When Tablets Attack

This year's CES (Consumer Electronics Show) didn't surprise anyone with a wave of companies showing off their exclusive tablets. Each spokesperson boasting their "futuristic" transition into these touchscreen only mini-computers. Companies such as Samsung; debuting their (wi-fi)-only Galaxy Tab, Motorola's Xoom; running the powerful Android OS(3.0), or Dell's Streak; a pocket-sized, more affordable tablet. Sure they're pretty, stylish, and easy to use but have we forgotten they still need wi-fi or cellular connection to be web accessible. With wi-fi, your stuck in that hot zone, and let's not even mention the peculiar promises of 4G. Even so people are already planning on replacing their laptops with these new toys. How can companies who who have yet to jump on the band wagon, compete?

I think all of us saw this coming. With the release of the popular IPad in April 2010, people rushed to the stores to get their hands on the long waited enlarged version of their ITouch. With it's 9.7 liquid crystal display, 1Gz processor, and weighing only 1.5 pounds, people salivated over the possibilities for third party applications. In the first 4 months, Apple sold over 4.19 million IPads worldwide.

Fear not though, for laptop manufacturers still have a few tricks up there sleeves. Toshiba unveiled a new installment in their popular line of Portege laptops; the Portege R705. Running on an Intel Core I3 processor, featuring an HDMI port for routing to TV's, and surprisingly affordable, this almost perfect laptop is sure to put up a fight in the onslaught of tablets. Toshiba also diving into the idea of 3D laptops, but not just any 3D laptop. Toshiba introduced a prototype of glasses-free 3D laptops. That's right, play media on your laptop in 3D without having to wear those goofy, expensive glasses.

There also was of course other familiar candidates at the CES such as the Macbook Pro and the Alienware M17x gaming laptop with 3D support. So don't go saying farewell to the notebook just yet, take a second thought. It's obvious all these great laptops turned just as many heads as tablets did.