Here is another reflection of the arrival of the iPad: IDC today published the result of a survey stating that 7.6 million tablets (of all brands, good to note) will be sold by the end of this year; for 2014, the forecast is 46 million, registering an average growth of more than 57.4% per year.
Even with this boom, researchers still do not believe in the death of notebooks. While we are expected to see 46 million tablets being sold in 2014, so far the laptop market is expected to reach 398 million units annually.
“These are the first days for multimedia tablets, a new category of multifunctional devices that stand between smartphones and portable PCs. IDC expects consumer demand for multimedia tablets to be strongly stimulated by the number and variety of compatible third-party apps for content and services, ”said Susan Kevorkian, program director Digital Marketplace: Mobile Media & Entertainment at IDC.
“The availability of unique apps for multimedia tablets that differentiate the experience of using one compared to a PC or smartphone will be crucial to increase consumer demand. As the segment matures and more apps optimized for tablets become available, IDC expects multimedia tablets to evolve from 'cool to have' gadgets to something necessary for many consumers, "concluded Susan.
(via CNET News)
