Over ten years ago tablet computers made their first appearance on the market. These early devices allowed for stylus input, handwriting conversion to text and several other unique features to a portable computer. These computers were typically running Windows operating systems and thus were not optimized for what we not recognize as a 'tablet experience'. Battery life was also poor with 1.5 to 2 hours being the norm. Back in the early 2000s I had a convertible tablet that could either used as a laptop or a tablet with the turn of the screen. The size and weight was smaller than a laptop but still much larger than modern tablets. I could write longhand with a stylus on the screen. It was neat and certainly unique but lacked in several respects. Short battery life, heavy, and in the cause of the unit I had, the hardware was underpowered CPU wise and was not terribly responsive. I used it for about a year before deciding to move back to a laptop PC. The early attempts were not bad but never captured much market share.
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- The Device That Started the Revolution
Recent Tablet Computer Success
In 2008 rumors began to circulate that Apple would enter the tablet computer space. Much was written about the chances Apple had to break into a market that so many others had failed in. Given Apple's recent success with the iPhone as a breakthrough device many were very optimistic that Apple could once again 'get-it-right' and come up with another device that broke all the rules, paved a new path forward and in doing so win the hearts and minds of consumers who did not know they needed another devices in their lives.
Of course now, in 2011, we all know the store of the run away success of the Apple iPad. It did break the rules, it certainly paved a new way forward and it without a doubt won the hearts and minds of many, many, many millions of consumers. So successful was it that it has taken nearly 24 months on the market before any other device has showed any hits of competing with it.
User Adoption
Now this is on one of the most interesting parts of the story. Earlier tablet devices attracted people who loved gadgets, geeks if you will. The iPad tablet computer may have started like that and it certainly attracted the many millions of devoted Apple fans but it then did something more. It began to attract a following from people who never owned an Apple product. It began to attract the attention of people who may have never owned a computer. It was purchased by untold millions of people who were casual computer users but never owned any type of portable electronic gadget. So what am I saying? It want mainstream. Today you can find a tablet computer in the hands of a businessperson, a grandparent, a 5 year old child or a high school student. The tablet form factor has broken all barriers and can be and is used by just about any demographic you could imagine.
How Tablets Have Changed Many Technology Assumptions
The last and most important thing to realize is that the Apple iPad brought several key technologies and methodologies to computing that are not permeating all of computing and in a few short years will transform our computing world such as:
1. Portable devices must have 5-10 hour battery life or longer. Users no longer want to watch and worry about running out of juice.
2. If it's portable and has a screen, I must be able to touch the screen and interact with the device. If I can't, it must be broken.
3. My portable device must come on instantly when I'm ready to use it. I don't want to wait for it to boot.
4. Finding, installing and updating software must be so easy I can have my five year old daughter do it. It must just work, first time, every time.
All of these things apply to portable devices right now. The thing to keep in mind is that these points are becoming expectations for all computing devices very quickly.
The power of our computing devices is a a level we could only dream of less than a generation ago. Today for a few hundred dollars you can purchase a devices with tremendous power to connect, entertain and inform.
