Tablet won't replace traditional PC, Lenovo CEO says

For all the buzz surrounding the tablet computer, Lenovo® CEO Yang Yuanqing doesn't believe the mobile devices will ever fully replace traditional desktop and laptop PCs.

In an interview with news provider Bloomberg Businessweek, Yang called the tablet "an extra market for some niche customers," asserting that no manufacturer would be able to overtake Apple® in the tablet market. Instead, many are shifting gears and focusing on the next-generation notebook - a lightweight, super thin device known as the Ultrabook™.

"This will become a trend to replace part of the notebook market," said Yang, referring to the Ultrabook.

Yang predicts the Ultrabook will account for 30 percent to 40 percent of the notebook market during the next 18 months. This follows closely with predictions from others, including Intel®, which says the Ultrabook will represent 40 percent of consumer laptop market by the end of 2012.

The tablet's role in the PC market has been debated for some time. While it seems unlikely the mobile device will ever completely replace the PC, it will continue to serve as a complementary piece of the computing experience.