8:00 AM Bet on tablets, not tables, in Vegas this year

Sarah Thomas, Director, Women in Comms

January 5, 2012

2 Min Read
CES 2012: The Ultra Tablet Show

8:00 AM -- LAS VEGAS -- 2012 International CES -- As much as Intel Corp. (Nasdaq: INTC) wants ultrabooks to steal the scene at this year's consumer gadget show, tablets will continue to be the more exciting light-weight computer to keep track of -- at least for us mobile-minded folks.

Last year, I outlined my tablet-feature wish list, but this year it's time to get real. The market is growing beyond just Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL), and 2012 will be the year the iPad sees real competition.

Tablet makers have learned from high-profile failures, like the HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ) TouchPad and BlackBerry PlayBook, that high-priced, under-performing tablets aren't going to gain traction. I'd expect to see lower prices on all but the highest-end devices. (See 2011 Top Ten: Tablet Triumphs & Tragedies.)

In terms of features and performance, here's what else I'd bet on:

  • The first Windows 8 tablets: my guess is Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) CEO Steve Ballmer will show off a crop of tablets to go with its newest OS in what will be his last time on stage at CES

  • Quad-core: Dual-core was so 2011. Tablets not sporting quad-core chipsets will be behind the times

  • Long Term Evolution (LTE): Wireless connectivity will by no means be a requirement in tablets yet, but if it's got a network, it had better be 4G now that Verizon Wireless , AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) and soon Sprint Corp. (NYSE: S) have networks to show off

  • Tablets will be tasty at CES, with Ice Cream Sandwich as the operating system du jour, separating the overachieving Android tablets from the pack

  • Tablet apps: OK, it's not a developer show, but I just got an iPad, and I want more tablet-optimized apps! Perhaps AT&T's developer conference before the show will help me out

  • Enterprising tablets: RIM didn't play it's cards right when it launched the PlayBook, but I expect a least a few manufacturers to tackle the enterprise market with new form factors optimized for professionals



CES is always good for a few surprises, too. Let us know what you're looking forward to (or dreading) in Vegas in the comments section.

— Sarah Reedy, Senior Reporter, Light Reading Mobile

About the Author(s)

Sarah Thomas

Director, Women in Comms

Sarah Thomas's love affair with communications began in 2003 when she bought her first cellphone, a pink RAZR, which she duly "bedazzled" with the help of superglue and her dad.

She joined the editorial staff at Light Reading in 2010 and has been covering mobile technologies ever since. Sarah got her start covering telecom in 2007 at Telephony, later Connected Planet, may it rest in peace. Her non-telecom work experience includes a brief foray into public relations at Fleishman-Hillard (her cussin' upset the clients) and a hodge-podge of internships, including spells at Ingram's (Kansas City's business magazine), American Spa magazine (where she was Chief Hot-Tub Correspondent), and the tweens' quiz bible, QuizFest, in NYC.

As Editorial Operations Director, a role she took on in January 2015, Sarah is responsible for the day-to-day management of the non-news content elements on Light Reading.

Sarah received her Bachelor's in Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She lives in Chicago with her 3DTV, her iPad and a drawer full of smartphone cords.

Away from the world of telecom journalism, Sarah likes to dabble in monster truck racing, becoming part of Team Bigfoot in 2009.

Subscribe and receive the latest news from the industry.
Join 62,000+ members. Yes it's completely free.

You May Also Like