Microsoft has moved 1.5 million Surface tablets off its shelves, according to Bloomberg
In the competitive world of tablets, Microsoft's Surface RT, launched in late 2012, seems to have faced challenges in sales compared to other leading devices in the market, such as the Apple iPad and Samsung Galaxy Tab series.
According to reports, Microsoft sold around 900,000 Surface RT tablets in the fourth quarter of 2012, accounting for just 1.7% of the market. This is in stark contrast to Apple, which sold 22.9 million iPads in the same quarter, accounting for a significant 43.6% of the market.
In 2013, if Bloomberg's report is correct, Microsoft may have sold approximately 100,000 Surface RT tablets. However, it's important to note that Microsoft has not confirmed or denied these reported sale figures.
Ranjit Atwal, research director at analyst company Gartner, suggests that the Surface RT's underperformance could be due to several factors. These include the lack of intuitive nature of the Surface interface, limited app compatibility due to the device running on Windows RT, and potentially non-competitive pricing. Atwal also pointed out that Microsoft's emphasis on a keyboard may not be as valuable in the consumer space.
On the other hand, the Surface Pro, with an Intel chip and the full Windows 8 operating system, has sold 400,000 units since its launch in February.
It's worth noting that worldwide tablet shipments in the quarter of 2012 were 52.5 million, according to IDC. However, there are no relevant search results that provide direct data or analysis on the sales performance of Microsoft Surface RT in comparison to other tablets since its launch in October 2012.
For a more detailed analysis of the Surface RT's sales performance and a precise market comparison, official Microsoft financial reports and third-party market research from 2012-2014 would be the best sources. Unfortunately, these were not found in the provided search results.
Technology and gadgets played crucial roles in the Surface RT's underperformance in the competitive market of tablets. Ranjit Atwal, a research director at analyst company Gartner, attributed this to factors such as the lack of intuitive nature of the Surface interface, limited app compatibility, and potentially non-competitive pricing.
