually disappear. At least, until the next big shift in devices.