Tablet computer sales to exceed 208 million in 2014

Market research firm Gartner forecasts sales of tablet computers will soar from nearly 20 million units this year to 55 million next year and to more than 208 million in 2014.
Gartner predicts North America will account for 61% of tablet computer sales this year but its share will drop to 43% in 2014.
Gartner said the explosion in tablet computers will impact sales of devices in other segments, including netbook computers, the small laptops also known as mini-notebooks.
AFP reported Gartner research vice president Carolina Milanesi as saying, "The all-in-one nature of media tablets will result in the cannibalization of other consumer electronics devices such as e-readers, gaming devices and media players. Mini notebooks will suffer from the strongest cannibalization threat as media tablet average selling prices drop below US$300 over the next two years."