We live in interesting times. Apple created the iPhone. Now every (smart) phone looks like an iPhone. Android has equaled or exceeded iPhone shipments through

We live in interesting times. Apple created the iPhone. Now every (smart) phone looks like an iPhone. Android has equaled or exceeded iPhone shipments through a combination of factors (lower price points, more carriers in the US and so forth). Apple reinvented the tablet as a capacitive touch device very much like the iPhone. Everyone copies that design. People predict the same outcome in the tablet market as happened in the phone market. I disagree, for several reasons: Firstly, the base functionality for a phone is much higher than that of a tablet. A phone can make and receive calls, make and receive SMSs and (in the category we're talking about) browse the Web. At that point you've covered over 90% of the usage of most people. Tablets are (IMHO) a different beast. I haven't seen stats on this (I'd love to, if they exist) but I would guess, as an iPad (and iPhone) owner, two things: 1. A greater percentage of iPad owners buy apps than iPhone owners; 2. iPad owners buy a larger number of apps than iPhone owners; 3. iPad apps on average cost more (although this gap is narrowing and will probably disappear); and 4. iPad users spend more time in nonstandard (standard being mail, maps, photos and Web browser) than smart phone users. If true--and I stress again that the above is my guess--the conclusion you reach is that the apps, and the infrastructure that goes around that (including payment and developer ecosystems) are far more important in the tablet market than the phone market. Secondly, in the US at least, people generally choose carrier first and handset second. In all places, people first make a decision around having mobile phone service (and usage) and then buy a handset/plan. Tablets on the other hand are primarily used at home or in the office. While 3G models sell very well and people have 3G data services, I would guess that the overwhelming majority of iPad usage is on Wifi, unlike phones. Third, Apple is leading the market on price. What kind of topsy-turvy world do we live in where Apple leads the market on price? Apple has beautifully designed products with the best ecosystem that lead the market on price. How exactly is this not Apple's game to lose? Drawing parallels between what happened in phones and what's happening in tablets is (IMHO) foolish. As for the OP's claims, there are four basic methods that we have for writing stuff today: 1. Audio and/or video recording; 2. Using a physical keyboard and/or mouse; 3. Using a touch surface; and 4. Using pen and paper. For students who want to take notes and so forth my opinion is that old-fashioned pen and paper and the almost archaic keyboard will rule the roost for some time to come. They just have inherent advantages in input speed and flexibility. Even a stylus on a tablet just can't compete (IMHO).