Tablets Everywhere: Third Screen in Many Facets of Life

Figure 6: Worldwide demand

The business and personal consumer demand for tablet systems is global, not regional. Sales expansion by area closely tracks notebooks and smartphones. So, we're buying a new backpack so we can carry our fourth device:

• smartphone
• media tablet
• notebook computer
• eReader

The difference will be how people use the devices:

• Smartphones - People keep their smartphone close to them. They don't mind showing you photos, but they hang onto the device.
• Notebooks - Notebook users hold onto their computer. When they show a prezentation to someone, they turn the unit to the guest and control the flow of the presentation, material. It's the same when showing photos/videos.
• Tablets - Walk up to anyone with a tablet and they shove it into your hands, have you go through the photos, videos and presentations. On the plane, travelling to Las Vegas, people were playing video games and were happy to share their device. The same occurs when people are at school or in business meetings. They gladly share the device.

The media tablet won't replace the other devices, but will become one more device you carry regularly.Prices will come down rapidly for the non-Apple units. By the end of the first quarter you'll see robust units with good power/price performance below $500.

Picking the winners from the losers will be the trick, but the tablet is here to stay. Wrapping up, right now we feel like Marchello and here's our ending quote:

A man who agrees to live like this is a finished man, he's nothing but a worm! I don't believe in your aggressive, sticky, maternal love! I don't want it, I have no use for it! This isn't love, its brutalization!