Industry experts have revealed that Apple’s latest product, the iPad, could reinvigorate the tablet PC market after it failed to take off when Microsoft launched a similar product in 2001. Explaining that advances in technology and a faster, changing world had created more of a need, Garner Research analysts Van Baker said “Tablets have been around for a long time and tablets have failed for a long time. This is a winning product. I was nervous when they first started talking about this and thought it would be nothing more than a giant iPhone. It’s hard to argue against. I can use it in the living room, the classroom, for light work and at the coffee shop.”
Largely sitting in the market between smartphone and laptop, Interpret’s vice president of strategy and research Mike Gartenberg meanwhile said “Everything they have done up until now is in this device – the iPod, iTunes, multi-touch, the applications. And then they added new features like the iBook store and productivity. I think this is going to be a very successful product for them and exceed expectations.”
Until now, tablet PC’s have been a niche market, but with a successful launch by Apple, it is thought that the industry may sell up to 9million units across the board in 2010. Like their launch of the iPod, Apple has managed to redefine the sector, making products cool and widening tablet devices to the general population. And with a particularly attractive price point, £376 for the 32GB version, or £439 for 64GB, the iPad could just reinvigorate the waning tablet market.
