2 in 1s – Made For Niche

The tablet demand in the Asia Pacific region is expected to witness a surge of 32 percent in the current according to the technology major Intel.

The technology giant also points out that India alone will witness a rise of 18 percent in the demand of tablets in the year 2014 which hints for a huge potential in the tablet and mobile computing market of a country with more than 1 billion population.

Interestingly a new concept which has been floated by the Orginal Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) recently is 2 in1, a device which offers an experience of both a laptop as well as a tablet with an option of detaching the screen from the keyboard.

But how successful will these devices be in a market like India where the demand for smart devices circles around a price tag of INR 10,000 is an interesting question. And experts cite that for the time being it’s fate will be limited to being a professional’s toy.

‘’The 2 in1 devices are a good option for users who are looking for computing on the go. There portability and combination of a laptop and a tablet will definitely make them a choice for professionals,’’ says Sanchit Vir Gogia, Founder and CEO, Greyhound Knowledge Group.

The experts also believe that a 2 in 1 wouldn’t hurt the growth of tablets and laptops in the country as they will be confined to a niche segment only.

‘’A 2 in1 is a balance between content consumption and creation and the laptop and tablet market will continue to grow parallel since a 2 in 1’s processing power is not compatible with high end softwares,’’ says Deepak, an independent analyst.

A 2 in1 might not be the best option for a general consumer who’s primary intention sticks majorly around content consumption which a tablet or a smart-phone offers. And with a price range starting above INR 30,000 in the country, it’s the niche segment which will get its hands on the device for a few years.