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Report Claims Microsoft Beat Apple in Online Tablet Sales for October (winbeta.org)

Posted by samzenpus on from the running-the-numbers dept.

Eloking writes: Apple's iPad tablet ushered in the modern tablet era when it was introduced in 2010, and it's dominated tablet sales ever since. iPad sales have stagnated recently, but nevertheless Apple has maintained its lead in overall tablet market share. WinBeta received an early version of an upcoming report, '1010data Facts for Ecom Insights, January 2014 – October 2015' by the 101data Ecom Insights Panel, however, that indicates all of that might be changing as Microsoft assumes the mantle of best-selling tablet maker in terms of online sales in October.

7 of 239 comments (clear)

  1. They can't lead in market numbers forever by U2xhc2hkb3QgU3Vja3M · · Score: 5, Insightful

    At one point, everyone who wanted an iPad and is able to afford one will already have done so. After that, these people will only buy a new one to upgrade once in a while.

    1. Re: They can't lead in market numbers forever by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Is it even a fair comparison? Apple defined the market with their iPad, a pioneering product running their mobile OS. Microsoft enters, running a full non-crippled OS. It just doesn't seem right. A court should require Microsoft to run Windows CE so the products can compete on more equal terms.

  2. *online* sales? who cares? by Maury+Markowitz · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I recall reading about when Pepsi overtook Coke. Everyone rejoiced. However, in actual fact, Coke still outsold Pepsi by a wide margin; the overtaking was in grocery store sales which they had managed to do by making the six-pack into an 8-pack for the same price and then measuring by total volume.

    And here we have a report that says MS outsold Apple in *online sales*. Hmmm. I suspect that Apple sells the majority, if not the vast majority, of their sales through retail chains. So when I read:

    "The report did not take in account customers who purchased their tablets in brick-and-mortar stores, such as Apple’s retail stores or Best Buy."

    Then basically I think this is even less of a mini-victory than Fortune posits. Pepsi anyone?

    1. Re:*online* sales? who cares? by MightyMartian · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Yup. This report is simply cherry picking one particular and declaring Microsoft the winner. Mind you, Apple does the same thing with its overpriced "boutique" smart devices.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
  3. Re:Just So I'm Clear by tyme · · Score: 5, Informative

    The summary says "online sales" which means that we are probably NOT talking about "shipped" rather than "sold" numbers. However, these are numbers for October, which is all before the new iPads shipped (including the iPad Pro) so we are probably seeing some depression of iPad sales that will catch up in the November numbers (or not: if MS can maintain these sales numbers in November and December, then this would be quite interesting).

    --
    just a ghost in the machine.
  4. Re:Tablets will die off by drinkypoo · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Tablets are already dying off, the iPad sales plateau is proof of that.
    Why tablets are dying is a more interesting question.

    Tablets aren't dying. Tablet sales are falling off because the people willing to buy one now have one. Tablets will stick around for the foreseeable future.

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  5. Extra, extra! by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Controversial new study by before unknown Market Research Institute proves Apple is doomed! Institute makes name for itself! Factuality is irrelevant!

    Rerun of the movie first shown in 1977 can be seen at 11.

    --
    Of course news about a fake are Fake News.