Analyst: Tablet market waiting for Windows 8

The tablet computer market has made significant strides in the past few years, with some apparent front-runners already staking their claims. However, according to one expert, the true shape of the market will not be known until the launch of Microsoft's Windows® 8 operating system.

"We are still awaiting the emergence of a clear No. 2 player, though this may not happen until the launch of Windows 8 in [the second half of] 2012," says Mark Moskowitz, J.P. Morgan hardware analyst.

Moskowitz estimates tablet sales will hit 51.9 million in 2011. Of that, Apple's iPad® will account for approximately 70 percent of the market. Several manufacturers have launched tablets based on Google's Android™ mobile operating system, but none has established itself solidly in the second spot.

Windows 8 may change that, however. Microsoft® has revealed several details about the upcoming operating system, the most notable of which may be its ability to run on both tablets and traditional computers.

Moskowitz's view, however, is not universal. For example, research firm In-Stat predicts that Android, not Windows, will occupy the second spot for some time, estimating that iOS and Android will combine to account for 70 percent of the tablet market until 2017.