Everywhere you turn you are being bombarded by iPads, Motorola Xooms, Samsung Galaxy Tabs and more!  Why?  What is the fuss about?  Upon the release of Apple’s iPad there has been a frenzy in the technological world for every mobile hardware manufacturer to make a tablet with a mobile OS installed.  This has spurned comments such as, “My tablet can do everything a PC can”, “Why do you need a desktop PC when you can buy an iPad”, and so on.

A tablet will never replace a PC.

Saying that your underpowered tablet can compete with a powerful desktop operating system is complete ludicrous.  Take a look at the markets, you have consumer and business, although the consumers make up most of the market; they do NOT possess most of the money.  Any large PC manufacturer would be unwise to try to negotiate a sell of tablets instead of PCs.  There are several reasons why:

• You have to give your customers what they want; usually a large company does not like a change as radical and new as this
• No media drives
• Lack of power
• Lack of software support

Those are just a few reasons.  For example, do you know of any reputable law firm that will use iPads instead of desktops to maintain client information and run advanced queries with their data?  Do you know any serious production companies that will drop their trusty Mac Pros or PCs running Premiere Pro or Final Cut to use a pitiful app on a mobile OS?  Do you know any hardcore C++ and .NET programmers that would dare stray away from their beloved machines?

Bottom line:  If you could ever say NO to any of the above questions, then realize that a tablet will never replace a PC.  The only machines that a tablet could replace is a netbook or a low powered laptop in some cases.  Tablets are not meant to replace the desktop OS; however, if used properly they could be a great asset to use alongside one.