When it comes to Apple's tablet computer, the iPad, being too popular doesn't seem like it would ever be a problem. According to PC Magazine, more than 3 million new iPads were sold within the first weekend they were on sale, and more than 15 million of the iPad 2 were sold in the fourth quarter of 2011.

But, while the new iPad and its predecessors have been an enormous success, they have also grown to become synonymous with how many people across the world view tablet computers. While companies like Microsoft, HP and ASUS all produce tablets, for many people, "iPad" is the word they recognize and understand.

A recent article in The Associated Press likens the phenomenon to our adaptation of the brand "Band-Aid" into a common term that we use every day, regardless of which company produces it. The same goes for asking for a "Kleenex" or even "Googling" something online.

"For the vast majority, the idea of a tablet is really captured by the idea of an iPad,'" Josh Davis, a manager at Abt Electronics in Chicago, told the AP. "They gave birth to the whole category and brought it to life."

So, why is this a bad thing? According to the AP, if a company's brand becomes so much of a household name that it is synonymous with a product, it can eventually damage a brand name and even affect the legality of its trademark.

At the same time, this sort of familiarization with Apple products can also be incredibly beneficial. As PC Magazine points out, iPads make up roughly 57 percent of the tablet computer market, so they are definitely a household name for a reason.