Happy 2013 smart technology, you just keep getting smarter.

The technically minded among us are spoilt to live in this day and age. We have more technology available at our fingertips than ever before, so much so that it is a job to know what hardware to purchase. Not all of us are able to afford every new piece of computer hardware that is available on the market. It is important to identify what you want from your hardware and what you are going to use it for.

What is your choice of hardware?

What about the tablet?

The latest trend is obviously the tablet PC. The iPad started a trend for a multitude of manufacturers to produce their own tablet hardware; a trend that has been aided by Google fantastic Android Operating System.

I was critical of the iPad when it was first announced. Personally I didn't see how it could catch on. To me the iPad was an oversized iPhone; on that point I was correct, but I was seriously wrong about how popular the iPad would be.

I think that iPads are fantastic for home users whose main requirement is to browse the internet and to use social media. I have also noticed that tablets seem to be creeping onto the high street. Take virgin media for example, all of their staff are now equipped with Android tablets which are used to lookup customer accounts and provide quotations.

The iPad is also directly responsible for the App generation which for all intents and purposes is also a new industry sector. It is amazing to think that a multi-million pound sector such as this didn't even exist 5 years ago.

Just think, without the iPad there would be no angry birds!!

What about the Pc?

The traditional tower-based Pc is starting to become isolated to the business world. Unless you are an avid gamer, there simply isn't the need to have a bloody great tower and monitor taking up half a room anymore. Granted, there is such a thing as a small form factor Pc, but is there really much point in owning a desktop anymore when you can purchase a laptop or replacement desktop that is just as powerful for roughly the same price?

On the other hand, some of the new touch screen PCs are fantastic. Thanks to Windows 8, the touch screen Pc has taken the iMac concept to another level. They don't take up too much room and they are very aesthetically pleasing. Dell does a fantastic range of touch screen Pcs.

What about the laptop?

Despite the popularity of the tablet, the laptop will never still be around for a long time.

Laptops are the happy medium of the computer world. They are practical for business use, yet perfect for use at home. Laptops are available in various forms depending on your requirements. You can get a lightweight portable laptop for people on the go, or you can purchase replacement desktop laptops that typically have large screens and full sized keyboards. These are perfect for users that wish to have a certain amount of portability at home, but it is highly unlikely that the laptop will venture beyond their doorstep.

Laptops are a great choice for home and business users. Gamers should stick to their towers and surfer an socializers should get a tablet device. Job done.