Windows 8 tablet sales: not terrible so far

PC WORLD ^ | 04/25/2013 | Jared Newman

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Although Microsoft is staying mum about Windows 8 tablet sales, research firm Strategy Analytics has some slightly encouraging news.

In the first quarter of 2013, Windows 8 and RT devices accounted for 7.5 percent of the tablet market, with 3 million units shipped. That’s up from 0 percent a year earlier, before Windows-based tablets were feasible.

Granted, 7.5 percent of the market isn’t a huge number.

In a statement to CNet, Strategy Analytics analyst Neil Shah referred to the Windows tablet market as a “niche,” set back by “limited distribution, a shortage of top tier apps, and confusion in the market.” Clearly, Microsoft still has work to do.

But it’s also not a terrible number considering what the composition of the tablet market.

Android now accounts for 43.4 percent of the market according to Strategy Analytics, but the vast majority of those tablets are small, low-cost devices such as Amazon’s Kindle Fire, Barnes & Noble’s Nook tablets, and Google’s Nexus 7.

SMALL-TABLET WARS

Windows 8 isn’t competing with those devices right now. Microsoft’s answer to the small tablet market will come later this year, when smaller Windows 8 tablets and cheap touch-enabled notebooks arrive.

That leaves the large tablet market, in which Apple’s full-sized iPad is the only real competition.

Apple sold 19.5 million iPads in the first quarter—that includes both the regular iPad and the iPad Mini, but the exact sales split isn’t clear—while Windows tablet makers shipped 3 million units. Things get a little tricky here because Strategy Analytics is comparing end-user sales to shipments, but it still looks like a decent first effort for Microsoft’s operating system.

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Q1 2013 tablet shipments, according to Strategy Analytics

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It was Windows that has really showed the biggest growth. The OS has managed to capture a 7.5 percent market share from virtually nothing it held in the same quarter last year. We’re assuming that the report is talking about both Windows RT and Windows 8 devices. Limited distribution, expensive products and confusion surrounding Windows RT and Windows 8 were some factors that damped the growth of the OS. With low cost 7 inch Windows being talked about and better availability of Windows tablets, we won’t be surprised if Windows shoots past 10 percent market share real soon.

[Jonty30]

It has the best keyboard, which would certainly be a factor for those interested.

[toast]

XPS 18

[SeekAndFind]

RE: It has the best keyboard, which would certainly be a factor for those interested.

I think Microsoft has a different target market in mind when they designed the Surface compared to Apple -— THE OFFICE WORKER and the PROFESSIONAL ON THE GO.

Windows 8 pro is not a child or teenager’s toy: it’s a real computer.

With this in mind, IMHO, 7.5 percent of the market is not bad at all - bearing in mind it’s only available in a few countries at present.

[Squawk 8888]

I’m working on a major project right now where my client will be bundling my app with a Windows 8 tablet. It fits the bill nicely because I can use the same desktop development tools that I’ve been working with all along. I’ve considered developing for Android but it will take months to match my current level of productivity because I’ve developed a huge library of code over the years that is 100% predictable.

[Jim from C-Town]

For a traditional lap top or desk top computer Windows 8 BLOWS! Windows 8 makes me miss Vista which made me really miss XP.

Typed from my new desktop preloaded with Windows 8.