“De-featured, low-cost media tablets are being introduced by more than fifty vendors in 2011,” says Orr in a statement.

“This will certainly help bolster year-over-year growth for the category, but it also creates a negative perception in the minds of the mass consumer audience about the readiness of media tablets to be fully functional within the next several years," he adds.

Smaller form factors and lower prices may help Apple's competitors. Tablets with 7-inch displays, including the , , and the new , offer an alternative to consumers who find the 9-7-inch iPad too large for their needs. And with the cheapest iPad selling for $499, the $329 Iconia Tab A100 and newly-discounted $399 may appeal to bargain hunters, particularly if the economy continues to lag.

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