More Shoppers are Eyeing Tablets Than Laptops, Netbooks, PCs

Fourteen percent of U.S. online customers plan to buy a tablet computer within the next 12 months according to a new study from leading market research company Forrester Research. The 14 percent was ahead of the 13 percent planning to buy a laptop, 11 percent planning to buy an eBook reader, 8 percent planning to buy a netbook, and 8 percent said to be planning to buy a desktop computer.

The survey, which questioned almost 4000 consumers, could translate as 43 million tablet sales in the US by the end of 2011.

While the report will be good news for Apple, makers of the popular iPad, Forrester notes the findings are also: "Encouraging for Apple's would-be tablet competitors: There's interest in the category that goes beyond the iPad."

The Forrester 'US Tablet Buyers Are Multi-PC Consumers' report is available online for $499.

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This story, "More Shoppers are Eyeing Tablets Than Laptops, Netbooks, PCs" was originally published by Macworld U.K..