The iPad may currently lack the power to revolutionize the mobile computing landscape, but together with its imitators and followers, these devices known as "tablets" are undoubtedly challenging the dominance of laptops in this field. In the future, most people will be able to meet all their needs at home and in the office with just a "desktop computer + tablet" combination, leaving laptops as an awkward compromise—essentially useless for high-end tasks yet overkill for simpler ones.
As consumers still hesitate between laptops and netbooks in electronics stores, the arrival of the iPad aims to sweep away small-sized laptops, e-books, MP4 players, and other digital products in one fell swoop.
From current sales figures, about 4 million iPads are sold globally each quarter, nearly one-tenth of the global laptop sales during the same period. American analysts estimate that since its launch, the iPad has earned Apple billions of dollars, while the reduction in market share for Windows devices has cost Microsoft $50 billion in market value. Even more alarming, the days of fighting alone are coming to an end, with Google, Samsung, BlackBerry, Microsoft, and virtually all IT giants lining up to release their own tablets.
An even more compelling piece of evidence comes from data provided by Best Buy in the U.S., which shows that laptop sales growth has been continuously declining over the past six months, turning negative after August—a first in the history of laptops. Best Buy CEO Brian Dunn stated that the iPad has eaten into as much as 50% of the company’s laptop sales.
Clearly, these numbers aren't enough to convince many people of the idea that "a single spark can start a prairie fire," just like how 20 years ago no one believed that the entire Encyclopedia Britannica could fit on a fingernail-sized USB drive. But change is quietly taking place.
At this point, you might glance fondly at the laptop beside you and wonder: Is this old companion of many years really becoming obsolete?
If you reflect honestly, what do you usually do on your laptop? Surfing the web, chatting, watching videos, listening to music, writing blogs, tweeting, gaming, social networking, sending and receiving emails, editing documents... Among these applications, the only one that a tablet might not handle well is "gaming."
When it comes to activities such as browsing the internet, watching videos, sending and receiving emails, or using social media—applications that don't require extensive typing—tablets are clearly more convenient. You can use them on crowded subways or buses, and their multi-touch user interface has the potential to replace the mouse, a technology that has existed for decades. While laptops can technically perform these tasks, they are cumbersome, and other passengers would likely feel tired just watching you struggle.
For tasks like document editing that require extensive use of a mouse and keyboard, tablets are equally capable. Simply pull out a wireless folding keyboard and mouse from your bag, connect them to the tablet, and even frontline reporters can immediately start writing and send back exclusive news.
Large 3D games are something that devices like the iPad cannot play now, nor in the past or future, but this has always been the forte of desktop computers. If you're a genuine gamer, you should already know that laptops are always the "backup." The first choice will always be a desktop PC. For the same price, desktops offer far superior gaming performance compared to laptops, and issues like poor heat dissipation remain unresolved. This even caused HP, the world's largest laptop manufacturer, to suffer significant losses during the March 15th Consumer Rights Day event earlier this year.
Thus, the awkward reality facing people today is that we can no longer find any reason to use ThinkPads or MacBook laptops. Tablets are lighter and thinner than any laptops or netbooks we've ever seen, and using an iPad or tablet is simply a pleasure.