After the introduction of Apple iPad, analysts predicted that tablets will take over the PC market and many other funny claims. In the past two quarters, tablet sales growth has slowed down. Following softer than expected demand,_IDC today lowered its worldwide tablet plus 2-in-1 forecast for 2014 to 233.1 million units. The new forecast represents a 6.5% year-over-year growth rate, which is well below the 12.1% growth rate previously forecast. “When we look at the global picture, it would be easy to say that the tablet market is slowing down,” said Jean Philippe Bouchard, Research Director for Tablets. “But, when we start digging into the regional dynamics, we realize that there is still a good appetite for this product category. While mature markets like North America and Western Europe will combine for flat unit growth in 2014, the remaining regional markets will generate 12% unit growth over the same period.” IDC anticipates that price pressure on tablets with smaller screen sizes (less than 8 inches) and evolving tablet usage in...

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