Expect big things for tablet computer market in 2010

Just days before a recently announced event will be held by Apple to unveil its "latest creation" to select viewers - rumored to be its iSlate tablet computer- a Deloitte research note said that tablet computers will finally capture the attention and dollars of consumers this year. "Tens of millions of people" will buy a tablet computer - termed a NetTab by Deloitte - in 2010, the company forecasted. This new generation of tablets is expected to fill a void left between smartphones and laptops, for users looking for larger screens at lighter weights and prices. "While it is difficult to forecast sales of devices whose specifications are unknown, some analysts estimate 12-month sales from launch of over one billion dollars," Deloitte said. "This is larger than global sales of personal navigation devices." The activity of manufacturers may indicate that they expect big things from these small computers. In addition to Apple's rumored entry, major PC vendors including Hewlett-Packard and Dell have said they will offer tablets. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer showcased HP's Slate at the Consumer Electronics Show in January.