US consumers are ditching their laptops and desktop computers in favor of new tablet, fresh figures released market researcher Nielsen claimed.

Seventy-five per cent of respondents they used their new touch sensitive tablets to perform tasks which they previously completed on their laptops or desktop computers.

More than a third of tablet owners said they started making less use of their laptops or desktops since they acquired tablet computers. An additional 2 per cent of respondents said they ditched their laptops completely since they bought tablets.

Slightly less than a third of respondents who owned laptops as well as tablets admitted that they were more likely to prefer their tablets to laptops.

Between 50 per cent and 75 per cent of the respondents said that acquiring a tablet did not affect the time they dedicated to alternative platforms that peaked at 72 per cent for GPS and the 66 per cent lodged by online-enabled TV sets.

Fifteen per cent pf the respondents give priority to the comparative rapidity of starting and switching off the iPad, 7 per cent showed preference for tablets due to their light weight, while 12 per cent said they preferred tablets as they were easy to use, smaller in size and can be used in various locations.