A new study underlines what I've been saying: the tablet category has yet to quell interest in portable computers. One in three respondents in an ongoing tracking study by ABI Research (http://www.abirsearch.com) said they plan to purchase a laptop in the first half of 2012.

Additionally, 16% of respondents also said they plan to acquire a media tablet. Consumers expressed greater purchase intent in both computing form factors compared to a previous survey.

"US consumers are holding on to home computers longer," says consumer research group director Jeff Orr. “"his has created a near-term opportunity for the incremental purchase of media tablets. Consumer interest also remains strong for laptops, which include the new, slimmer ultrabook segment."

Media tablets, however, are taking market away from the US netbook opportunities, which continue to see less purchase intention from consumers surveyed. Netbooks remain a significant contributor to emerging markets, where home computer penetration remains low.

US desktop ownership fell, from 81% of respondents down to 75% in the latest results, while Windows PC laptop ownership climbed to 64% from 61%. Apple laptops also continue to gain share, capturing 11% of respondents in the most recent survey, up from the previous 9%. Apple meanwhile boosted its iPad position to 8% of respondents (up from 5%).

-- Dennis Sellers