MANILA, Philippines -- Results of Nielsen’s latest study on tablet use in the United States adds some more ammunition to naysayers broadcasting the “apparent” demise of desktop PCs, notebooks, and netbooks. Results of Nielsen’s survey show that consumers with many electronic gadgets and devices are discarding their computers in favor of tablets.

For example, 77 percent of tablet owners said they are using their touchscreen-equipped devices for things they used to accomplish with their laptops or desktop PCs. Meanwhile, more than 30 percent said they are now using their desktop computers less frequently, or have stopped using altogether, since buying a tablet.

Other results of the study, released on May 5, 2011, are also not exactly warming the hearts of manufacturers of computers, e-readers, and smartphones. Apparently, most consumers who have bought tablets are falling in love with their slates, and are spurning the larger and heavier computing platforms.

Are PC vendors then bound for that part of the universe where the dinosaurs and unicorns have gone ahead of us? Are we seeing the last days of the desktop computers, laptops, and netbooks?

I don’t think so.

The tablet computer is designed for content consumers, not for content creators. I know this sounds cliché; and after hearing and reading about it for months now, may seem truism personified.

But one that is spot-on, nevertheless.

Computers Miscast

The way it appears, these tablet-loving consumers were using desktops and laptops because they had no choice. They were using computers to go online, read news, view online videos, and establish social networks. Now, along comes a gadget that is more consumer-friendly than the computer. And it allows these users to do everything they used to do with the PC and more, without the hassles of using a computer, such as a longer boot-up time and less portability.

Of course, a great number of businesses and corporate customers are finding out that they too can let go of the bigger and less portable computers. Tablet computers can do the job just fine, and make their employees happy at the same time.

Not for Writing Novels

But these tablet computers are not for creating content; at least, not yet. In their present incarnation, tablets are not designed for prolonged typing. They are ideal for updating your Facebook status though.

Their puny processing power means they will never do as a primary tool for a Web master’s trade. Nor are they adequately empowered to do those graphics-heavy content-making chores.

iPad 2 Rules in China

Chinese consumers never give a care about these ramblings of yours truly, however. Last week, long lines of eager consumers were ready to part ways with thousands of their hard-earned yuans to grab a copy of Apple’s iPad 2 tablet computers.

Long hours of queuing took its toll on some people’s nerves. Some bloody altercations arose, images of which were posted online by some news sources.

So, while most Western companies are finding it hard to sell their products to Chinese consumers, Apple is having a hard time meeting demand for its tablet computer in mainland China. “Try doing that, Google and Microsoft,” I can picture Steve Jobs muttering right now.

That’s all for the meantime, folks. Join me again next time as we keep on watching IT.