I think as a form factor they're here to stay. More and more we the information we need is in electronic form, and accessing it via a tablet is convenient. A phone is simply too small (even the "big" 4" ones) and a laptop/netbook too heavy and awkard. A tablet is in essence a laptop/netbook without the keyboard of course. The eDGe is unique in having two screens and being slightly heavier, but the fact that you can hold it like a book, and configure it in various positions, makes it easy to hold (like a book). Imitators have been slow to copy, although CES showed some ambivalent attempts at it.