subject: The Rise Of The Tablet Pc As Top Media Consumer Tool [print this page] Nearly a quarter less time was spent on traditional PC activities in 2010 compared to 2008, and more time devoted to starightfrorward content consuming and sharing activities, such as web browsing, email, and social networking. Over three quarters of tablet PC owners browse the web and check their emails on the move, while two thirds watch videos and read online publications.
IT analysts predict that consumers will increasingly use technology devices such as a UMPC or rugged tablet PC, designed and fully optimised for fast web access and content viewing and interaction in wide ranging personal and commercial applications.
It is because a touchscreen PC is optimised for consuming content, and purpose built for portable and universal connectivity, that adoption across private enterprise and public service sectors has been rapid and a proven success.
Many users still consider handheld computers as support devices, which do not necessarily replace the laptop or deskbound PC for specific word processing, spreadsheet and editing applications. Nevertheless, the rapid and widespread takeup of the handheld PC signals a key change in PC usage.
The migration towards mobile devices has seen a corresponding shift in user behaviour as around three quarters of total personal computer time is now spent consuming and sharing content, instead of creating content.
In major industries such as retail and manufacturing, as well as in healthcare, education and research, companies and organisations have found the high resolution display, long battery life, rugged build yet light and easy portability a must-have web tool in any working environment.
Furthermore, the mobile app marketplace now offers an ever increasing array of options, including powerful third-party and custom created business applications, which significantly enhance the handheld computing experience far beyond traditional desktop computing.
It has been estimated that around 20 per cent of companies now purchase tablet PCs for their employees, a figure which is expected to more than double to nearly 50 per cent for companies expecting to purchase tablets for employees in the coming 12 months.
A forecast of 165 million tablets expected over the next two years will likely further reduce PC market growth by 3 per cent and challenge legacy technology. Both the rugged tablet PC and UMPC represent the twin drivers of a continuing fragmentation of traditional computer use and highlights a broader shift towards mobile devices.
As a result, computing tasks and requirements have separated according to when and where required. Specific functionality is assignable to a touchscreen tablet PC better adapted to unique environments and activities because of their lightweight mobility, heightened connectivity, OS innovation, applications, power-efficient processors and battery life.
Within three years, experts predict that sales of the mobile tablet PC will have permanently overtaken notebooks.
