An informal survey about iMobile hype

Everybody "knows" that the PC market is being killed by iMobile devices and if you listen to tablet hype, then standard computers probably won't even be manufactured in a few years. In light of that disturbing prediction, I started a survey a month or so ago to check just how fast doom is coming for we laptop users. There is nothing scientific about it, just a count on the days that I frequented the internet cafes. I didn't keep up with the dates, just the counts.

One caveat is that sometimes it is difficult to tell the difference between a netbook and a tablet with a keyboard, so I may have confused the two on occasion since I really didn't want to stare at an individual in trying to see their hardware. The number of the day isn't significant other than just an index. Usually it was three or four days a week in any one of 5 different cafes.

Day Equipment
1 3 Macs 3 PCs 0 Tablets
2 2 Macs 5 PCs 0 Tablets
3 1 Mac 12 PCs 0 Tablets (some kind of business meeting with lots of Pcs - and me)
4 4 Macs 8 Pcs 0 Tablets
5 7 Macs 9 PCs 2 Tablets (the place was packed!)
6 4 Macs 3 Pcs 0 Tablets
7 4 Macs 4 Pcs 1 Tablet
8 1 Mac 2 Pcs 1 Tablet
9 5 Macs 2 Pcs 0 Tablets
10 6 Macs 4 Pcs ? Tablets (A really weird machine with a fold over keyboard. Tablet? Netbook? Laptop?
11 17Macs 20+Pcs 5 Tablets (A big food court)
12 2 Macs 3 Pcs 0 Tablets
13 6 Macs 0 Pcs 0 Tablets (Pc guys sleeping off the big football game maybe?)
14 3 Macs 4 Pcs 0 Tablets
15 2 Macs 1 Pc 1 Tablet

...etc

So. It appears that anyone actually doing work on the move has a laptop. Where all these iTablets are going is something I can't figure. At any rate, it appears that there is still a market for real systems.

cptkrf said:

It appears that anyone actually doing work on the move has a laptop. Where all these iTablets are going is something I can't figure. At any rate, it appears that there is still a market for real systems.

Click to expand...

Simple: tablets can't do real work or if they can, they aren't quite as good as a notebook/desktop. Sure, I could write a paper on a tablet but I'd hate doing it. However, tablets are a great complement. I bring it with me to meetings and use it during my teaching as a quick and easy way to have computing power on the go (since tablets are infinitely more portable than a notebook in my opinion).

cptkrf said:

Everybody "knows" that the PC market is being killed by iMobile devices and if you listen to tablet hype, then standard computers probably won't even be manufactured in a few years.

Click to expand...

To quote rap group Public Enemy: "Don't believe the hype!"

I think that they're mostly at home with their owners discovering the internet in comfort. One of my daughters got an iPad, my wife wants an iPad mini...