Analysts predict Apple will push tablet trend this year
Apple is quickly becoming the golden boy of trend setting. Many analysts believe that with the launch of the iPad, tablet PCs will become the next big thing. It’s difficult to compare an iPad with a full blown PC with its limited functionality, but the device might help open consumers up to the idea of tablet PCs.
Apple seems to be on a hot streak with everything it’s touching. The iPod revolutionized a stagnant mp3 market, while bringing a user friendly online music marketplace. The iPhone brought the smartphone market to the masses as well.
Before the iPhone, only professionals were seen carrying a Blackberry, which was mainly used for emails. These days, high school kids carry smartphones while talking about downloading the latest app.
The home computing arena is probably the one market where Apple was not able to make a significant impact. However, with the release of the iPad at least the portable computer market may be impacted in some way.
According to USA Today, industry analysts and computer vendors believe that the introduction of the iPad will propel the tablet market into the limelight. Apple’s iPad along with new tablets from HP and IBM are expected to make waves this year. According to analysts the tablet market is expected to grow to $1.3 billion worldwide.
Gartner, a market research firm, forecasts tablet PC sales to increase to 10.5 million units in 2010. This is a drastic increase from the 1.06 million from last year. Many speculate that the iPad will most likely make up the lions share of the pie.
Leslie Fiering, an analyst for Gartner stated, “The Apple mystique revolutionized the MP3 and smartphone markets. It will do the same with tablets.” Many in the industry also feel that by Apple getting into the tablet market, legitimizes what these devices can do. However, only time will tell if the iPad can make a sizable dent like many of Apple’s previous devices.
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