93% of tablets shipped in Q3 2010 were Apple iPads

Fresh stats from ABI Research revealed that in the third quarter of 2010 4.5 million tablets were shipped. The research agency’s Netbooks, MIDs, Media Tablets, and Mobile CE Market Data report shows that 93% of these tablets were Apple iPads.

Senior ABI Research practice director Jeff Orr notes that "Over time, Apple's first-to-market iPad advantage will inevitably erode to some extent."

Meantime the first half of 2010 was slow for netbooks, as relatively few new products were introduced.

Still, Orr points out, "The third quarter saw PC OEMs again breathe life into the segment by introducing new platforms that offered dual-core processors, and lighter/thinner devices with significantly better performance, sleek styling, and visual appeal."

Meanwhile, eBook reader makes were diong well in their market, bringing new products to consumers in time for the 2010 holiday shopping season.

"The US continues to be the leading market for eBook readers," says Orr, "and the three top vendors, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Sony, are comfortably maintaining their top positions in it."

Barnes & Noble introduced a colour version of its Nook reader - the first colour model from a leading vendor - while Amazon debuted a third-generation Kindle.