What It'll Take For Tablets To Replace PCs

I don't see myself tapping away a 12 page research paper on a touchscreen. Laptops will still be indispensable for students, unless they can find a suitable workaround - and I don't think audio recognition counts...

IMO, tablets are already replacing PCs for a vast number of casual users. If you think about a typical non-techie person, the primary reasons for getting a PC are Facebook, online shopping, general web surfing, reading news, email, and probably something like Skype - most of which are supremely "doable" using just a tablet (and a keyboard addon, for email for instance). Then if you consider the primary reasons for getting a laptop are price (you get the built in screen), and portability, Tablets compete very well here. Tablets are probably more expensive than your typical budget netbook/laptop, but they are more portable and have longer battery life, so it balances out. Plus gaming on a tablet is not only possible, but more enjoyable for that same casual crowd.

I think Windows 8, and then 9, will greatly level the playing field for the techie crowd. Right now I have doubts a tablet has the power to replace my PC anyway, so I think a few more generations of full OSes on tablets will iron it out for the rest of us.