Four in 10 UK consumers fancy a tablet

The iPad should be available in the UK by the end of the month

There was good news for Apple today after new research from price comparison site Kelkoo UK said that 40 per cent of consumers are ready to ditch their laptops for a tablet PC like the iPad.

The news comes just a day before the long-awaited official US launch of the iPad. UK customers are expected to be able to get their hands on the device at around the end of the month.

However, not all consumers were taken with the much-hyped device. Some 23 per cent believe that its functionality is too limited at the moment, while 32 per cent do not see the need for one at all.

The iPad has been criticised by some for lacking a camera and not supporting Flash.

Bruce Fair, managing director of Kelkoo UK, argued that the iPad could do for the tablet market what the iPhone did for the smartphone market and pave the way for a host of imitators.

"When it comes to transforming the fortunes of niche markets, Apple undoubtedly has the Midas touch," he said.

"The iPad is a hybrid of Apple's best-loved products all under one roof, which is good for consumers as it could lead to significant cost savings.

"Like netbooks, the iPad provides the basic functions offered by a laptop at a margin of the cost which, in the current economic climate, is bound to have mass-market appeal."

However, Fair added that those who wait for the second-generation iPad may end up getting the better deal.

"In the case of this new Apple product, patience really could be a virtue. The functionality of the first generation has its limitations, and this will be a deal breaker for some," he said.

"Sometimes, second-generation products offer improved functionality at the same price and can be worth the wait."