With the launch of the iPad 2, many people are wondering if tablets would become the future of computing. Many companies such as Samsung and Motorola are clamoring to get into the tablet market as Apple has shown that it is possible to make a profitable tablet. However, would these kinds of tablets be able to replace the widely used personal computer?
Joshua Topolsky of Engadget believes so. He believes Apple would continue to dominate the tablet market as they are focusing on the "experience of using the device" whereas other companies are mainly focusing on the specifications such as the power of the CPU or how much resolution the screen has. Topolsky believes that the appeal of the user experience and form factor the iPad provides would entice people to switch from their desktops or laptops to mainly using a tablet computer. However, this seems like a one-sided vision as this would only apply to mainly consumer usage.
Tablets are very entertainment centric. It is more for consuming media such as watching movies or reading news. It is difficult to type for long durations on a virtual on-screen keyboard and using fingers to navigate is not as precise as say a pen or a mouse would be. Many businesses need an actual keyboard to type quickly when communicating through email. Designers need more precision such as a pen input in order to create what they imagine. It is very difficult to say that tablets such as the iPad would replace the personal computer entirely. For media consumption, it is reasonable. But for actual business functions, tablets will not substitute personal computers any time soon.
