Apple's iPad Remains Popular After One Year

Over 15 million customers have purchased Apple's wildly popular iPad, making it mainstream. News reports show customers around the world waiting in long lines to get their hands on the iPad 2. Many technology experts were skeptical about the purpose of a tablet since it cannot carry out as many functions as a computer.

The iPad has been so successful because people constantly find new ways to use the innovative device. Customers discovered reading eBooks and surfing the Web was better on the couch instead of being hunched over a desktop. Things they never did on a computer were now fun on a tablet. Applications that seemed out of place on computers with keyboards suddenly made sense on a 9.7-inch slate of glass and metal.

According to research on iPad usage, a tablet does not have to do everything a more powerful computer can. The iPad's user-friendly touchscreen interface has contributed to its wide appeal. iPad owners surf the web, check-email and play games on their devices. The wide variety of applications allows the iPad to cater to an extremely broad audience. The iPad 2 has enjoyed great success since its release earlier this month, and Apple is now the leading competition for the tablet market.