Tablets to replace laptops, Americans say

Nearly half of Americans believe the tablet computer will eventually replace the laptop, according to a report from survey firm Poll Position.

In a survey of 1,155 registered voters, 46 percent of respondents said they believe the tablet will make the laptop computer obsolete in the coming years. Thirty-five percent are holding out hope for the laptop, while 19 percent have no opinion on the matter.

According to the study, 53 percent of respondents between the ages of 30 and 44 think the tablet will replace the laptop, as do 52 percent of those between 45 and 64 years old. Younger respondents between the ages of 18 and 29 tended to disagree, with 49 percent saying tablets wouldn't replace laptops.

Fifty-three percent of surveyed men say they see the tablet overtaking the laptop, while 39 percent of women answered the same.

Lenovo® CEO Yang Yuanqing, for his part, sees the laptop staying strong despite the competition. In an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek, Yang called the tablet a niche market, noting that many manufacturers are returning to their roots and once again focusing on notebook computers and the up-and-coming Ultrabook™.