New tablets could redefine the market

The evolution of the tablet computer is still well underway, and as the technology itself continues to see new developments, so too will the market grow and begin to take a more solid shape.

In a November report, the Washington Post declares 2011 to be the "year of the tablet." Though the technology as we now know it arrived on the scene in 2010, it wasn't until 2011 that it really started to show its potential.

The publication's Hayley Tsukayama cites the rise of Android™ tablets as especially beneficial to the market. Android, she says, fills in many of the gaps left by Apple® and its market leading iPad®. With several manufacturers producing Android-based tablets, it is easier to find a device that meets a user's specific needs.

"Android tablets have emerged in all sizes, niches and price points," Tsukayama writes. "Competitors are seizing opportunities to target customers who don’t fit the one size Apple is offering."

The coming years may see further evolution in the tablet market, as well as the emergence of new players. For example, in 2012, Microsoft® plans to try its hand at the new market with the introduction of the tablet-friendly Windows® 8 operating system.