LONDON, March 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Harvey Nash (http://www.harveynash.com/), the global professional recruitment and IT outsourcing group, released executive research today showing that the iPad is not just technology hype. Statistics confirm that tablet PCs can have a significant impact on how executives do business, which is timely as Apple (http://www.apple.com/uk/) rolls out its second generation iPad to consumers this week.

In a survey conducted among 134 subscribers to Harvey Nash's Online Appointments Magazine:

- More than two-thirds of respondents reported currently owning or planning to buy a tablet device within 12 months; - Of tablet users, 91 percent said they believe the tablet increased their productivity, and - 75 percent were 'surprised' by how useful the device was.

The survey also reveals that tablet devices fulfill a function in business life somewhere between laptops, smart phones and old-fashioned paper. Almost two-thirds (63 percent) of executives said they used their tablet device as a presentation tool in a meeting; 59 percent reported browsing a digital magazine and more than half (51 percent) took meeting notes on their device.

Almost all participants (97 percent) believe that the tablet will become even more useful in the future. The iPad is at this time the most popular tablet (85 percent of tablet users owned one). New entrants to the tablet market over the next year are likely to reduce this prominence.

Harvey Nash was the first recruitment company to launch an iPad App in April of 2010 and will be rolling out iPad 2s to its senior management team in 12 countries.

Harvey Nash CEO Albert Ellis said, "As our world becomes increasingly digital, Harvey Nash is leading the recruitment industry by giving staff, clients and candidates the digital tools to succeed. Our investment in iPads for our team, and the development of applications for tablet devices is a major part of this strategy."

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Note to editors:

The survey was conducted of 134 director / CxO level subscribers to Harvey Nash's Online Appointments Magazine during late February / early March 2011