YouGov: Microsoft outpaces Apple in customer satisfaction

It seems that Windows 7 gave Microsoft a much needed customer satisfaction boost.

According to research carried out by YouGov, the number of respondents giving Microsoft a positive grade for customer satisfaction jumped to 67% in the week following the launch of Windows 7 (October 22, 2009), up from 64% where it stood the day before the OS hit the shelves. By December 31, Microsoft's satisfied customer percentage jumped to 73%, the highest rating Microsoft has had since YouGov began the survey in 2007.

Compare this to Apple. When Snow Leopard was released (August 28, 2009), the new OS boosted the number of satisfied customers by only 1%, to 65%.

Impressive gains for Microsoft, but what will be even more impressive is if the company can hold onto these gain over the coming year.