The iPad, and a large number of other tablet’s have been around for quite some time now. The iPad definitely was not teh first tablet PC, but it has been by far the most popular.  As the iPad and other tablet PC’s rise to popularity quite a few people are begining to ask why.

Lets start with the basics, the basics being what tablet PC’s are good for.  You can use them to send the web, write short documents (You can write longer documents, but you really wouldn’t want to.) And of course playing games or watching movies.  They are also fairly useful organisers, perfect for keeping track of your contacts, emails and calander.

But then you get to what they are not good at. Tablet PC’s have low storage space, and tend to be a little slow.  This makes them poorly suited for intensive business or entertainment use. There is also the issue that you cannot easily replace parts if one part breaks down, something which is worrying in a device that runs as expensively as an iPad.

To be honest as much of a gimmic an iPad is, and as impractical as a tablet can be.  I still find myself loving these devices, not because of what they can do stand-alone, but rather what they can do when combined with other devices. For instance if you work on the move then a dual screen setup it is impractical to carry around a second monitor if you work from two locations (or more).  However anybody who has to use a dual screen setup for work knows just how indispensible it can be when you need to research and write.  There is simply not enough room on just one monitor.

This is where a tablet PC comes in handy, it can slide in to your lapotp case with your laptop, it can be used to do your research and keep on top of emails while you continue to work on your laptop, and it is even more flexible than a dual screen setup.

Are tablet PC’s a fad or fashion, personally I think they are both. But that doesn’t mean they still are not highly useful as an additional accessory.