iPad users are frustrated, says Microsoft's Bill Gates

Because they don’t run Windows and Office, of course

PC SOFTWARE MONOPOLISTMicrosoft's chairman Bill Gates has criticised Apple's iPad tablet, claiming that users are "frustrated" by its limitations compared to Windows PCs.

In an interview with CNBC, Gates said that the iPad's restrictions in terms of creating a document or spreadsheet will cause dissatisfaction in existing users and ultimately give way to Windows 8 devices that offer the full functionality of a PC.

"With Windows 8, Microsoft is trying to gain share in what has been dominated by the iPad type device," Gates told CNBC.

"But a lot of those users are frustrated. They can't type, they can't create documents, they don't have [Microsoft] Office there, so we're providing them something with the benefits they've seen that have made that a big category without giving up what they expect in a [Windows] PC."

Despite Windows tablets so far having claimed only 3.7 percent market share between Windows and Windows RT, according to the most recent IDC figures, Gates said that Microsoft is in a good position and able to seize a sizeable share as tablets and PCs become one in the same.

"PCs are a big market, [however] it's going to be harder and harder to distinguish products whether they are tablets or PCs," Gates added. "Windows 8 is revolutionary in that it takes the benefit of the tablet and PC, and is able to support both of those, so the Surface Pro has the portability of the tablet but richness of [Microsoft] Office and the [Windows] PC."

Last week it was reported that Microsoft shipped 900,000 Surface tablets in the first quarter, a figure that saw the firm move into the ranks of the top five tablet vendors for the first time.