In a decade, we will probably remember 2010 as the groundbreaking year where the way people use computers would change forever as ideas, technology and investment came together to make low-cost consumer tablet devices a reality for everyone. ASUS and MSI are the front-runners right now in terms of offering a low-cost tablet already but Apple, Dell and Intel, Nokia, HTC and many more technology giants are ready to jump in to the market in 2010. Many of these players are actually waiting to see what Apple will come up with. Like they previously with the iPod and iPhone, they won’t be the first to create something in a new product segment, but they will be the ones defining the segment with a flagship product that everyone will try to imitate.

Back in 2007, HTC already offered a wide-array of smartphones that offered nearly identical functionality to Apple’s iPhone, albeit lacking a smooth interface. This did not stop Apple from revolutionizing the industry in this segment. With their focus on aesthetics, build quality and a superior interface experience, they won over a 30% market share in the United States alone.

It is a unique moment in time where the cost of parts is low and consumers are ready. The costs are low because suppliers have already experienced a huge demand for touchscreen parts for use in smartphones and are able to produce them now quite well. However smartphone screens are at most 5 inches in diagonal. Suppliers are therefore ready to try larger sizes such as 10 or more inches (the size rumored for the upcoming Apple tablet). In addition consumers are also ready. They have experienced touch interfaces on their smartphones and especially on the iPhone. Everybody knows it and everybody has played with it, or even owns it.

This unique combination will pave the way for tablets in 2010 and making it therefore the year where the tablet computer became a household device.