It's taken a long time for Apple's opposition even to arrive at the starting line in the tablet platform race and Apple has built up a considerable and loyal user base. It's the first platform to be tried, tested and approved by demanding tablet users. There are far more apps available for the iPad and there's also a level of technical support - especially from the Apple stores - that the other suppliers can only dream of.
And there are far more iPads than there are of any other sort of tablet. iPads outsold the rest by a ratio of around five to one in 2010, things won't be much different in 2011, and if you want to swap tips and tricks on how to use your tablet, you'll find the iPad will be the most popular device on the street and in the coffee shop for four or five years at least.
There is a problem though - you can only buy iOS on one tablet - the Apple iPad. You might think it's too big, it has a poor camera, no phone...
Does all this matter? You decide...
iOS itself does have a couple of niggles that can be frustrating. In many ways it hides what's under the bonnet - for instance most of its files. It also likes to strike up a lifetime monogamous relationship with the first copy of iTunes (its partner software) that you introduce it to.
iOS 5
According to Apple, iOS 5 is their biggest (and best) software update ever with an addiotinal '200 features' claimed.
The initially most enticing is the addition of iMessage, a free messaging service between iOS devices, which will strike a heavy blow to App Store big-seller What'sApp (though it will likely survive due its cross-platform advantage.) This isn't the only 'copycat' feature included with iOS5 - the new Wi-Fi Sync feature, with which it is possible to sync your device by merely plugging it into a power source in range of your PC - could effectively eliminate an identical app available on jailbroken iphones (called - you guessed it - WiFi Sync). Since Apple are now powerless to punish jailbreaking, it will be no surprise if they continue the theme of reducing the incentive to jailbreak by offering such apps themselves.
The update also boasts a new 'Notification centre', where notifications from various applications (SMS, Mail, Calender as well as third party apps) are accessible in one place, via a swipe down in any application.
Until the software is made available to the public, we cannot say for sure whether the update is as revolutionary as Apple would like us to think, but it isn't unreasonable to assume that the update will provide some help to Apple's continued dominance of the tablet and smartphone industries- not that it needs it!
Apple's opposition even to arrive at the starting line in the tablet platform race and Apple has built up a considerable and loyal user base. It's the first platform to be tried, tested and approved by demanding tablet users. There are far more apps available for the iPad and there's also a level of technical support - especially from the Apple stores - that the other suppliers can only dream of.