Windows tablet: Price is everything

Windows-based tablets will commence shipments at the end of October and capture an estimated 1.5% of total tablet shipments for 2012. Pricing for Windows tablets will be a key consideration for end-user adoption. If priced aggressively towards current Android tablets, Windows tablets could see 2013 shipments increase 10-fold year-over-year; however if priced like Apple’s iPad offerings, Windows tablets may only double or triple shipments in 2013. Growth in the total available market is expected to come from businesses adopting tablets, which is expected to be a strong area for Windows 8, writes ABI Research. Mobile computing, led by media tablets such as Apple’s iPad, is so far a two-horse race of devices powered by Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android. But, Windows RT accelerates an existing ecosystem of vendors experienced with ARM-based development and leveraging the architecture strengths. One area that Windows 8 might be embraced with open arms is in the enterprise. “Neither of the leading tablet OS platforms has squarely addressed the needs of IT organizations and business users,” notes enterprise mobility practice director Dan Shey. “Flawless execution by Microsoft on its Windows 8 Pro enterprise strategy for tablets could catapult it into a mobile computing leadership position.”