Microsoft Exec Craig Mundie believes the tablet phenomenon is a fad. He is more on the thought that retina displays will be a more popular item in the future. I must say that I tend to agree. If a small screen can look like a big screen people will go for it.
The tablet has it's place but I wonder about a year from now if it ends up in "the box". You know that thing in your closet that holds all your old computer parts that you don't use anymore. Especially chargers for devices that have no match… which is all of them. It is the dreaded box that Tom Hanks avoids in Toy Story, the place for forgotten toys. For some reason you HAD to have the dang thing, now you don't care, why?
Fads are interesting. A short time ago every food product that was advertised claimed to have "no carbs". Chips, bubble gum, yogurt, crackers, pizza, carpet cleaner, hair spray and anything else with a package. Look at clothes, people wear what is sold to them. If the industry makes skinny jeans, people wear skinny jeans, even if it creates a strange thing called a "muffin top". Before that it was distressed jeans, Ugg boots, Crocks, knit caps, graffiti T-shirts, Michael Jackson hats etc.
There is a retail clothing version of "The Box", it's called Ross. They sell what used to be popular for cheap. Being that Best Buy is buying back outdated devices I see a store called OldTronics opening soon. You can buy another persons computer junk like golf clubs at Roger Dunn.
A tablet is a tweener, not quite this and not quite that. Adequate but not a perfect match. Kind of like a 6'4" forward, a pitcher with an 83 mile an hour fastball, a size 8 fashion model, a "B" student, a brownie with no frosting. It's missing something but it's still nice to have.
Where does a tablet fit into your life? Convenience wise it is a nice living room addition, personally I don't want to carry around a device that expensive and worry about it. I'm sure there have been many coffee shop incidents where a tablet was lost or stolen. As a typing tool it is a big phone, not a typewriter. It's a great playing device, but you'll never get a date playing Angry Birds on a tablet at Starbucks.
To me, the phone rules, mainly because you can put it in your pocket. In my current digital life I am behind the desk or out and about, my laptop is barely used. I would like an internet / book reader that allows me to check my e-mail that costs $99. Dang, just writing that made me make space in my junk box.
