Despite a massive media frenzy for tablets such as the iPad, the latest research from Broadbandgenie.co.uk has shown old favourites such as smartphones and laptops are still just as high on consumer Christmas wish lists in 2010.

In its latest survey, the website asked visitors, “What is top of your Christmas list?” Surprisingly, laptops edged ahead of tablets by just one per cent, with smartphones just one per cent behind the latest gadget to capture the public’s imagination. The result follows a recent Broadband Genie poll that found around 80 per cent of UK consumers were not prepared to pay £400 or more for an Apple iPad.

Broadband Genie (www.broadbandgenie.co.uk) editor Chris Marling commented:

“This Christmas, many are continuing to fall back on gadgets they trust and understand, such as traditional laptops and smartphones. For a lot of consumers, it is difficult to see what practical purpose a tablet currently provides beyond what other devices can already do extremely well.

“However, it is also clear the tablet concept is starting to catch on with consumers. As 2011 goes on and the technology improves while pricing comes down, we predict they will become hugely popular. We are already seeing mobile broadband companies starting to offer some fantastic contract offers on the Samsung Galaxy Tab and iPad. Much as they have done with laptops and smartphones, consumers can now spread the cost of their tablet over the length of their tariff, making them more affordable to those without cash up front. “