14 DAY TRIAL // Windows RT continues to be a controversial product, even though it was officially introduced back in October 2012 together with the Surface RT tablet.
Even though Microsoft will soon roll out a major improvement, analysts believe that Windows RT is also affecting sales of the main desktop operating system it’s based on, so both iOS and Android remain the best-selling products in this category.
“On the day that Microsoft launched Windows 8, considered by some to be the most important launch in the company’s history, it rolled out its first Surface product, and it wasn’t running its premier operating system,” Tom Mainelli, IDC research director for tablets, was quoted as saying by PC Pro.
“Even today, Microsoft continues to struggle to tell a compelling story around Windows RT. This is also dragging down Windows 8 adoption, since it really muddies the water for consumers. With confusion surrounding Microsoft’s offerings, consumers simply take the path of least resistance and choose iOS or Android.”
According to some unofficial reports, Microsoft partners have refused to install Windows RT on their future devices, so the second-generation Surface tablet could be the only one running it.
It appears that the software maker has already completed development of the new device, with insiders suggesting that the first public appearance could take place at the BUILD developer conference this week.
“Microsoft asked its partners to pay a very high price to use RT – despite the fact that Android is free; Windows RT devices are competing with products such as the Nexus 7 and Amazon Kindle Fire that sell for $199 or less,” Mainelli continued. Windows 8.1 will bring several improvements to the RT platform, including enhanced support for smaller tablets, such as 7- and 8-inch devices. Microsoft is believed to be working on its own mini tablet that would be equipped with an 8-inch screen.