Tablet sales to reach 36% of total PC sales in 2015

The worldwide sales of tablets are projected to reach nearly 36 percent of total PC sales or 186 million units by 2015, which is higher than the total worldwide PC sales in 2004, according to a report by Computer Industry Almanac. US tablet sales are forecast to top 53 million units in 2015 or over 43 percent of total PC sales. Worldwide tablet sales surpassed 16 million units in 2010 and accounted for 5.1 percent of total PC sales. In the US alone, tablet sales accounted for 12 percent of total PC sales in 2010. The sales growth of pads and tablets will continue and will account for an increasing share of total PCs. Much of the growth is coming from the iPad and similar pad and tablet devices, which are included in the total PC figures in the report. Windows 8, which is expected in mid to late 2012, will also be used for tablets and is expected to compete and expand the current tablet market. The tablet form factor is part of the personal computing industry since it provides most of the functionality of traditional PCs. Tablets and pads are also changing the industry in a major way ranging from the user interface to the leading suppliers. The success of the iPad will make Apple the leading PC supplier in the US in 2012 and the largest PC supplier worldwide in 2013, according to the same research.