Windows / Mac / Linux

[stevem326]

Does anyone have any exact numbers on how much of the home computer market these three companies own? Is it something like:

Windows - 85%
Mac - 12%
Linux - 3%

I'm not talking about business servers...just the home PC market.

Thanks...just curious. 😎

 

[halfadder]

For home use I think it's more like:

Mac 4%
Windows 88% - 94%
Linux 2% - 8%

Based on sales, I believe Apple's overall marketshare is about 3%, but that includes business purchases, where Apple is especially weak (outside of print and video production).

Linux marketshare is very hard to count as it can be freely downloaded. Windows marketshare is also slightly difficult as most pre-built computers come with Windows prinstalled, even if the user plans on running Linux.

Keep in mind that Linux also powers devices like the TiVo.

 

[drag]

I think it's more like
Windows 95%
Apple/Linux -- about 1.5-2.0%

It's very difficult to figure out. Very difficult. Nobody can keep track of this stuff, most people own multiple computers but may only buy software or use one mostly (because of the quick obsolecense of PCs and people like to have a laptop and a desktop). That sort of thing.

But I bet that I am most accurate.

 

[nweaver]

I heard mac was 2-4%, linux was about 6-8%, but I don't remember where I read those numbers at.

 

[magomago]

I thought it was like 97% Windows, 2% Mac, and 1% "other" where *nix, BSD, and whatnot fit that last 1%

In so far as the consumer market, Microsoft IS the market. I'm sure the business enviornment might be a little different; Microsoft probably has near fifty percent as well, but nowhere near the domination of the consumer segment

edit:

similar to drag 😉

edit:

though in academia Apple has a huge following...so many of my friends and faculty have Macs...specifically the laptops. The most common PC laptop I see are the IBM T series...With faculty I wouldn't hesitate to say atleast sixty percent have Macs

 

[pkme2]

MY school figures are 90% Windows, 5% Linux, 5% Mac.

 

[n0cmonkey]

World wide stats or just in the <insert name of country of preference here>?

I think Apple has a smaller marketshare outside of the US.

 

[Nothinman]

As n0c says country is very important. In the US MS easily dominates, but Linux and other free unixes have a much bigger following around the rest of the world.

 

[thesix]

Originally posted by: Nothinman
As n0c says country is very important. In the US MS easily dominates, but Linux and other free unixes have a much bigger following around the rest of the world.

My impression is Linux is more popular in Europe, Windows is more popular (99+%, historically due to piracy) in China.

 

[Scott66]

There have been a couple of interesting tidbits I heard in the last month. Of all the new Macintosh purchases made in 05 which was greater than the number or 04 purchases, one-half were first time mac buyers (wonder if ipod is having an effect or not). The other is... Apple is now worth more than Dell on the Nasdaq stock exchange (The ipod is definitely having a large effect)

 

[Commodus]

One area Apple has a problem is in developing markets. It's relatively easy to get someone to buy a $599 Mac mini in North America or Europe. It's another to get buyers in China or India, where $599 may be your monthly income (if that!).

Anyways, Apple's active marketshare in the US is about 4-5% more often than not; internationally, it's more like 2%. The active user base is larger, though (especially as you're more likely to see Mac users hang on to their systems for longer).

 

[Scott66]

Originally posted by: Commodus
The active user base is larger, though (especially as you're more likely to see Mac users hang on to their systems for longer).

That is true, as the imacs from 8 years ago are still very usable machines. With enough memory (can even hold up to 1 Gig) Mac OSX runs well. Very few Window Users are happy with their 8 year old machines.