Tablets, like iPads, are changing how people use electronics

A new survey of Americans is showing what many computer hobbyists already have assumed: the arrival of the tablet PC is sending huge ripples across the electronics landscape.

This new report, from survey giant The Nielsen Co., shows that tablet PCs — primarily the Apple iPad — are changing how people use electronics. The tablets are causing declines in the use of PCs, e-readers and portable media devices.

As an avid user of the iPad, I can see how it would cause a big change; I rarely turn on my desktop PC anymore and the use of my laptop PC has decreased dramatically. Why? The iPad is always on, always ready and small and light. When I want to do something quick, I almost always grab my iPad now.

The survey results bear that out. The Nielsen survey shows 35 percent of tablet owners are using their desktops less since they bought their tablet. When it comes to laptops, that number is 32 percent.

As a longtime Windows user, I recognize a sea of change here. We used to live in an Intel and Windows world, with a market share close to 90 percent on the desktop and laptop side. Apple had a mere 4 percent or so.

Now Apple has more than 90 percent of the tablet market and every month brings further erosion of the PC market in favor of tablets. Left unchecked, a significant march will continue in favor of Apple over the next year or two.

What I have noticed on a personal basis is how little I use my Android smartphone now for data purposes. According to the Nielsen report, 13 percent of users report using theirs less as well. But when I have my iPad and my phone in the same environment, it is downright painful to launch any kind of data service on my phone.

Frankly, the only reason I keep a data package on my phone is for business mail and for the Android GPS function, which has replaced my TomTom GPS because I can't remember where I am going and I can't find my own house most of the time.

Twenty-two percent of those surveyed say they are using their portable gaming console less since getting an iPad, which is no surprise to anyone who has played "Angry Birds."

In short, the only real thing holding the iPad back is price and supply. The price issue will be resolved as the supply of iPad2s increases, leading to more used iPads hitting the resale market. Once there is a full supply of both new and used devices, we will see a significant impact on the market.

James Derk owns CyberDads, a computer service firm in Evansville, Ind. Contact him at jim@cyberdads.com.