Since the Apple iPad launched last year, tablet PCs have become a common sight in many offices. Although the devices — few of which are designed specifically for enterprise use — raise potential IT management problems such as integration, security, productivity and cost, it appears CIOs have also fallen in love with the form factor as a work tool.

In a global survey of CIOs and other senior IT leaders, conducted by I, 52% of respondents said they use a tablet for work purposes. Of the 48% who do not, half expect to use one in the next 12 months.

Reasons given for adoption include lightweight portability, long battery life, instant on, and “no divide between work and consumer life.” The most common functions CIOs use them for are:

• Email: 93%

• Web browsing: 85%

• Reading/editing work docs/reports: 79%

• Reading industry news and magazines: 57%

• Work-related web apps: 43%

• Remotely accessing internal systems: 29%

• Teleconferencing: 14%