Tablet PC mania hits

Hot new tablet computers are shaking up the stodgy computer industry — possibly giving consumers reason to buy yet another PC. Dell (DELL), Lenovo and Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) each unveiled tablet PC models at this week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Each features a touch-screen that eliminates or reduces the need for a keyboard. Apple (AAPL) is expected to come out with its own tablet later this month. Apple declined to comment. It's too soon to say whether the new computers will be a hit. Many models are pricey, and older attempts at tablets have not sold well, says Allen Nogee, a tech analyst at researcher In-Stat. But the buzz suggests that their time may have come. "More people (are) adapting to small, touch-screen devices, like the (Apple) iPhone ... and more people (are) attracted to netbooks," Nogee says. That makes them more willing to embrace portable, touch-screen computers, he says. "Is there a market above smartphones and below netbooks? Obviously, we think there is," says Philip McKinney, a vice president at Hewlett-Packard.

Source: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2010-01-07-tablet-computers_N.htm