Smartphones and Laptops as Popular as Tablet PCs, says Santa

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Despite a massive media frenzy for tablets such as the iPad, the latest research from comparison site Broadband Genie has shown old favourites such as smartphones and laptops are still just as high on consumer Christmas wish lists in 2010.

United Kingdom, 12 December 2010 (PressReleasePoint)--- In its latest survey, the website asked visitors, 'What is top of your Christmas list?' Surprisingly, laptops edged ahead of tablets by just one per cent, with smartphones just one per cent behind the latest gadget to capture the public's imagination.

The result follows a recent Broadband Genie poll that found around 80 per cent of UK consumers were not prepared to pay £400 or more for an Apple iPad.

Broadband Genie editor Chris Marling commented: “This Christmas, many are continuing to fall back on gadgets they trust and understand, such as traditional laptops and smartphones. For a lot of consumers, it is difficult to see what practical purpose a tablet currently provides beyond what other devices can already do extremely well.

“However, it is also clear the tablet concept is starting to catch on with consumers. As 2011 goes on and the technology improves while pricing comes down, we predict they will become hugely popular.

“We are already seeing mobile broadband companies starting to offer some fantastic contract offers on the Samsung Galaxy Tab and iPad. Much as they have done with laptop deals and smartphone deals, consumers can now spread the cost of their tablet over the length of their tariff, making them more affordable to those without cash up front.

“Cheaper Android devices, combined with tablet-focused improvements to the Android operating system, should really help them catch on next year. Also, the promise of the Apple iPad 2 should see prices for the current iPad devices drop considerably. If you add the fact many more competitors will make their own plays in the tablet market, 2011 really could be the year of the tablet.”

Get the results at:
http://www.broadbandgenie.co.uk/blog/20101208-poll...

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS
Broadband Genie is the UK's leading independent broadband, mobile broadband and smartphone comparison website, providing consumers with an unbiased source of information on prices and contracts and allowing them to compare providers in an independent environment. Broadband Genie was launched in March 2004 as the first dedicated consumer comparison site for broadband, while Mobile Broadband Genie was the first independent mobile broadband comparison site, launched in October 2007. The sites were combined in 2010, with the addition of smartphone comparison. The site is one of the most popular in its field, regularly featuring in the national press. http://www.broadbandgenie.co.uk