Tablet sales to triple in 2011

It's no secret that tablet computers are quickly becoming one of the hottest technologies on the market today. Further solidifying this point, a new study from market analyst firm IHS iSuppli predicts tablet sales will increase by a "thunderous" 214 percent in 2011.

According to IHS iSuppli, tablet shipments are expected to reach 61.9 million units this year, up from 19.7 million last year. As this trend unfolds, the research firm notes, tablets will become the No. 1 internet-enabled consumer electronic devices on the market.

Internet-enabled devices include products that allow users to connect to the web, such as video game consoles, Blu-ray players and next-generation televisions. According to IHS, the category excludes PCs and smartphones.

Last year, video game consoles represented the highest-selling internet-enabled devices, with more than 50 million units sold. But a shift is occurring as enthusiasm for tablet computers continues to thrive. According to IHS, tablet shipments will reach more than 300 million units by 2015.

"No other internet-enabled device in the next four years will come close to that kind of growth," the report states.

IHS notes that internet-enabled device shipments will exceed those of PCs by 2013. However, this does not mean that consumers should count out the importance of desktop and laptop computers. As a recent BusinessDay report points out, tablets may complement PCs in many ways, but they cannot replace them.