Market research firm Gartner has published a report indicating that sales of tablets such as the iPad mini will grow substantially in 2013 by 53 percent, continuing a trend that sees users migrating from traditional desktop PCs to mobile devices. Apple is expected to continue its place atop the list of most successful manufacturers, contributing 32 percent of total global sales, almost twice as much as the next most successful firm, Samsung, at 18 percent.

For updated trends in 2020 check out Internet Trends 2020. Stats & Facts in the U.S. and Worldwide

"Continuing on the trend we saw last year, we expect this holiday season to be all about smaller tablets as even the long-term holiday favorite -- the smartphone -- loses its appeal," Carolina Milanesi, a Gartner analyst, said in a press release.

In total, it is expected that consumers will buy 184 million tablet computers worldwide in 2013, while shipments of PCs and customized laptops will reach 303 million.

Gartner's analysts pointed out that the most significant trend in computing right now is for users to adopt two devices, with an "ultramobile" machine that handles most computing tasks sharing those duties with a larger, more powerful device such as a laptop that is kept at home.

It's important for customers in the market for new computing solutions to note that laptops still have many advantages over tablets in terms of performance and utility. Although we're big fans of the iPad and believe them to be useful devices for both professional and casual consumers, a laptop still has many benefits, including a larger screen, faster processor and better storage options, which makes them indispensable tools for work, school and play.

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