2011: A Year for Tablets

As each December day passes by and we near the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2011 (January 6-9), one thing becomes clearer. 2011 is going to be a year for tablets. Apple set the benchmark earlier this year with the extremely successful iPad and competitors are often found trying to keep up with the technology. It's only a matter of time before we see tablets that truly compete with the versatility, ease-of-use and features that the iPad promises. And then there will be the iPad 2!

2011 will be overflowing with Tablets

There is a long line of tablets on the horizon ready to ooh and wow the consumers. In all fairness, the Samsung Galaxy Tab was a disappointment. But then again it's a first generation product. It lacked the smooth and snappy user experience that we've come to expect from the iPad. Hopefully there will be future versions that will be better.

So here's a part of the lineup for 2011 from news and rumors heard around the web. There is the iPad 2 which is due to be launched sometime in the Spring (some think February). Research In Motion (RIM or the makers of the BlackBerry) have their PlayBook lined up. I heard today that HP has a PalmPad churning in the mill. Acer has two Android-based tablets ready to be launched in 2011; a 10-inch and a 7-inch. There are also reports of a Windows-based tablet from Acer.

Talking about Windows, there are reports emerging that Microsoft is working on an operating system for ARM processors or, in other words, tablet type devices. This is great news for consumers because more the merrier. Think about it. iOS, Android and now Windows operating systems in the tablet field. Competition can only drive quality of products upwards. Dell is another competitor that will try to get on the tablet wagon. I know there is the Dell Streak already out but you hardly hear of it at least here in the US. Maybe because it's more of a phone at 5 inches. However, users in Europe have plenty of good things to say about it.

There will be other manufacturers gearing up to unveil their tablets in 2011. CES will be a great launching pad for new tablets and I'm really excited to see what unfurls. I am pretty sure tablets are going to be the future of computing. Their portability really makes them appealing. The iPad, for now, continues to dominate the field but not for long. Come 2011, we will all be enjoying a wide variety of tablets to choose from.