Why Tablets Will Kill Netbooks

7 reasons tablets rock, while netbooks are nearing the end of their day in the sun.

Mike Elgan, Computerworld Why Tablets Will Kill Netbooks

Sunday, December 13, 2009 10:29 AM PST

Summarised:
1. Touch instead of pen

Microsoft always loved the stylus, but most people hate it. Apple and others understood that actually touching the screen is far more appealing than using some funky pen. And touch requires an entirely different user interface, which Microsoft was unwilling or unable to build into Windows until Windows 7.

The main difference in usability between yesterday's tablets and next year's tablets is touch. And touch will make all the difference in the world.

2. Cell phone operating systems

Current tablet systems are PCs that run full-size PC operating systems, usually Microsoft Windows. The combination of mobile processors and the extra layer of code required for the pen system resulted in a relatively slow experience. It also helps make tablets more expensive.

Next year's tablets will run cell phone operating systems like iPhone OS, Android and others. That will make them cheaper, faster and far more usable on a mobile device.

3. Cheaper components

Because tomorrow's tablets will be big cell phones, rather than small PCs, they'll be cheaper to manufacture. They'll have lower-powered chips, less RAM, smaller screens, fewer ports and cheaper (or free) operating systems.

Plus, Moore's Law is still in effect. All component prices will come down, which means next year's touch tablets will be priced similarly to last year's netbooks: Cheap!

4. App stores

Apple's iTunes app store demonstrated how tightly designed, limited use, inexpensive applications can turn a ho-hum phone into an incredibly powerful and usable platform. All the other major smart phone handset makers followed suit, and developers are pouring incredible time, money and energy into creating mobile games and applications, many of which will work on touch tablets just like they do on cell phones.

5. The rise of e-books

Everybody is talking about e-books. And although dedicated e-book readers will always be with us, most people will read electronic books with cell phones and touch tablets. Ignore the naysayers. Tablets will be great for reading books. You'll even be able to turn the page by flicking your finger across the top right of the page, kind of like a paper book.

6. Faster mobile broadband

The carriers haven't figured out the right pricing models for data in a world where everything is connected via mobile broadband. But they will. And when they do, touch tablets will be sold like cell phones, and always-there Internet connections will be standard.

7. HD video on demand

Consumers are gradually discovering that getting TV and movies over the Internet is the way to go, the TV itself is optional, movies are downloadable and the cable subscription probably isn't worth the money. Just as the masses really understand all this, along comes a cheap, high-quality tablet that functions largely like a cable-connected, Blu-ray-connected, DVR-connected TV set, but one you carry with you everywhere you go.

And this will be the killer app that mainstreams touch tablets: It's a mobile HD TV with a universe of downloadable programming.

Why Tablets Will Kill Netbooks

What is a netbook, anyway, but a tablet with a bulky keyboard attached? And what is a tablet, but an ergonomically adjustable netbook that also functions without the detached keyboard?

Netbooks won't stand a chance against the tidal wave of touch tablets coming next year. Tablets have many advantages over netbooks, but netbooks have very few advantages over tablets.

So here's my advice. Sell your netbook now while you can still unload it. By this time next year, the space between cell phones and laptops will be taken over by a new generation of touch tablets, and you won't be able to give that netbook away.

Mike Elgan writes about technology and global tech culture. Contact Mike at mike.elgan@elgan.com, follow himon Twitteror his blog,The Raw Feed.

From ComputerWorld http://www.pcworld.com/printable/article/id,184516/printable.html

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