Tablets in 2012

By Will765 | Tablet Roms

 

Assuming the Mayan doomsday prediction is wrong, what will the tablet landscape look like by the end of this year?  One thing for sure is that a lot of tablets, whether running iOS, android, or Windows 8 will be sold.  Most estimates put the number around 125 million or so for the year.  With Apple set to launch the iPad3, probably in March, expect the usual buying frenzy which accompanies the release of any new Apple product.  Another factor will be the reduction of price for existing iPad models, which will open up their sale to those who are unwilling to pay the high prices now being charged.  One thing is certain, Apple will retain the top spot in tablet sales for at least this coming year.

 

Android tablets have been, and still are, suffering from one major problem-fragmentation.  So many vendors, with a variety of operating system versions.  Different specifications, with varying screen sizes.  It’s no surprise the public is often confused about android tablets.  Amazon tried to overcome these problems by emphasizing utility over specifications with the Kindle Fire, and it looks to have been a success.  Consumers want something that works, and really don’t care(or understand much) about what’s under the hood of the tablet.  Seven inch tablets seem to be coming more and more popular, with their greater portability and lower prices.   With the launch of Ice Cream Sandwich, Google has begun to consolidate it’s operating system.  One problem is still that manufacturers integrate their own UI over android, which makes it less of a common experience.

 

One wildcard in the tablet world is whether the Windows 8 tablets prove popular.  Potentially,  the installed base of Windows users could provide a huge market for windows tablets.  The implementation will be a key for the success of such devices.  If  Windows 8 works really well on tablets, many manufacturers will be quick to start producing them.  The corporate world will likely buy large numbers of them, as well as many consumers.  The only drawback is that there are not expected to be many tablets out by the end of 2012. This will allow both android and Apple to continue to expand their influence, and dominance, in the tablet market.  Microsoft may just be getting to the party a little too late.

What do you think? Feel free to leave your comment