For all the fuss about tablet computers since Apple introduced the iPad, new survey data from Nielsen says only about 5% of U.S. households have bought one.
Paidcontent.org has an advance look at the data today, with some informed speculation on what it means. Short version is this: The impact you see now on the media business from tablets, from how they have intensified the cold peace between HBO and Netflix over movie streaming to News Corp.’s creation of a daily newspaper just for the iPad and other tablets, is just the beginning.
One note of snark is that Apple has reported it sold a total of 19.5 million iPads through late March, according to its fiscal 2010 Form 10-K filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission and its 10-Q filing for the second quarter of fiscal 2011. The Census Bureau reported 117 million U.S. households in 2008 here.
So Nielsen’s numbers, like much survey data, is probably a little off. In this case, it may understate how much of the impact of tablets is already beginning to be felt.
By Tim Mullaney, Special for USA TODAY
