CES 2012: A Showcase of New Tablets to Rival iPad
Tablet computers were all the rage last year and if exhibits at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show are any indication, this year shouldn’t be that different.
The market-leading iPad will again be conspicuous in its absence as Apple does not take part in this yearly event. However, a variety of different tablets are taking stage this week at the CES, with many of these devices aimed at the entry-level market.
Velocity Micro is unveiling an Android 4.0-based Cruz T507 tablet with a suggested retail price under $150, and Archos will come out with their own 8-inch budget entry.
Other new tablets expected to garner attention include Toshiba’s 10.1-inch device which is billed as its most compact ever, Samsung’s 8.9-inch Galaxy Tab and a 9.7-inch Cruz T510 tablet from Velocity Micro.
Among iPad’s competitors, entry-level tablets seem to be making the most impact. For instance, the Amazon Kindle Fire is generally considered the second-leading tablet in the market with a price of $199, while Amazon’s online bookstore rival, Barnes and Noble have their Nook selling at less than $250. This is in contrast to the plethora of expensive failures previously launched such as the HP Touchpad and the RIM Playbook.
Research firms expect Apple’s market share for the iPad to take a slight hit due to the increased competition, but still remain dominant. As of 2010, a whopping 82% of all tablet purchases were iPads.
According to Canaccord Gentry, this figure went down to 65% in 2011 and may decrease to 57% this year. This is a similar prediction to that of Gartner Inc., which is also forecasting the iPad to still take up over 50% of the tablet market in 2015.
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