Originally Posted by AppleInsider

Between Apple's iPad and the newly launched Amazon Kindle Fire, tablet sales in North America are set to reach record heights, rising 130 percent during the holidays of 2011.

Calling it "the most explosive development in the tablet market since the release of the original iPad," the Kindle Fire was found by ChangeWave Research to have strong initial demand among consumers in North America. The results of a new survey of 3,043 consumers, released on Monday, indicate that the Kindle Fire is poised to become the No. 2 selling tablet behind Apple's iPad.

Among those planning to buy a tablet device in the future, 65 percent said they would choose Apple's iPad, while 22 percent will opt for an Amazon Kindle Fire. That compares with just 4 percent of planned tablet buyers who will choose the Samsung Galaxy Tab.

Beyond Samsung, no other tablet manufacturer has more than 1 percent of future tablet demand among consumers in North America.

The latest survey from ChangeWave represents the first time since the launch of the first-generation iPad that there is a double-digit contender for the No. 2 tablet spot, with the Kindle Fire set to leapfrog the competition.

The firm's analysis of the numbers suggest initial Kindle Fire demand is "a shot across the bow at Apple," but also acknowledge that the more immediate impact of the new touchscreen tablet from Amazon is on the rest of the competition, including Samsung, Motorola, Research in Motion, and Dell.

"The Amazon surge may also contain a silver lining for Apple, by damaging the tablet market hopes of the remaining competitors in the field," ChangeWave wrote.



Among the total number of customers polled, 2 percent indicated they have already ordered the Kindle Fire, while another 5 percent said they are "very likely" to purchase the device, and 12 percent indicated they are "somewhat likely." The launch of the Kindle Fire helped to push overall tablet demand to 14 percent indicating they plan to buy in the next 90 days, 8 points higher than a similar survey in August, and more than triple the level of a year ago.

But while the Kindle Fire is helping to grow the tablet market in North America, the survey also indicates that demand for Apple's iPad continues to grow, suggesting sales will not be immediately impacted by Amazon's $199 device.



"Apple continues to show enormous strength in the tablet market, where it's enjoying the best quarter in its history, according to the survey," ChangeWave revealed.

In fact, ChangeWave found that the customer satisfaction rating for the iPad is well beyond competing tablets. A total of 74 percent of all iPad owners said they're "very satisfied" with their device, compared to just 49 percent of all other tablet manufacturers combined.



A survey earlier this month from ChangeWave found that 26 percent of those buying a Kindle Fire at launch were delaying a purchase of Apple's iPad. For more on the Kindle Fire, see AppleInsider's in-depth review.

Originally Posted by iPedro

Looking at electronics catalogues this Christmas, it can now be said that we're officially in the Post PC Era. Mainstream consumers will no longer be purchasing PC's as their new computers.

Originally Posted by iPedro

Looking at electronics catalogues this Christmas, it can now be said that we're officially in the Post PC Era. Mainstream consumers will no longer be purchasing PC's as their new computers.

Originally Posted by Suddenly Newton

You quoted the whole article?

Originally Posted by christopher126

Well said, ipedro. I love my iPad 2. Although I wish I had got the 3G model.

My next pc purchase will probably be an MBA 11" but I'm waiting for them to add 3G to them before I buy one. Anecdotal, I know, but i would say 90% of my friends would do well just having an iPad instead of the windows box at home!

Originally Posted by umrk_lab

Holidays 2011 ! An eternity, in this market ..

Let s better talk about XMas sales ...

Originally Posted by solipsism

Interesting thought. I haven't looked in a holiday catalog in years. I guess if you see tablets and other handheld computing devices over 'PCs' then we really are in the Post-PC era.



You'd think after 100 posts they'd know better, unless they were trying to be an ass.



I recently lost my iPad 2. I left it somewhere. Now I'm wishing I would have paid for the 3G and AT&T's month fee. Made Find My iPad a pointless feature for a locked WiFI iPad that doesn't auto find networks. Debating whether to get one on Friday or just wait for iPad 3.

PS: If you can't switch your iPhone 4S around from carrier to carrier in the US despite being "world mode" how will they use that MDM6610 chip in the iPad 3? Will it just be one physical model for all iPad 3Gs, but you have to choose your carrier at time of purchase? I hope that isn't the case.


I'm waiting for the revamped MBPs and also hope they add cellular when they knock out the ODD.