New reports continue to surface, predicting the growth of the PC, tablet and netbook market. To cite a few recent reports, IDC predicts 19.8% growth in global PC shipments in 2010, with netbooks no longer driving the volume of sales as much as they recently have been. Forrester Research is forecasting that tablet sales in the US will overtake netbook sales by 2012, and desktop sales by 2013. Only laptops were predicted to sell more, with an expected 42% market share in 2015.

Does this spell doom for the netbook? Developing office apps for a variety of devices, we feel each device offers a unique feature set and user experience. The netbook is a useful travel device for business users looking to complete more labor-intensive document creation, formulation and work on the road. Some business tasks just seem easier to complete with a physical keyboard, compared to a touch screen. It almost seems users will be attracted to buying the latest, most sexy tablets but will still carry a netbook or laptop to handle business work remotely. Professionals and students, what devices will you be using in the next 5 years?