Microsoft is officially cool once again

After more than a decade of wallowing in Apple’s shadow, Microsoft’s brand appears to be on the up with consumers now perceiving the company as ‘cool,’ according to a new YouGov study. 

Bing and Microsoft’s new line of Windows 8-powered products have apparently impressed consumers’. So much so that Microsoft’s brand is at a two-year high, according to the report. 

‘Since mid-October, Microsoft perception has risen from 17 to 25. Among tablet owners, the brand enjoys even better perception levels, moving from 23 to 33 over the same period,’ said the report.

YouGov gages consumer interest via its BrandIndex’s Buzz Score, with higher results being better. Microsoft launched Windows 8 in October, along with Windows Phone 8. Since then Microsoft’s Buzz Score has jumped dramatically, indicating that its $1.5 billion marketing campaign is paying off. 

‘Since Windows 8 promotions kicked in at mid-October, the Windows brand has seen its buzz score rise from 14 to 23. That is the brand’s highest buzz score since the launch of Windows 7. And with tablet users, the Windows brand rose to a 30 score the first week of November,’ added the report. 

We’re currently getting to grips with the Surface RT and will be posting a first-look video later on today. It's a solid piece of kit, although we’re not entirely sold on Windows RT as a platform – it does seem somewhat limited compared to the full fat version. 

That said, we’ve also been raving about Windows Phone 8, Microsoft’s brand new mobile operating system, which is a lot more robust that the company’s last offering, Windows Phone 7.

Check our out HTC 8X review, Nokia Lumia 920 review, and our first-look at the stunning Lumia 820.