Tablets will remain a luxury purchase and struggle to cross over to the mass market until cheaper models arrive, a market research firm forecasts.
According to a study conducted by YouGov, just 13 per cent of the public are seriously mooting shelling out for a tablet.
The chief reason the pollsters identify for the lukewarm response to slates are the prohibitive price points they command compared with netbooks and lower-end laptops.
However, a charge of around £250 for tablets could swing the deal, YouGov claims, persuading floating voters to get on board with the ultimate ‘Post PC' device and make room for a tablet between their smartphone and lappy.
Russell Felman of YouGov said: “At the consumer electronics show in Las Vegas, earlier this year, over 80 tablets were announced for launch later in 2011.
"YouGov expects most of these tablets to fail to achieve widespread distribution. However, our analysis clearly demonstrates that if the pricing is right and the device is marketed at the correct audience, then there is significant latent demand."
News of the findings come amid below-par sales for the Motorola Xoom Android Honeycomb tablet, which has reportedly found its way into just 10,000 homes since dropping back in February.
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