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Adrian Kingsley-Hughes
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Mac sees fall in usage share, Windows sees rise

By Adrian Kingsley-Hughes | March 1, 2010, 5:06am PST

Summary

Given the amount of both real and virtual ink consumed on Mac-related topics, it’s hard to imagine a situation where Apple’s OS doesn’t see continuous growth in usage share. But data released by web metrics firm Net Applications suggests that the Cupertino giant’s usage share has suffered the largest slip since October 2009.

Topics

Apple Macintosh, Usage, Microsoft Windows, Operating Systems, Apple Mac OS, Software, Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

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Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Biography

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology -- whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helping them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera.

Adrian has authored/co-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include "Build the Ultimate Custom PC", "Beginning Programming" and "The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide". He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.

Adrian also runs a popular blog under the name The PC Doctor, where he covers a range of computer-related topics -- from security to repairing and upgrading.

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Given the amount of both real and virtual ink consumed on Mac-related topics, it’s hard to imagine a situation where Apple’s OS doesn’t see continuous growth in usage share. But data released by web metrics firm Net Applications suggests that the Cupertino giant’s usage share has suffered the largest slip since October 2009.

For the month of February, the Mac OS X usage share has dropped 0.14% to 5.02%, the lowest usage share level for the OS since August 2009, and the biggest slip in usage share since October 2009.

Also significant for February was the fact that Microsoft managed to turn around the slow, steady decline in Windows usage share. For the first time since August 2009, Microsoft has actually gained ground, up 0.12% on January to 92.12%.

This increase in Windows usage share is driven by Windows 7, which saw a month-on-month increase in of 1.35% to 8.92%. During the same period XP usage share fell 0.66% to 65.49% and Vista fell 0.96% to 16.51%.

Net Applications measures operating system usage by tracking computers that visit the 40,000 sites monitored for clients, which represents a pool of about 160 million unique visitors each month. This data is then weighted based on the estimated size of each country’s Internet population.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology.

Disclosure

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

All opinions expressed on Hardware 2.0 are those of Adrian Kingsley-Hughes. Every effort is made to ensure that the information posted is accurate. If you have any comments, queries or corrections, please contact Adrian via the email link here. Any possible conflicts of interest will be posted below. [Updated: February 23, 2010] - Adrian Kingsley-Hughes has no business relationships, affiliations, investments, or other actual/potential conflicts of interest relating to the content posted so far on this blog.

Biography

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology -- whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helping them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera.

Adrian has authored/co-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include "Build the Ultimate Custom PC", "Beginning Programming" and "The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide". He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.

Adrian also runs a popular blog under the name The PC Doctor, where he covers a range of computer-related topics -- from security to repairing and upgrading.

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Talkback Most Recent of 118 Talkback(s)

  • OEM mandate
    Not realistic with the mandate on OEM machines
    sold at every retailer to online vendor having
    'Windows' the only option. It is the same as
    communism and an increase in the freedom of
    speech...
    ZDNet Gravatar
    tux_engineer
    03/01/2010 05:17 AM
  • Nice try.
    but you can order them with Linux also, so your complaint has long been debunked.

    Some people just do not want to understand, or believe, that most people really do not want Linux, nothing to do with the manufacturer.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    GuidingLight
    03/01/2010 06:25 AM
  • If you order with Linux
    Do you get the Windows COA (Certificate of Authenticity) sticker on it?

    If you do you paid for a Windows license.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    itguy08
    03/01/2010 08:31 AM
  • "Do you get the Windows COA?" No
    You only get the COA if your PC was pre-installed with Windows.

    The practice of mandating that all PC's ship licensed for Windows (whether or not the PC actually shipped with Windows) was eliminated in the mid-late 90's. MS other prior practices of discounting Windows licenses more to OEM's who agree to only install Windows were also prevented as part of the DOJ trial and resulting consent decree.

    MS has spent the last 7 years operating under DOJ oversight to ensure they don't return to their prior habits and to ensure that they re-structured their business to no longer rely upon such behaviors.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    de-void
    03/01/2010 11:31 AM
  • not knowledgeable
    The agreement with MS forces the computer manufacturers to buy
    Windows licenses even if they sell the box with Linux loaded. So all of
    the Linux sales also count as new Windows users.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    john_gillespie@...
    03/01/2010 09:54 AM
  • As they say
    As they say,put up or shut up. you've been called out. Prove what you just said! or shut up!
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Stan57
    03/01/2010 11:28 AM
  • You're right ...
    ... you sadly are very un-knowledgeable.

    Read my post above.

    OEM's have not had to pay MS for an OS license on machines that are NOT preinstalled with a Microsoft OS since the mid-late 90's.

    Only PC's sold with Windows pre-installed have a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) sticker affixed.

    If you order a PC from Dell with Linux installed, there is no MS COA sticker.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    de-void
    03/01/2010 11:33 AM
  • Only if you are willing to accept a very limited range
    So no, the argument has not been debunked.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    roaming
    03/01/2010 03:02 PM
  • Nice try.
    but you can order them with Linux also, so your complaint has long been debunked.

    Only Dell sells a couple of machines, so no, the choice is still largely Windoze. Fail.

    Some people just do not want to understand, or believe, that most people really do not want Linux, nothing to do with the manufacturer.

    Most people have never heard of Linux so again, another pyrrhic argument. Fail 2.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Wintel_BSOD
    03/01/2010 04:17 PM
  • Most People have never heard of Linux
    Exactly.

    Thank you for making the point. Linux is so far out of public conciousness that they don't ask for it. Don't expect that to change soon either.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Oreamnos_americanus
    03/01/2010 04:32 PM
    • Flagged
  • That's right, sock puppet
    So how can you wintards say the public doesn't want Linux when they've never heard of it?

    Hmmm...? wink
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Wintel_BSOD
    (Edited: 03/01/2010 05:06 PM)
    • Flagged
  • everyone I ever tried to sell linux to looked at me like I was stupid
    obviously I don't really mean "sell" but you
    know what I mean.

    I am a fan of linux, but some of these linux
    "fans" are more equivalent to religious
    followers worshiping their penguin idol. Linux
    just flat out isn't ready for common desktop
    use. I have to admit this since every time I've
    installed a copy of linux I had SOME issue.
    Usually its drivers, hardly linuxs fault, but
    often its poor or missing documentation or it
    just doesn't work for some reason. It has
    gotten a LOT better in the last 10 years. A LOT
    BETTER! Linux may very well be the most used OS
    in the whole world if you count every version
    and every device its installed on. Linux has
    its place for sure, but grandmas desktop OS, no
    way. (just to give you an idea of some peoples
    learning curves when it comes to computers, I
    installed windows '98 on a ladies computer and
    she was SO frustrated that she couldn't find
    where to type the 5 or so DOS commands I'd
    taught her 10 years before. It took her MONTHS
    for her to shift paradigms, and she still
    doesn't understand the difference between
    programs windows, her desktop, and something
    else with a square around it. If I have
    problems running linux SHE WILL HAVE PROBLEMS
    RUNNING LINUX)

    The whole MS monopoly domination thing is
    really a pathetic, whiny, victicratic excuse
    that really has EVER had any bearing.

    Case and point.
    Craigslist vs. Ebay.
    People will choose what they WANT. No
    advertising needed. Word of mouth marketing is
    the most successful form of advertising in the
    world. All other advertising is for those that
    have crappy products. (not really, but to a
    point)

    @Wintel, dude, I think you've just found your
    calling in life. Go make sure everyone has
    heard of and tried linux.

    Now GO FORTH AND PREACH IT'S WORD!!!
    ZDNet Gravatar
    shadfurman
    03/01/2010 05:33 PM
    • Flagged
  • Translation:
    The whole MS monopoly domination thing is
    really a pathetic, whiny, victicratic excuse
    that really has EVER had any bearing.

    ~

    Meaning I've never used Linux so we'll just lie and pretend that we do by saying that we do when we really don't but Micro$oft pays me a lot of money to be on here because I am a corporate tool who has to protect my corporation's reputation because they pay me money to FUD blogs and promote sales...

    Whew...     happy

    In a nutshell...
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Wintel_BSOD
    (Edited: 03/01/2010 06:44 PM)
    • Flagged
  • Pretty Easy, Really.
    To want something, you must've heard of it. The
    public haven't heard of Linux, and they don't want
    it. The two statements go together beautifully. I
    suspect the public wouldn't want Linux even if
    they DID know about it - I've used Linux at work
    for years but only ever have Windows at home - but
    since Linux is up against Microsoft and its
    publicity machine, the point is moot.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    steve_jonesuk@...
    03/02/2010 03:02 AM
    • Flagged
  • Pretty Easy, Really?
    To want something, you must've heard of it. The
    public haven't heard of Linux, and they don't want
    it. The two statements go together beautifully.

    This sounds like something out of the "Contradiction For Dummies" book. Of course one can wonder why someone would actually believe in a statement like "The public haven't heard of Linux, and they don't want it" since one can't reject something unless they've at least heard of it first.

    You didn't really mean to say a dumb statement like that, now did you?

    lol... grin
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Wintel_BSOD
    (Edited: 03/02/2010 08:46 AM)
    • Flagged
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