How many tablets will be shown off at the Consumer Electronics Show this week? How about 80?

How many tablets will be shown off at the Consumer Electronics Show this week? How about 80?

That figure is the official estimate by the Consumer Electronics Association, according to a CEA spokeswoman. Although the number includes previously-announced products as well as new launches, the number gives credence to the reports of this year's CES being a "tabletpalooza".

As Bill Howard , tablets computing has been around for the better part of 30 years, although various hardware and software limitations have crippled mainstream adoption. In 2002, , prompting as well as well as . But until 2007, tablets languished, with the to tide fans over, plus the .

Of course, in 2009 word began to leak out that Apple after phasing out the Newton. And soon after the (before returning as the JooJoo) , validating the market. Add to that a , and the market was off and running.

Now, Google and its "Honeycomb" OS may be the stars of the show, with , expected to launch a Honeycomb tablet at CES. PCMag.com has already had , and a preview video promises more. Even HDTV maker . Check out for more.

According to the CEA, more than 126,000 attendees are expected at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, slightly more than the 120,000 or so that attended last year's event. In 2008, attendance was north of 130,000.

According to CEA president Gary Shapiro, over 20,000 products will be launched at the show; PCMag.com reporters will be reporting live as products are announced.