If the runaway sales of Apple's iPad are any indication, we may look back on 2010 as the year the tablet PC

finally came into its own. Apple has been selling about one million units per month since it launched the bright, shiny, got-to-have device in early April.

But the iPad's beauty is more than just screen deep. The tablet and slate PCs are all-in-one tools for connectivity, computing and myriad other uses that will certainly surface in the business world as developers create software that brings these cool new form factors to the enterprise.

Recent research from industry analyst IDC predicts that worldwide media tablet shipments will grow from 7.6 million units in 2010 to more than 46 million units in 2014, representing a compound annual growth rate of 57.4 percent. In comparison, IDC expects 398 million portable PCs will be shipped in 2014.

The Consumerization Of IT

"Because of the fantastic sales of the iPad, the tablet market will eventually explode in the business world," says Steve Robb, vice president and general manager of LaSalle Solutions, a VAR based in Rosemont, IL.

Early adopters of tablets in business are likely to be sales and marketing people, says Robb, who believes the iPad is a powerful presentation tool for sales people. The iPad's success in the business world will depend on early adopters enabling the business world to see the value these and similar devices can bring by providing easier access to mission-critical applications across an enterprise.

In many ways, the iPad represents the consumerization of the workplace, a trend known as "bring your own technology" in which consumer technology finds its way into the corporate realm, observes Tech Data Vice President of Client Systems Product Marketing Greg Parsonson.

"The consumerization of IT is an exciting new trend VARs need to watch closely," says Parsonson. "Devices like the Apple iPad and iPhone, as well as all the feature-rich smartphones on the market are raising the bar considerably from a user-experience perspective. People are now demanding the same degree of form and function in the workplace. We expect to see increased interest in tablet and slate PCs as work tools as users gain experience with similar devices in their personal lives.

"With all the excitement around these new products," he adds, "we are encouraged to see other leading manufacturers releasing their own tablet and slate products to capitalize on the new momentum."

New Tablets Are Tough, Powerful

"We have seen tremendous growth in demand for tablet PCs in the past couple of years," says Sheila O'Neil, vice president of channel sales with Panasonic, a leading maker of rugged tablets with its Toughbook® series.

Her observation is shared by Mike Parrottino, vice president of Personal Systems Group Sales and Management, Solution Partners Organization – HP Americas

"The ability for a worker to carry a lightweight system with a 12.1-inch diagonal LED display and integrated mobile broadband provides significant opportunities for customers to thrive in diverse environments, as well as significant sales opportunities for VARs," says Parrottino.

HP’s main tablet offering is the HP EliteBook 2740P, which delivers notebook-quality performance. Aside from being ultra thin and lightweight, the HP EliteBook 2740P is a multi-touch-enabled convertible tablet with several hardware features and software solutions that enhance security, maximize connectivity, and improve ease of use and reliability.

O'Neil and Parrottino note that most of the demand for tablets is from the utilities, healthcare and telecommunications markets, as well as any industry with field-based service teams, such as engineering, agriculture and law enforcement.

"It is important for resellers to understand the challenging operating conditions of these industries and how only a rugged tablet PC will be able to withstand them," says O'Neil.

Previously, O'Neil observes, users were frustrated with tablet PCs as they didn't provide the total desktop-like experience, resulting in the need for two devices: a tablet for mobility and a desktop for performance.

Companies now want a single unit to capture critical data in the field instead of lugging around multiple devices. Integrated features such as cameras, barcode scanners, GPS, RFID readers and mobile broadband are becoming tools that can significantly enhance efficiency and productivity.

Panasonic's answers to the market's needs are the Toughbook C1 convertible and Toughbook H1 Field slate tablets.

Weighing in at just 3.28 pounds, Panasonic says the Toughbook C1 is the world's lightest 12.1-inch convertible tablet. It offers up to 10 hours of battery life (with two hot-swappable batteries) and has an Intel Core i5 processor (for desktop performance). An integrated hand strap system balances the tablet in the palm of one hand for effortless long-term use in tablet mode.

The 3.4-pound Toughbook H1 Field can include integrated features such as RFID, barcode reader, camera and GPS all in a single unit equipped with a 1.86 GHz Intel Atom processor, 2GB of RAM and a 64GB flex-connect reinforced solid state drive.

O'Neil says these devices give companies the tools they need to maximize worker efficiency in the field, and present VARs with opportunities to upsell current customers and enter new markets that were previously unavailable to them.

Ease Of Use Is Key

Given the proliferation of different devices and the availability of touch interaction, many businesses can benefit from the simplicity and mobility of a well-designed data access application, a key concept behind all of the Fujitsu products currently available.

"VARs have enormous opportunities to capitalize on these concepts by developing and integrating the right application for the right device," says Paul Moore, senior director of mobile product management at Fujitsu America.

Ease of use is key along with connection speed and reliability, Moore adds.

He believes product innovation must derive from the concept that "anywhere, anytime connectivity" allows businesses to eliminate downtime, interact in realtime and easily adapt to workforce changes.

"As a leading tablet PC vendor at Tech Data, Fujitsu understands the needs of today's challenging businesses," says Moore. "We're perpetually striving to create and align easy-to-use solutions that service these technological trends and represent the future."

Simplicity is the goal, he emphasizes.

"No task should be more difficult than making an ATM withdrawal," says Moore. "Portable, simple, secure, anywhere transactions are the future. It's just a matter of determining the right device and the perfect application to meet users' needs."

Moore points to the Fujitsu LifeBook® T4410 tablet PC as an example of tablets merging functionality and ease of use. "This tablet, with multi-touch technology, is not only perfect for project-based users in the field who require the speed and ease of forms-based input and pen-driven navigation, but also for mobile professionals who want to maximize their productivity at the office," he says. "Thanks to the dual digitizer technology, use can consist of the traditional stylus pen or the lightest touch from your fingers to navigate around the 12.1-inch LED display. Mobile computing becomes more intuitive, and sharing ideas is faster and easier."

Refresh With Tablets

Tech Data's Parsonson also points out that the existing PC fleet is one of the oldest on record.

"The entire channel is anticipating the PC refresh cycle to kick in," says Parsonson. "Windows 7 is being well received, and there are lots of exciting power-saving technologies on the market making notebooks, desktops and workstations much more efficient. The question for VARs, though, is what will the new PC fleet look like? Considering the consumerization of IT, it certainly won't be identical to the existing install base. Most likely, we'll be looking at a mix of new devices and form factors-many of which have yet to hit the market-and you can be sure that tablets will be part of that discussion."

Tech Data distributes a growing portfolio of tablet and slate PCs from leading vendors, including Fujitsu, HP, Lenovo, Motion Computing, Panasonic and Toshiba.