In an alternative history, we wouldn't have tablets, but the netbook hype would have continued and the devices became better and better. I'd have a 10" inch netbook with eInk display running (MeeGo?) Linux with a battery that lasted for weeks.
Instead I now have a 10" netbook (that originally came with MeeGo but now runs Elementary) with TN panel and a noisy fan running Linux and a battery that lasts for two hours if lucky... And a tablet that I have to charge every two or three days but cannot do real work with.