From a functional point of view, the tablet isn’t exactly a general purpose computing device. That’s what distinguishes it from a personal computer. For the consumer market it may appear so; I can play games, browse the web, or run productivity applications. But a tablet can’t really act as a server device, or be used for developing software, for instance.

Now, with the right software and a keyboard device we can indeed use a tablet for those functions. But in doing so we are altering the device form factor (its intended design and geometry) to a new function. This is in contrast with a personal computer which doesn’t have to experience a change to what we perceive as its form factor in order to perform any of its general purpose functions.

This is why I’m more in agreement with the term Tablet PC. It offers the notion there are definitely personal personal computer capabilities in any tablet (assuming a general purpose operating system can reside within), while at the same time makes it clear the device is however a subset of the personal computer. Either that or simply define tablets in their own new family of computing devices.

If I see a sales figure that offers me a grand total, but lets me read the PCs and Tablet PCs partials, I won’t complain. In any case, I’m pretty sure that’s precisely what happens behind closed doors. The public will see instead whatever works at the time to make it a sales pitch.

http://blogs.computerworld.com/mac-os-x/21744/five-reasons-apple-doomed-doomed-doomed