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Originally Posted by Graham
I actually mostly agree with you here stonetools.
Since my position on all this is scattered across multiple posts and threads, and I was misunderstood above, forgive me for restating it.
I don't think there is a major market for large pure tablets (10" and up) with the exception of the iPad. The iPad has established itself as a consumer item, backed by a solid ecosystem and brilliant marketing, which attracts both long-term Apple fans and the casual buyer. These people are not in the market for 'a tablet'. They want an iPad. The only company that might compete here is Amazon.
By extension, the Android large tablet share will grow for the next few years, driven by the industry savvy and android phone owners dabbling in the tablet market, but it will tail off.
We'll therefore see a swing some way back towards netbooks once the initial fervour for large tablets dies down. Bear in mind that there will be improvements in netbook design as well. I can definitely see hybrid netbooks with detachable tablet screens becoming popular. Battery life of the latest machines is already better than the best tablets.
I do see a big market for 7" Android tablets, as they're capable little content consumption devices, cheaper and lighter.
The wild card, of course, is Microsoft and whether they pull something special off with Windows 8.
Graham
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I think Amazon has the ecosystem, the brand name , and the customer service to give Apple a run for its money.
Color me skeptical that Windows 8 will run smoothly on a tablet. If Microsoft can achieve that AND build a decent ecosystem around xBox, Zune, and Office, they may have a good chance.