Microsoft Should Kill the Surface

The latest data out of industry tracker IDC is encouraging for the tablet industry, but not so encouraging for Microsoft's role in this booming market.

There were a whopping 49.2 million tablets shipped during the first three months of this year, well ahead of the 20.3 million devices that shipped during the first quarter of 2012. However, Google's Android and Apple's iOS combined for more than 96% of the market.

There were just 1.8 million Windows-based tablets shipped, and half of those were Microsoft's own Surface tablets. To put this into perspective, Amazon.com shipped as many Kindle Fire devices -- the tablets, not the Kindle e-readers -- as Microsoft and all of its hardware partners did during this year's freshman quarter.

That's a problem.

In this video, longtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz explores the reasons why Microsoft's Surface may be hurting its chances instead of helping. Agree? Disagree? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.

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The article Microsoft Should Kill the Surface originally appeared on Fool.com.

Longtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Amazon.com, Apple, and Google. The Motley Fool owns shares of Amazon.com, Apple, Google, and Microsoft. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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