Microsoft Windows Misses Estimates as Consumers Pick IPad

Microsoft Corp., the world’s top software maker, reported third-quarter sales in the Windows division that missed analysts’ predictions as consumers shunned its products in favor of tablets such as Apple Inc.’s iPad.

Revenue in the unit that includes Windows fell to $4.45 billion, Microsoft said in a statement today. That was shy of the $4.6 billion average prediction of nine analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. Shares slipped in late trading.