Comparisons to precious metals are apt. I've yet to invest in a tablet and there's a reason: I'm seriously concerned about theft.

Like jewelry, tablet computers are highly portable by design. A computer journalist friend of mine wanted to write about the practicality of tablets so he used one on subway trains, and in the park, and on buses. It was going very well until one particular bus came to a stop, and somebody snatched the tablet out of his hands before sprinting away.

My friend was peeved but should count his blessings. At least he wasn't pinned against a wall and the device extracted with the aid of a weapon.

People quote insurance as some kind of defence against theft but, while it might replace what's lost (provided the insurers don't wriggle out of paying up), it doesn't do anything to remove the nasty memory of being mugged--something I'd argue is likely if you flash $800 of highly portable and desirable computer hardware at every coffee shop and bus stop.

Then there's the fact that high prices effectively rule-out tablets from the world of business, especially in the gloomy economic climate. Employers are even for work use.