Tablet PCs: Hot Gadget Or Slow Burner?
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Manufacturers may be bringing out tablets like hot cakes and tech sites can’t get enough of device, but convincing the public may take a little while more.

Nearly three quarters of those surveyed in a recent poll said they would not buy a tablet or iPad in 2011, while the vast majority of those would not even consider one as an option.

And only 9 percent said they would definitely buy one, rising to 20 percent who said they would “if the price was right”.

The survey, by UK website Broadbandgenie.co.uk listed the preferences of 1,139 respondents, which 723 respondents saying they would ‘Definitely Not’ buy the new gadget this year.

Broadband Genie editor, Chris Marling, said: “Instead of becoming the super selling phenomenon many predicted, it’s looking as if tablet PCs will be more of a slow burner.

“Tablet PCs and iPads simply don’t adequately replace a laptop/netbook or smartphone in the vast majority of cases. Also, they serve no real purpose of their own.

“However, the touchscreen form factor is a huge hit and the use of apps and widgets is also massively popular. But for now, there aren’t enough of them designed specifically with tablets in mind. For this reason, as prices come down and the range of uses goes up, we see them becoming more popular in the long term, rather than short term.”

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