According to Gartner it will to take up to 10

A small market, but a good potential. Since the submission by Apple's iPad, which will be marketed from the 3 April in the United States and late April in France, tablets have the rating - although there are still very few. These small computers in the form of slate, with a touch of 5 to 11 inches, intermediate screen between the phones and to PCs, could see their sales take off this year. According to Gartner, it will to take up to 10.5 million copies. 336 Drop of water to be Ocean a millions PC seront PC seront during the same period. But computer manufacturers and consumer electronics experts are positioned similarly on this niche, because they do not want "name calling the future": according to Strategy Analytics, the global market of tablets will increase from $ 3.5 billion in 2010 to 11.6 billion in 2014.

Microsoft and its "double shelf".

HP, Lenovo, Asus... the biggest names in the high tech industry are already on the ranks. Much on the Internet of a "double shelf" project of Microsoft, in fact two screens 7-inch touch multi-point opening as two pages of book. Dubbed Courier, it would be equipped with the next mobile Windows 7 operating system. Microsoft, seeking to promote its software, has expressed his intention to go on market shelves with partners such as HP.

In addition, Sony also fourbit its weapons with several mobile terminals one "with both the features of a"netbook", a reader of books, and a portable game console", according to the "Wall Street Journal". Declining consumer electronics giant disappointed by its sales of PSP Go sees with concern the progress of Apple in the market of online entertainment: plays with his iPhone. It will probably more play with the iPad and its large screen. To want to buy its new mobile terminals, the Japanese group, which is also a major disk and film, wants to start his own shop online content at the end of the month.

Archos: a French in the race

Another veteran of the highest caliber announcement with Google, the Android mobile operating system is already the number one enemy of the iPhone OS. Rumoured that a Google Tablet is in preparation. However, Microsoft, Sony, Google and others, are all trolling from small French Archos, which released two new versions of its equipped with Android tablets, next month.

"The French manufacturer Archos was the first to launch new generation tablets." "But it's really Apple who gave the kick-off of the market of the tablets", says Peter King, Director at Strategy Analytics. The computer manufacturer, which has spiked sales of computers since the worldwide success of its iPod music players and its "smartphones" iPhone, is ready to sell an additional terminal to his fans. With the Tablet, which integrates Excel spreadsheet, or DVD player can not really work. Can not call. However, it is a deux much practical to consult his mails in the living room, placed on the knees, or surf absentmindedly watching television. "There will be people consume music or videos on the iPad in the aircraft," said Peter King. For him, there is all a new sphere of connected terminals, which will certainly be cannibalizing each other, but to replace the phone or the PC classic.

Should certainly inform the public about the usefulness of these magic slates. The pattern of Apple, Steve Jobs, also took the Oscar ceremony, Sunday evening to present the first television spot dedicated to the iPad. So far, mobile applications remain the best advertisement. And, on the matter, Apple one step ahead.