The expected launch of Windows 8 this October will undoubtedly shake up how PC users experience the web. Some will love the new Metro-style look and Microsoft apps, while others may shrug and switch off the default format for something more, well, PC.
According to The NPD Group, the platform's integration into media tablets won't do Microsoft any favors as consumers weigh their options between notebooks, the iPad and new Android Ice Cream Sandwich-based pads.
The market research firm isn't convinced Windows 8 tablets will sway those in the market for a notebook. However, it posits that a combination of large-sized screens and the new OS could cause consumers to rethink what tablets are truly capable of.
"PC vendors must balance the opportunity to sell an integrated Windows 8 device that can potentially operate in both tablet and clamshell form factors with the opportunity to sell secondary companion tablet devices that may be smaller and less expensive," said Ross Rubin, executive director of NPD Connected Intelligence.
The NPD surveyed prospective tablet buyers on what was important to them and found 40 percent said they wanted some type of keyboard, giving notebooks a clear edge. Indeed, those who owned both devices leaned toward notebooks for activities such as web browsing, Rubin noted.
"The lack of a keyboard has been a defining characteristic of most tablets on the market," said Rubin. "As tablets expand from content consumption to content creation, consumers are seeking a broader array of input options and screen sizes."
Whatever form the tablet take in the future -- with or without keyboard functionality -- one thing is certain: the device has a bright future. NPD offshoot DisplaySearch predicts more than 383 million tablets will ship in 2017. Market leader Apple is expected to maintain its position for the next few years. The company's new iPad model releases today to sold-out pre-orders.
