Tablet PCs the New Revolution for Mobiles

Tablet PCs are set to revolutionize our mobile computing experience through their convergence of IT and telecoms.

Mobile phones have been getting increasingly sophisticated with introduction of the Smartphone in the last few years. We are now used to browsing the internet, listening to music and answering emails on the move. Their only shortcoming is perhaps their small screen size which gives us less than ideal browsing experience which is why tablet PCs have been received with such excitement.

What has happened to spur the growth in tablets is a mixture of technology improvements and consumer demand for on the move computing.

On the hardware side processor speeds, Ram memory capacities have followed Moore’s law and overtaken what was previously possible for mobile devices enabling multitasking similar to desktop PCs and laptops.

Most tablet devices run similar operating systems as their Smartphone counter parts with some using the Google Android tablet operating system and Apple using iOS for the iPad. This makes the learning process from Smartphone to tablets minimal.

Internal storage capacities in small devices have also made great strides via flash memory available in previously unthinkable capacity of up to 64 GB. This means we can carry more digital photos, videos, files and other media files in a single device.

The large Multi touch display screens also give a much better browsing experience by enabling auto-rotation between landscape and portrait views, resizing and zooming in. The virtual keyboard removes the need to carry a clunky wired physical keyboard.

Connecting to the internet anywhere at anytime is a major feat of the new technology with improved 3G wireless enabling connection to GSM 3G data networks and wifi enabled technology connection via hotspots.

Another important improvement is the long battery life with some tablets boasting figures like 10 hours of video, 140 hours of audio playback and one month on standby.

If technology is the enabler for tablet PCs then consumer demand will be the fuel for the new technology. Common uses include reading eBooks and newspapers, watching movies, listening to music, playing games and navigating via Google maps and satnav apps.

Conventional PC uses include surfing the internet, answering emails and running complete office suites on the move. Some tablets come with built in digital Cameras allowing taking of photos and videos or making face to face phone calls via front facing cameras.

With all the technology improvements and consumer thirst for computing on the move we shall wait to see if 2011 will indeed be the year where IT and telecoms meet to become tablet PCs.