Tablets To Surpass Desktop Sales By 2015, Analyst Predicts

Someone out there could probably say that the iPad, the magical and revolutionary tablet from Apple, isn't a success. But, that doesn't mean they'd be correct in their assertions. Quite frankly, the iPad has done for the tablet industry what many, many before it had tried, but this time the results were much different. So much so, in fact, that the entire industry seems to be invigorated, and we stand on the brink of a literal tablet tsunami. According to a Forrester analyst, tablets are going to surpass desktop sales by 2015, and maybe as early as 2013, if the trend keeps up.

Speaking at the Untethered conference in New York City on Thursday, Forrester analyst Sarah Rotman Epps projected her theories for the upcoming years, comparing tablets to netbooks, laptops, and desktops. Sales wise, she believes that tablets are going to sell upwards of three and a half million total units this year, and that number is going to skyrocket up to 20.4 million by 2015.

The PC is going to take a hit: 18.7 million units sold in 2010, down to 15.7 million sold in 2015. As you can see from the chart, Rotman Epps projected that tablets could actually overcome netbooks by 2012, claiming 18% versus 17%. And then, in 2013, tablets will hold 21%, while netbooks will only have 17%, and desktops a mere 20%. Indeed, it paints a very clear image, if it's true: people will focus on the ability to get their life handled while on the move, and not necessarily stuck to a desktop. Furthermore, as tablets get more advanced, and their functionality more robust, even netbooks will fall under their massive weight. Of course, laptops will stay consistent, falling from 45% in 2010 to only 42% in 2015. What do you think? Are you going to get a tablet in the future? If so, what is it you're waiting for?

[via TechCrunch]