But listening to Tom Mainelli speak this afternoon, I was painted a basically 180 degree-opposite picture.

FORBES: IDC claims "very real possibility" that tablets like iPad "will be the next netbook"

"We expected a very strong fourth quarter, and the market didn't disappoint, " said Tom Mainelli, research director of tablets at IDC.

BBC: Samsung gains tablet market share as Apple lead narrows

"Sustained demand for the iPad Mini and increasingly strong commercial shipments led to a better-than expected first quarter for Apple, " said IDC's Tom Mainelli.

BBC: iPads on display