Tablet Makers Gear Up for Latest Skirmish

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/21/technology/tablet-makers-gear-up-for-latest-skirmish.html?_r=0&adxnnl=1&ref=technology&adxnnlx=1382400350-j+2qVybV/bQ3O6hAjUrjDQ

The race for the tablet market will be highlighted on Tuesday as Apple, Nokia and Microsoft each introduce new models. Demand for tablets has multiplied nearly 7 times since Apple’s iPad first generated interest in 2010 according to market research company ‘Gartner.’ Apple has maintained a substantial lead but the market has become more fractured as manufacturers increase offerings. Apple is expected to announce improved versions of its iPad and iPad mini while Microsoft will release new versions of its Surface Tables and Nokia will showcase a new tablet in Abu Dhabi. With competition growing, each manufacturer has developed a different approach to tablets in hopes of securing their own segment of the market.
However many tablets such as BlackBerry’s Playbook and Hewlett-Packard’s TouchPad have failed perhaps because people don’t find them very useful. Despite these difficulties companies are working hard to break into the market knowing that future profits could be largely dependent upon tablet sales. This is especially true for companies closely related to the PC market since PC sales have gone down in recent years owing to consumers’ need for increased mobility when handling everyday computing tasks. This trend will probably accelerate and tablets are expected to out-ship PCs in two years. While this remains an ever evolving and dynamic market, consumers will certainly hear more about tablets this fall, particularly this week.