Gartner Research analyst George Shiffler says Apple's iPad could boost total 2010 tablet sales to 10.5 million devices.

To arrive at the figure the research firm combined the numbers for traditional tablets, like the kind that have filled narrowly-defined roles in the past, with "next-generation" devices like the iPad.

"The iPad isn't a tablet in the traditional sense, it's a rethink of the whole tablet concept," says Shiffler.

Traditional industry specific tablets will account for just 2.5 million of the 10.5 million tablet total for the year.

"Tablets have languished. They found a niche in certain areas, but they have really never taken off. The iPad has some very interesting features not found in traditional tablets, and frankly, changes the usage model."

As with most analyst firms, Gartner believes that PC business will be driven by mobile devices, but that netbooks will see their share shrink due to competition from sleek new low power notebooks and tablet-style hardware like the iPad.