Tech Giants Take Up The iPad Challenge

If the iPad hoopla has you thinking a tablet computer might be a useful tool for your small business, wait a bit before you buy. The competition is about to catch up with Apple. Google, Nokia, Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft are all expected launch tablets later this year.

"Just as Apple’s iPhone shook up a complacent cellphone industry, the company’s iPad is provoking PC makers — and non-PC makers — to fight back with new devices.

Google — a search and advertising company — is soon expected to begin selling its version of a slate computer, like Apple’s iPad, while Nokia — the world’s biggest cellphone maker — is planning to enter the digital book market through a slate-cum-e-reader as well."