This product rendering released by Microsoft shows Surface, a 9.3 millimeter thick tablet with a kickstand to hold it upright and keyboard that is part of the device's cover. It weighs under 1.5 pounds. The device is part of the software company’s effort to compete with Apple Inc. and its popular iPad tablet computer. (AP Photo/Microsoft)
June 18, 2012 - 9:00 PM
In producing its own tablet computer called Surface, Microsoft Corp. is entering a market dominated by Apple Inc. Six out of every 10 tablets shipped are iPads, according to research firm IHS iSuppli.
Here are the top five manufacturers of tablets last year:
Apple Inc., maker of the iPad, 40.5 million shipped worldwide, 62 per cent share
Samsung Electronics Co., maker of Galaxy line, 6.1 million, 9 per cent.
Amazon.com Inc., maker of Kindle Fire, 3.9 million, 6 per cent
Barnes & Noble, maker of Nook products, 3.3 million, 5 per cent
AsusTek Computer Inc., maker of Transformer line, 2.1 million, 3 per cent
Other, 9.4 million, 14 per cent
Source: IHS iSuppli
News from © The Associated Press, 2012