Tablets: Ultimate Buying Machines?

Tablet owners more likely to buy, and spend more

[bw100]

Retailers have found an interesting characteristic of consumers who browse their websites using tablets: They're much more likely to pull the trigger on purchases than other online shoppers.

That discovery is making retailers focus on tablets ahead of the all-important holiday season ...

Tablets still account for only a small percentage of overall e-commerce, but they are punching above their weight. While the conversion rate—orders divided by total visits—is 3% for shoppers using a traditional PC, it is 4% or 5% for shoppers using tablets, says Sucharita Mulpuru, an analyst at Forrester Research.

Many retailers also report that tablet users place bigger orders—in some cases adding 10% to 20% more to the tab—on average than shoppers using PCs or smartphones.

[online.wsj.com ]

[wheel]

I've had all of netbook, laptop, tablet, small phone, and superphone. Netbooks are useless for anything. Laptops are good for computing at a different location, but are hardly mobile, i.e. in the car or something. Tablets are handy around the house - which is what netbooks were supposed to be for.

And I was all over 'phones are for telephoning'. No way, not anymore, The latest generation of phones are mobile computers, and can actually be used as such (not like netbooks). Last night we went into the city. We park, and I speak the name of the restuarant into the phone - it gives me a map showing directions to that restaurant. Awesome stuff - and useful. Not even my old blackberry storm was useful for much more than a phone, but that's changed.

[aspdaddy]

Im surprised that anyone is surprised by this find. Tablet users generally have more disposable income and buy more online.

There was reasrch done on this a while ago that identifed the iPhone user as the perfect demograhic for ecommerce - young, cash rich, into gaming, pays for downloads etc.

[incrediBILL]

Netbooks are useless for anything.

That's completely wrong.

I'm using one right now and it has more capabilities than my desktop machines from years ago and somehow we managed to get work done on those. Don't get me wrong, I prefer the dual screen desktop for doing work, but when I travel, or kick back in the living room recliner, I do all my work on the netbook, may take a little longer or present challenges at times, but it gets the job done.

I've done some web design, PHP programming and server maintenance on this netbook, and more . When I say web design, we're talking building forms, simple grunt work. or writing content, it can always be more easily styled later on the big screen if needed but the netbook is fine for the grunt work.

FWIW, with netbooks always nearby we give almost instant email customer service on our websites, and that's a real win-win.

So what is useless to you is an invaluable tool to me.

To each his own

YMMV

[Essex_boy]

These makes sense, tablets are easy to and boot up much quicker than another desktop etc. I wonder if the tablet users are buying more tech based products (software etc) more than say general traditional products, like shoes and food products.

[wheel]

IT's not just my mileage that may vary. Netbook sales are effectively non-existent - probably because the other alternatives are better. For home use, a tablet is better than a netbook. For on the road use, a laptop is better.

[J_RaD]

These makes sense, tablets are easy to and boot up much quicker than another desktop etc

has anyone heard of sleep mode? All my computers start up faster then my seat can hit the chair.

Cold boots are for power failures and updates.

[jwolthuis]

... boot up much quicker than another desktop

I can't recall the last time I actually booted up my desktop PCs. Probably after my UPS expired during an extended power outage.

I just leave 'em powered up and spinning 24/7/365.

[incrediBILL]

For home use, a tablet is better than a netbook. For on the road use, a laptop is better.

How so?

The netbook holds it's own screen up when sitting on my lap so I can watch a movie without holding the stupid thing, doesn't mean I wouldn't use a tablet to watch video, but it's not quite as convenient for watching something over a few minutes.

On the road a netbook is much lighter to travel with and easier to pack. We used to lug a laptop around, my wife and I both prefer the netbook so it isn't just me, she loves the little buggers.

Sales is another issue, maybe everyone that wanted one already has one now but I'm sure tablets are eating into their sales, has to be.

Obviously netbooks and tablets aren't for everyone, but they have their intended audience and those that like them use them, and those that don't won't, to each his own.

[aspdaddy]

All my computers start up faster then my seat can hit the chair.

Have you actually used an iPad ? they are surfing the web before you can even think ctrl->alt->delete on a PC

each his own

Exactly (or her own) but tablets win if time matters to you.

[jwolthuis]

Have you actually used an iPad ?

Yes, I'm working on my family's genealogy, and considered this device as a nice candidate for getting some work done while lounging around the house.

I was hoping be able to sit by the fireplace, do research, and update my family tree. Seems simple, right?

Oops, the first big genealogy site I used requires Adobe Flash to "do work". iPad 2 is a non-starter, as the former CEO had a personality conflict with Flash.

Second oops, I wanted to print "duplex" to my HP printer, to publish my work in book-form as a birthday present. Yes, I can "print" screen-dumps, but no, can't do anything fancy, like "duplex" (or "draft mode", or "rotate 90 degrees", etc).

If you want to actually get work done, iPad 2 is not going to work out. Although great for watching "movies" alone, in privacy.

[J_RaD]

Have you actually used an iPad ? they are surfing the web before you can even think ctrl->alt->delete on a PC

yep and my desktop does it faster, and i don't have to smear my fingers on my screen.

also ctr alt del? what version are you running.... must be kinda old.

[pageoneresults]

Give it a little more time and tablets (portable devices) will replace the Desktop. If you do have a Desktop, it will be one of those "Smart Desktops".

I see an older generation in this discussion. Let's get the 10 to 25 year old crowd on board and see what they have to say. :) Yes, I said "10". I'd guess there are folks younger than that using tablets who may also have some purchasing power. Heh!

It's the next generation of computing.

[aspdaddy]

I see an older generation in this discussion.

Its not just age, many people I know are digital natives but dont adopt for years. It has to do with access and affluence. In the UK, the same age people in private sectors adopt way faster than the public sectors.

[J_RaD]

Give it a little more time and tablets (portable devices) will replace the Desktop.

how much more time does it need? People have been saying this exact statment for 15 years now. (portables are nothing new.. very old actually)

Hmmm we've still got desktops hanging around..... just like they will forever.

[th1rt33n]

this article supports the argument that high income households are tablet users. this makes the most sense to me.

"Tablet ownership continues to be prevalent among young, wealthy males. ComScore found that 54.7% of tablet owners using the web in August were male, and nearly a third were between ages 25 and 34. Almost half were members of households that earned more than $100,000 per year."

[mashable.com...]

[DLadybug]

I have the Galaxy Tab, the 7 inch one that came out couple of years ago. Android, so it matches my phone apps.. but here's the catch.. I can actually SEE it.

My bet for why tablet owners buy more is that tech savvy near-seniors can't see crud on our phones, but we're don't have to run home to the pc or call our kids to order things for us. If I get a Groupon while I'm out, buying on the tab is easy, and I won't forget to do it at the house. If I have to use the phone, forget it.

I use the phone for making phone calls and texts. e-mail and app use on the tablet. I expect larger screen mobiles will get more traction as the population ages.

By the way, when I'm out, I can show potential customers pics of my product line in a much better size, that has increased sales a lot.

[DLadybug]

Add on: I'm not male, I'm 51. female. A LOT of us are missed in the stats about ownership and use because.. (sadly) many of our generaltion still sets up accounts under hubby's name. Still working on fixing that among my peers.