These days it seems like everyone wants a shiny new tablet or smartphone. And it seems this way because it's basically true. Smartphones like the iPhone and Galaxy S series have skyrocketed in popularity.
According to new data from the research firm Gartner, smartphone and tablet shipments will soar by 9 percent in 2013 and hit nearly 3 billion units by 2017.
The loser in this scenario? PCs, and possibly Windows 8 if Microsoft can't figure out how to make its smartphones and tablets more popular. As tablets and phones become more capable, many users don't see as much of a need for a dedicated desktop PC or laptop.
"While there will be some individuals who retain both a personal PC and a tablet, especially those who use either or both for work and play, most will be satisfied with the experience they get from a tablet as their main computing device," Carolina Milanesi, research vice president at Gartner, said according to TabTimes.
"As consumers shift their time away from their PC to tablets and smartphones, they will no longer see their PC as a device that they need to replace on a regular basis."
Even if we look only at tablets, the trend is clear. Tablet shipments are expected to rise by about 70 percent in 2013 alone, meaning 197 million slates are going to be purchased around the world. Meanwhile, PC sales are predicted to sink by 3.5 percent.
"Lower prices, form factor variety, cloud update and consumers' addiction to apps will be the key drivers in the tablet market," Gartner Research Director Ranjit Atwal said.
"Growth in the tablet segment will not be limited to mature markets alone. Users in emerging markets who are looking for a companion to their mobile phone will increasingly choose a tablet as their first computing device and not a PC."
