While it has been abundably clear for quite some time that Microsoft had missed the boat by quite a bit when it comes to Windows based tablets, new figures show just how startling the lack of public interest in the devices has become in the last few months. According to a study by Forrester Research, consumer interest in Windows based tablets peaked in the first quarter of 2011, where 46 per cent of those asked said that they would be interested in buying a Windows tablet device.
The figure in the third quarter of 2011 had dropped a shocking 21 per cent to just 25 per cent following a lack of any real movement in terms of any concrete release plans. Apple saw interest in their iPad increase by 12 per cent to 28 per cent in that same period, while Android based devices doubled in popularity from 9 per cent to 18 per cent.
These figures won't make pleasant reading for Microsoft, whose Windows 8 tablets are still quite a way off. By the time they hit shelves, most of their main competitors will have had more than enough time to iron out any initial issues in their design and operating systems, leaving Microsoft with a huge task if they're going to gain any kind of reasonable market share.