Wonder how long it will be before tablets take over completely for all but the most intense applications (a very small % of the population - CGI, pro coding/engineering, very serious gamers, etc.)? Bet it will be faster than most people expect...
I don't think so. I think there are still too many things where something more powerful than a tablet is necessary. I am much more interesting in convertible devices that can be a laptop, run Windows (or the Mac software if so inclned), have a keyboard, but can also be a tablet. I recently order this one:
Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro: Laptop Tablet Hybrid - Multimode Ultrabook Laptop | Lenovo (US)
What I like is that it is a full Windows laptop and works like one, has a touchscreen and can be used as a tablet if you want (I've seen and handled one at Best Buy so I know this does work). You can also use it in tent or stand mode for watching media.
Something like this probably
would meet the needs of 90% of people out there. It runs all the regular Windows software, can do light, casual gaming (like I do with World of Warcraft), can be used in tablet, tent or stand mode for consuming media, and has a very high resolution screen - 3200x1800. For me, I would still want a desktop as I
like having dual 27" monitors and while I can play some casual WoW on a notebook, it is better on a gaming computer. But I understand that most people don't have that desire.
The problem with an iPad for me and many people as a sole device is that it compromises too much away. First let me say that I love my iPad. I use it on a daily basis. But it isn't a substitute for my desktop or even for the laptop I just ordered:
Typing on an iPad is a chore. I did recently a Logitech cover that was a keyboard built into it. I do love it and I write a lot more emails on it than I did before. That said, with that cover on the iPad is a lot thicker and heavier and so it doesn't have much advantage over the Lenovo Yoga 2 pro linked above. And keyboard covers create an issue of their own. That is, the keyboard cover is great when I want to type. When I don't want to type and am not at home, it is problematical. That is, the cover comes off and there is no where to put it while I'm using the iPad just to read a book.
Can't use full Windows (or Mac) software on an iPad. Yes, apps are great. I love them. But, they often lack features that are in the Windows version of the software. I can read Word docs on my iPad but I can't see redlining in the program I use. I can use some features of the Fitbit software with its app. But I get a lot more information with the desktop software. Lots of people do need and want to use full software not just apps. Many people who have day jobs do work at home sometimes or need to access work data from home and iPad apps just aren't sufficient.
Data storage. Even the largest GB storage iPad doesn't have near the storage of my desktop. On my desktop I can store lots of photos and lots of videos. I can store only a portion of them on my iPad. Not a problem since I have the desktop. Would be a problem if all I had was an iPad.
Screen sizes - I do like the iPad for many things but for really using a device for a long time nothing beats having a large monitor or - even better - having dual monitors. I like being able to have a browser up on one monitor while having what I'm working on (or what I'm playing) up on another monitor.