Are you itching for a tablet? Zogby thinks so. In a recent survey, 23 percent of Americans are “likely” to replace their notebook with a tablet device for either work or home.

I would assume that does not include the folks who have already purchased an iPad. I also assume that many of these folks are waiting for an Android tablet. The iPad is already a proven platform with a lot of software available for it, so if you’re still waiting, why?

I’d say it’s the cost. $500 for a stripped down iPad with no SD card slot, USB port or even a camera seems a bit steep. Yes, it’s cheaper than a MacBook, but it still costs more than a netbook and I think that’s what people are looking to replace.

I don’t expect any of the Android tablets will have the same polish as the iPad. You can look at the iPhone verses all competitors for an example. Apple makes stuff that just works. They always have. Geeks want more freedom and are more willing to fiddle with their technology to make it work for them. Most folks just want it to work out of the box.

I doubt any of the Android tablets will have the same battery life either. Most of what I’ve read says 4-6 hours verses the iPad’s 10-12 hour real life performance. Not playing Flash really does translate to much better battery life.

Still, at $200 or even $300, you’ve got to be thinking, “I can charge that thing during the day.”