Most people are familiar with the iPad, the most popular and currently desired tablet in the entire world. This well-known device runs Apple’s iOS operating system. However, as 2012 comes, Microsoft will bring out their new tablets running a touch-friendly version of the Windows operating system.
According to a poll conducted by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) which surveyed both American and Chinese citizens, the Windows OS could possibly dethrone the current king of tablets. Results from both groups that participated suggested they would prefer running Windows on a tablet, beating the iOS by a decent margin.
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Specifically, 44% of Chinese consumers preferred Windows over 34% that preferred Apple. 42% of American consumers preferred the mobile version of Windows over just 27% preferring Apple on tablets from wireless internet providers.
A senior partner of the BCG, John Rose, says that this does not necessarily indicate that 2012 will see Windows emerging on tablets throughout the world, taking over as king of the tablet empire. It also does not indicate that these consumers would even purchase tablets with the Windows operating system on them. The results of the survey are strictly hypothetical.
The Boston Consumer Group survey also showed that the market for tablets is just about certain to explode within the next couple of years, even going as far to say that the number of people who own tablets in the United States is expected to be double what it is now by the year 2013.
Attraction the Focal Point
Rose states that instead of attempting to pull current Apple users from the company, the various tablets that will run Windows should instead focus on attracting people who do not already have a tablet. To put that into perspective, it is similar to the release of the Android operating system; Google established their self in a growing market and Apple did not have any significant loss in sales.
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It is perhaps also important to note that this survey occurred prior to the announcement of the Kindle Fire tablet, which then received an incredibly high number of pre-orders. The tablet by Amazon featured a fully-formed media marketplace with a price just low enough to attract a new audience. It is the epitome of what Rose means by a company making and promoting a tablet properly.
Is Windows Greater than Apple?
However, it is still very interesting that nearly half of the surveyed consumers prefer the Windows operating system over both Android and the iOS. Rose claims that it simply could be due to convenience and a familiar name instead of any real excitement of the platform.
After all, many tablet owners greatly enjoy having integrated multi-device functionality, which has a prominent presence within the world of Windows devices. However, there is a huge functionality gap that Apple tablets do not currently have bridging to those services, and it might just lead to its dethronement as far as the tablet market is concerned.
Future Windows Tablet Release
As of now, neither Microsoft nor any of the hardware manufacturers with which the company is affiliated have mentioned any dates as far as tablets that use the Windows operating system are concerned, although the Build conference back in September — the conference when Windows 8 was announced — saw a few thousand Samsung prototypes given to developers.
Interestingly, the new Windows 8 desktop operating system shows a major emphasis on being touch-friendly. In fact, it is precisely the sort of technology that would work very well ported onto a tablet. However, the major question still remains with regard to whether or not a tablet with the Windows operating system could actually take over nearly half of the tablet market, putting a halt to the Android/iOS party that has been so prominent these past few years.
Blake Sanders is a writer of tech news and information at broadband comparison site Broadband Expert. Blake specializes in high speed internet as well as wireless internet providers and industry info. Note: Photo courtesy of buckaroobayvia FlickR Creative Commons.
This post has been contributed by a guest poster. Their details, if any, appear at the end of the above article.
Twitter: harpreet4564
says:
This sound really good that microsoft will launch a tablet in next year to support windows on tablet.
Artemisinin’s recent post ..Vigor Pro
It’s about time they do something like this. Tablets are a new trend and they’re getting left behind by Apple already.
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Twitter: AmandaBlogger
says:
As far as I’ve read before its price will be rather high and more over it will be released not so soon..So probably it can be too late
BuySellWordpress’s recent post ..WordPress Themes
Its interesting to know that Microsoft will bring out their new tablets with touch-friendly version of the Windows operating system. Anything ‘quality’ will always cost us more so I agree, it can be very expensive.
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Twitter: bestpcutility
says:
The battle between the windows, apple and android is definitely beneficial for the consumers, as they have to work hard in order to the the leader in the race. If windows 8 is able to run in both PC and tablet, I guess lotsa people will be interested with it, as they can easily connect their PC and tablet.
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Microsoft is way too late to jump into the tablet market. They have taken far too much time, just as they did with Portable Media Players and now phone OSes. The other problem with this poll is that it is cutting out another major contender: Android. Android now controls the phone OS in the US and I have a feeling that if revolutionary tablets like the Transformer keep coming out, Android will dethrone Apple there as well. Considering what I have seen and heard of Windows 8, I’m going to be avoiding the Windows Phones, Tablets, and possibly even avoid upgrading to Windows 8.
There are good points and bad points for both OSs. I am surprised however that you’ve not really mentioned Android as a serious contender for the top tablet OS.
I think Android is the best of the three, it has a very similar UI to the iOS but doesn’t have the locked down qualities of Apple.
Interesting question as we’re at a crossroads with tablets as they are really hitting the mainstream and the technology which will be used for the forthcoming years will be implemented now. I think Windows will be the OS of choice for most as people are used to it and it does the basics well.
I agree with Edinburgh, Android ICS seems to be the most friendly and resourceful OS for both smartphone and tablets. I would definitely be choosing an Andoird tablet.
I have an iPad and a new Kindle Fire. Apple has so much of a head start over everyone that it is going to be very difficult for anyone to catch up. But then of course changes in technology market share do happen quickly – we have certainly seen that with the revival of Apple products.
EverythingMouse’s recent post ..Where to Find Sleeping Beauty in Disney World
lets see what happens next year ..its really hard to believe that microsoft tabs can overtake apple..also the survey doesn’t necessarily prove that this can happen..we cant just based the results on survey unless and until the product is in the market…
Regards
Aniket
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Twitter: tanyahuch
says:
Hi there,
when windows8 tablets hit the market, Apple definitely will be on its third or even fourth generation iPad, and quad-core tablets will dominate.
Regards. Tanya
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Twitter: nicolasbouliane
says:
We’ll only know when the first Windows tablets come out, because as it is, Windows-based tablets are downright terrible to use.
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Twitter: ankurandu
says:
Its going to be a very tough game for MS. but nothing is impossible, we have seen many surprising things happening .
New Windows looks promising, you never know.
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Twitter: whattabletpc
says:
Windows tablets have been around for years but Microsoft made a major error by not optimising a version of Windows around the tablet format. Is very different attempting to use Windows 7 on a tablet with fiddly menus and icons that are designed to be activated by a mouse – a clumsy prod with a finger doesn’t do the job. Windows 8 looks like it will be a very user friendly tablet operating system and I’m sure there’s lot of Windows users who will see the benefit in having the same Microsoft applications across devices – just as long as their interfaces are also optimised for each device.
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Twitter: harpreet4564
says:
Now a days many operating systems are available in a market.the fight is between microsoft,apple and android.google launches a operating systems for tablets.it will be beneficial for google.
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Thank you for the help..this really is inspirational to me…
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windows 8 looks good i hope it can compete with apple and android. But i think they are a bit late with this
Twitter: tech_ticks
says:
It will take some time for windows to be the top choice for tablets, right now android is leading the tablet market. Hope in 2012, we will be watching many new windows tablets. Thanks for sharing.
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Twitter: simonjohn904
says:
I will sure use this microsoft application.i had already use andriod application phone which has very good feauture and i love it.now i am waiting for a new microsft application.
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