90% of current desktop owners probably could get buy with a tablet/hybrid with wireless keyboard/mouse/trackpad solution. They don't have external hard drives, printers, scanners, etc... Apple is really stupid not to make a tablet hybrid.
Um. No.
Don't get me wrong, thats a cool idea. But we need to take the business/serious user into this. At the moment, something like an high end android/windows/iPad tablet doesn't have the same muscle that a desktop PC has. And even for basic task's, you would really be surprised how fast you can use up system resources.
Desktops are better for so many users for a couple of reasons.
Performance Per Dollar: Desktops win this one big time, even expensive Apple desktops will perform very well for what you pay for them. That muscle goes a long way in pretty much every market.
Reliability: Desktops have the advantage of having large cases, big cooling fans. Nice big hardware that runs super cool, and lasts a long time. I would be willing to bet money that tablets have a FAR higher failure rate than even a generic 500 dollar PC tower.
Compatibly: A Desktop/Laptop running Windows, Linux, Unix or OSX litterally has 30 years of programs to look back upon, and run if the need ever be, tablets can't do this.
A Hybrid tablet is a really cool idea. And I think we could go in that direction at some point, but I think even Apple realizes we are NOT at that point yet.
We stand at the point where a tablet just is NOT as good as a desktop/laptop. Those machines are VERY productive. And until something better comes along they are here to stay.
Apple is NOT a stupid company, Neither is Microsoft for that matter. Both of these companies know what they are doing. Tablets just are not at the point where they can be as productive as a desktop/laptop. Or as powerful, or as compatible. Though Microsofts Tablet might change that , along with Intels amazing mobile CPUs.
Would I love a tablet sized device that I could carry with me to home and work, place in a dock and have it perform amazing? Yes I would. but right now, we are just NOT at that point.
My current workstation weighs a solid 85 pounds, until a tablet can do the tasks it can do, I could never use ONLY a tablet.
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In order for Microsoft to make $1 billion on Windows RT license fees per quarter, they would need to sell about 12 million tablets which is what Apple is currently doing. Not gonna happen, not even close!
It's hard to say. People once said the XBOX brand would go nowhere.
Now look at it, its the king of the consoles.
And I also gotta say, Tablets are a GREAT idea. But until they become as fast, reliable, and upgradeable as a desktop. They'll never replace it.