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Mac OS X Market Share Nears 8%

informationweek.com — Apple's share of the global operating system market is climbing steadily, and could top 8% this month, statistics from a Web metrics firm showed Wednesday.

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  • pgrit154, on 07/03/2008, -39/+29Finally people are realizing that the initially larger investment pays off when they aren't dealing with downtime and replacing their computer every other year...
    • Eslamicolt3, on 07/04/2008, -14/+20It's not even that much of a price difference any more.
      • EtherGnat, on 07/04/2008, -8/+22Are you serious? I just bought new XPS 1530 laptops for $880 with the same processor, video card, integrated camera/mic, bluetooth, Expresscard slot, slot load DVD/RW, firewire, media remote, and a similar form factor to the $2,000 MacBook Pro. I didn't opt for the LED backlight option, wireless N, or higher res screen because I didn't want them (they would have cost $250), but I did get more RAM, more HD space, a fingerprint reader, card reader, built in wi-fi detecter, modem, and dedicated media buttons compared to the base MacBook Pro.

        Before that I purchased some Dell quad core Q6600 PCs with 3GB RAM, 500GB HD, dual optical drives (CDRW/DVD + DVD/RW), and Nvidia 8800GT video cards for $660. God only knows what it would cost to get something equivalent or better from Apple.

        Macs are great. Mac Minis sits alongside my PCs at home and work (soon to be replaced with a MacBook). They are, however, significantly more expensive--especially for those of us who know how to shop for deals.
      • mrsteveman1, on 07/04/2008, -2/+13Yea, you can buy cheaper machines most of the time, and some of them are nice, HP makes some nice high end laptops for sure.

        But, the fact remains the only good way to run OS X, which is a large part of the reason people want Macs in the first place, is to buy a mac. Hackintosh is not an answer, stuff breaks or doesn't work well, and updates are always a risk.
      • EtherGnat, on 07/04/2008, -2/+4@mrsteveman1

        I didn't mean to imply that Macs aren't worth it for many people. That's a personal decision everybody has to make for themselves, but there is a significant premium in most cases. This can be especially true if you want something that doesn't match up well with Apple products, like an inexpensive tower or laptop with dedicated video.
      • chesss, on 07/04/2008, -6/+1I wld equate this comment to..
        "God does seriously exists"


        dumbass

    • nardokid, on 07/04/2008, -6/+28I have both a PC and a MacBook. At the end of the day, the MacBook is prettier, but there are problems on both systems. sometimes my PC freezes up, for apparently no reason. And on the other hand, sometimes my dock disappears from my MacBook and I have to reboot to get it back. No system is perfect. I don't have any less 'downtime' with my windows machine than I do with my Mac. I think its just preference.
      • spoogieking012, on 07/04/2008, -3/+17you don't have to restart your mac if your dock stops working. just enter the command
        killall Dock
        in the terminal and it should be fine
      • nardokid, on 07/04/2008, -0/+5thanks. I will do that next time
      • kris33, on 07/04/2008, -2/+7Or just use the Activity Monitor application.
      • mrsteveman1, on 07/04/2008, -4/+3If the dock disappears how do you run terminal?
      • MoofTheStoof, on 07/04/2008, -0/+6@mrsteveman1 The Dock isn't the Finder. Command-Tab to the Finder and just open the startup HD, browse down through /Applications/Utilities/ and double-click Terminal or Activity Monitor. Or, while in the Finder, just press Command-Shift-G to open a "Go to Folder" dialogue box. Then you can type in the path to Utilities (you can do this even if you have the desktop or HDs hidden as some people do). Sometimes it's easiest to just reboot, but it's seldom ever necessary in case you have something running that you just can't interrupt.
      • BossKey, on 07/04/2008, -1/+8@mrsteveman1, I hardly ever use the Dock to launch applications. This isn't Windows. I just use Spotlight. Hit the Spotlight shortcut, type a few letters of the app name, as soon as the name appears highlighted hit Return, it launches. You don't have to dig through the file system at all.

        I just tried launching Terminal with Spotlight. It brought me Terminal as soon as I had typed "ter" .
      • swicken, on 07/04/2008, -0/+3Their selling point is ease of use. Any normal user would experience downtime from their dock disappearing. His point is still a point.
      • bawpcwpn, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1To get your dock back, just go into activity monitor and find the dock process and force quit it. It will start up again working fine.
      • BRODEL, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1Ha.. That's never happened to me. If so I'd be trying to reproduce it every time I boot OS X. (I hate the dock..)
    • whyknot2k, on 07/04/2008, -8/+38not sure what you are talking about. I use microsoft and my computer works just fi
      • hungryduck, on 07/04/2008, -2/+15That was actually kind of clev
      • Gizza, on 07/04/2008, -2/+9Apparently Windows is so good that even if it crashes mid sentence it has the ability to submit your comment first.
      • BossKey, on 07/04/2008, -2/+7¡¡¡ʇıɯɯɐp 'ʍɐ˙˙˙˙˙˙ʎƃƃnq ʇɐɥʇ ʇ,usı sʍopuıʍ 'sʎoquɐɟ pıdnʇs noʎ
      • celkin, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1It's not buggy. It's advanced!
    • waydee, on 07/04/2008, -1/+15Why would you need to replace your computer every other year?

    • dagamer34, on 07/04/2008, -9/+17Macs also have a MUCH higher resale value than a PC ever will, especially portables. That shows you that it's not the hardware you're investing in, but the reliability and experience.
      • chesss, on 07/04/2008, -6/+3No that shows you only that even secondhand macs are purchased by rich gits
  • Tribis, on 07/04/2008, -11/+59Linux is still at less than 1% but continues to rise, which is very good. Remember people its never about having a clear winner or loser, it is about having competition on the market.
    • rasmasyean, on 07/04/2008, -6/+2Here is the Net Applications site.
      http://marketshare.hitslink.com/
      Note that these “internet traffic statistics” don't count servers. There are many linux "servers" that don't surf the net. So I'm sure it's more than 1%. But in other market quarter results...linux is going down in favor of Windows Servers and Unix. At least according to IDC.
    • protodon, on 07/04/2008, -1/+7It's like the esperanto of the OS world.
    • kahrytan, on 07/04/2008, -10/+6Linux market share is far more then then that. It's on Apple's heels actually.
    • MonkeyFarts, on 07/04/2008, -6/+11kahrytan:
      Where are you getting that?
      http://marketshare.hitslink.com/report.aspx?qprid= ...
      Linux: 0.8%
      OS X: 7.94%
      So tell me, how is Linux even remotely close to Apple's heels?
      • WomensUnderwear, on 07/04/2008, -11/+51% AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
      • Hangly, on 07/04/2008, -4/+3Perhaps if one included the server market?

        Also since most Linuxes are distributed for free, it doesn't show up as the share of a "market." Markets tend to imply the exchange of money.
      • agaudet, on 07/04/2008, -4/+1How do you track linux deployment? There are over 50 million new linux users in brazil since they deployed it in the school system. Apple is lucky to have a number of users around 30-40 million maybe if that. So tell me what marketshare means to number of users, which is the real goal is it not in the end ;)
      • fredmv, on 07/04/2008, -2/+3GNU/Linux is free and open. It is impossible to know how much of the market it is actually occupying. This is part of the privacy implied by free software: no one has to know you use it. The fact of the matter is, non-Windows OSes are increasing at a seemingly exponential rate. People are waking up, organizations are waking up, to the fact that free software represents not only the future but the present.
    • promethean, on 07/04/2008, -1/+3Yeah, the best possible world would have Linux, the BSDs (Mac OS X, FreeBSD, etc.), and Windows at 33.3% each.
      • fredmv, on 07/04/2008, -1/+4I'd prefer Windows at 0% and see Microsoft burn to the ground.
    • AutoTom, on 07/04/2008, -0/+5I think we can all agree a whole lot less windows would be nice
    • shrewduser, on 07/04/2008, -1/+2can i remind everyone this metric is based on people browsing the net? think about that for a second, perhaps linux users browse the net less than those of others OS's, for that matter suppose they might browse more often and 1% is actually an overstatement.

      also dual booting and wine applications will skew the results in favour of windows, and macos than linux.

      these metrics are junk but they can be used to identify trends, and that trend is growth of apple and linux.
  • Cycline3, on 07/04/2008, -20/+6Go Apple... and when OS X dominates, dont forget that BLIZZARD never left the Mac platform for games! SC2 and D3 have me super excited! At least as much as full exchange server support does anyway...
    • EtherGnat, on 07/04/2008, -1/+6Apple will never, ever "dominate" the desktop market, unless Apple makes significant changes to its philosophy that the Mac faithful won't like. The best thing about Apple is its focus, and you can't try and please everybody and maintain that. I'm certainly happy to see Apple gain marketshare and create more competition though.
  • b3astie, on 07/04/2008, -8/+63Pssssh, computers are just a fad anyways.
    • Jeremyz0r, on 07/04/2008, -7/+2Paying 30x the normal price for junkware... that sums up all of Apple's fads.
      (Like paying $1,000s for an ATI X1900 GPU in a Mac Pro)
  • slut, on 07/04/2008, -16/+23The cost of computers has gotten so low lately, that buying a Mac now is similar price wise to buying a pc 2-3 years ago.
    • jman583, on 07/04/2008, -9/+12Why is he being dugg down? He is right.
      Oh wait, Mac fanboys.
    • chesss, on 07/04/2008, -0/+2You people do realize that there are more chinese websites than english , and this web metrics probably is unaware if most chinese/russian sites.
      • Hangly, on 07/04/2008, -1/+5That's bad news then, because Windows completely rules the school in China.

        Microsoft isn't making a dime off of it, but that's beside the point.
    • deadbaby, on 07/04/2008, -2/+3When I buy a computer price is pretty far down my list of deciding factors.
    • Urkel, on 07/04/2008, -1/+3And the cost of buying a PC now is similar to buying a new microwave.

      As much as people try to make OS preference some sort of life-changing decision, most people view computers as disposable appliances and will choose what is the most affordable by TODAYS standards.
  • superior1, on 07/04/2008, -28/+52Wow, PC's are only 90% of the market? What is Microsoft doing wrong? I guess it's time to invest in a Mac...

    /s
    • rasmasyean, on 07/04/2008, -12/+3Here is the Net Applications site.
      http://marketshare.hitslink.com/
      Note that these “internet traffic statistics” actually miss a lot of Windows PC usage because many are used for work and do not surf the internet much (if at all). Thus the Windows PC’s out there may be even MORE than the representation on the charts! I'ts only 8% of internet trafic and not representative of the total sample.
    • sarchosis, on 07/04/2008, -7/+22Yes, because market share is directly related to quality and your decision should be influenced by what everyone else is using.
      • kris33, on 07/04/2008, -0/+8"Wow, Internet Explorer has only 90% of the market? What is Microsoft doing wrong? I guess it's time to try FireFox...

        /s"

        /sarcasm
      • Gizza, on 07/04/2008, -3/+2Well actualy, in the business world your decision should be influenced by what everyone else is using. No good using some obscure word processor for example that saves in a format that no one else can open.
      • GeneralFailure0, on 07/04/2008, -2/+2The market has spoken.
    • skingers, on 07/04/2008, -2/+15You are right of course - 90% is a marketshare to envy!

      That's not the problem for MS - the problem is this bit:

      " Windows has declined over the last 10 months. In June, Windows accounted for 90.89% of the market, down from 93.06%."

      Anyone who doesn't think Microsoft cares about a trend like that is delusional.
    • Hangly, on 07/04/2008, -5/+1I think the point is that this is the first time in a long time that Apple has made a dent in Microsoft's market.
    • soopafly, on 07/04/2008, -2/+5Looks like Porsche is SOL. Market share says that Honda and Toyota are much more quality builds.
      /s
    • fLUx1337, on 07/04/2008, -2/+4How much market share do you think Windows would have if you could choose Windows Vista, Linux or OSX Leopard for any computer?

      I would estimate, if OSX kept its quality even when running under weird hardware, the market would be like this:

      OSX 65% (because even for a total newbie, its a far nicer OS.)
      Windows 20% (because some people are Windows fanboys, or require it for some reason)
      Linux 15% (because its not really ready for the true consumer yet)
    • deadbaby, on 07/04/2008, -1/+4Fast food places have higher market share than fine restaurants. I guess it's time to start eating ***** burgers since clearly they are the best and most healthy choice.
  • rasmasyean, on 07/04/2008, -20/+3Here is the Net Applications site.
    http://marketshare.hitslink.com/
    Note that these “internet traffic statistics” actually miss a lot of Windows PC usage because many are used for work and do not surf the internet much (if at all). Thus the Windows PC’s out there may be even MORE than the representation on the charts! I'ts only 8% of internet trafic and not representative of the total sample.

    So I'm sure OSX has gained with the Mac / iPhone / iPod popularity increase, but I would put it into perspective. If Apple wants to get a real share of the OS market, they have to improve the business market. I mean, lots of people still install Windows on Macs.

    As for Linux... there are many linux "servers" that don't surf the net as well. So I'm sure it's more than 1%. But in other market quarter results...linux is going down in favor of Windows Servers and Unix. At least according to IDC.
    • EtherGnat, on 07/04/2008, -0/+6Dude, stop spamming the same information.
      • rasmasyean, on 07/04/2008, -4/+0Sorry! It's the same answer to a lot of comments! :P
  • zzz@tkz, on 07/04/2008, -21/+12Just got my Macbook last weekend :).

    I've wanted one for a damn long time, and got one for when I start going to Mizzou this fall :D.
  • Beastmasta, on 07/04/2008, -3/+22It will never get that high because it is specific to their computers only, but i love competition, get the folks at Microsoft working!
    • maximatron, on 07/04/2008, -2/+6[...], get the folks at Microsoft copying!

      * Fixed *
  • absolutzombie, on 07/04/2008, -13/+9Maybe people are also waking up to the fact that to buy a Dell laptop that is nearly identical in performance and upgrades to the stock 15" MacBook pro, it's only about $200 more for the Mac. $200 for using Leopard instead of Vista.... c'mon.
    • mogebier, on 07/04/2008, -6/+7$200 more?? Only if it "fell off a truck".
    • Beastmasta, on 07/04/2008, -14/+7I'd rather use Vista...
      • damntourists, on 07/04/2008, -0/+3i can't recall ever seeing vista run as smoothly as leopard does...i've recently made the switch, and i can still keep windows on my mac through bootcamp.
    • tnoy, on 07/04/2008, -3/+7When I got my new laptop, I only had a few requirements. 2.5GHz C2D, 4GB of RAM, 7200 RPM hard drive, at least one express card slot, 3 year warranty.

      The only option Apple offers with that is around $3k. My T61, which met those requirements, cost me around $1600. Yes, mine has a lower-end GPU and smaller HDD, but what I have meets my requirements exactly. Spending extra for a better GPU would've been pointless. Even if I went with a T61P to add the higher-end GPU and 40 extra GB, it would still around a grand less than the Macbook Pro.

      The Mini, iMac, and Macbook are all very nicely priced. The Macbook Pro is just excessive.

      Though, lets not forget the Mac Pro, which is really ***** cheap for what you get.
      • dudefaceguyman, on 07/04/2008, -0/+3To be fair. You could've got the 15" with the 256mb videocard for $2K and just paid for the ram separately like everyone else. Apple care is really a ripoff though. I received it as a gift, but I wouldn't buy it myself.

        Not even mac fans buy Apple ram. Same thing with peripherals, monitors (oh god such a ripoff) and stuff. Apple gets you with the extras. The core system really isn't that badly priced for what you get.

        IBM laptops are the best you can get for windows though. I really like their keyboards and they're pretty reliable. I'm also one of the few that actually likes the little nub thing.

  • IllBeBack, on 07/04/2008, -7/+19I have to admit, the constant bombardment of Apple Is Good material in the media and the Mac vs. PC commercials, which are hilarious, have made me want to try it. Maybe get a MacBook Pro. We have a couple iPod Nanos and those work fantastically well, so I don't see why I shouldn't try a Mac out.

    The only problem is that Windows works just fine for me and has all the software that I need or think I need.
    • max1018, on 07/04/2008, -0/+22As a Mac user myself, I say that if you are happy with what you have, then you probably don't really need to change at all. Of course, it's always good to play around with other computers and OS's to get different experiences.
    • reformation, on 07/04/2008, -0/+6Next time you are due for a new computer, try out a mac. That's what I did and I would never change back.
      Software shouldn't be an issue unless you have a specific windows only program. I haven't come across one with a similar or better alternative.
    • Hangly, on 07/04/2008, -4/+5I'm thinking of getting a Mac if only to prevent myself from playing games so much.
      • ronar, on 07/04/2008, -0/+4That is actually one of the reasons I got a lower end mac when I started studying. The games I was interested in weren't supported on mac at that time (counterstrike for example) and the graphics chip wasn't good enough to play modern games. Another reason is that it is a real joy to do actual work on a mac, I have seen my productivity go up. Since then I have lost interest in gaming, finished my degree and got a good job.
    • atliberty2say, on 07/04/2008, -1/+4I changed from Vista to OS X leopard. I know it sounds sad, but I actually like my OS now. I love the fact I don't have some ***** little virus programming constantly running. Also my disk doesn't constantly grind like it did in Vista.
    • AutoTom, on 07/04/2008, -0/+4Just give it a go, I did and I now love my mac
      I love my OSX but people hate preachers..

      so i'm just sticking with STFU untill you've tried both
    • jpmvp, on 07/04/2008, -0/+6ok in a non-preachy way (hopefully)... I switched to Mac after buying my wife an iBook. At that point we had three windows PCs in the house. I had built all 3 myself. Oddly two had virtually identical parts but one was always quite unstable. Never found out why - even swapping virtually every part failed to find an answer! So anyway the iBook was selected because I could not face having a 4th PC to administer. As a unix admin professionally I did not like doing lots of system admin at home!
      The iBook was a revelation. The biggest surprise was the amount of quality software available - either free or very low cost. The second surprise was that Mac OS is basically Unix. With lots of great technology built in ready to go - perl, apache, python, ssh etc etc... The perception that Macs are too 'fisher price' is so very wrong. They are great systems for the technically proficient yet they are also extremely easy to use for the everyday person. This is a highly significant achievement.

      I suppose the view that apple hardware is closed is valid. But I think having built PC's a few times I stopped being bothered about that. If anything happens to one of my Macs I can just load my home directory into another Mac and my entire environment, settings, data, email, desktop, everything is just ready to roll. So the hardware to me is just a tool. Like any tool, if it breaks just replace it.

      • mrBitch, on 07/04/2008, -0/+2RE : " As a unix admin professionally I did not like doing lots of system admin at home! ... biggest surprise was the amount of quality software available - either free or very low cost.

        The second surprise was that Mac OS is basically Unix.

        With lots of great technology built in ready to go - perl, apache, python, ssh etc etc...

        The perception that Macs are too 'fisher price' is so very wrong. They are great systems for the technically proficient yet they are also extremely easy to use for the everyday person. This is a highly significant achievement."

        That's a brilliant summary of what completely amazed me when I first switched to a MacBook Pro.

        OS X = Unix + All your fave commercial apps (& alternative apps even better than the Windows equivalents).
  • MarCrawford, on 07/04/2008, -32/+14***** Macs.
    • MacParrot, on 07/04/2008, -0/+9I find women are a much better experience than a computer for that kind of thing. But hey if that's what you're into maybe you SHOULD pick a less expensive computer since you'll have to replace it more often
  • mogebier, on 07/04/2008, -11/+5Yay?
  • kinseyincanada, on 07/04/2008, -1/+28This is great the more competition for Microsoft will make them try harder to improve, and Mac OS X will try and get better to gain more market share, this is good news for everyone, also kudos to Linux for its increase as well .
  • cmw10, on 07/04/2008, -15/+9GO OSX!!! FTW!
  • utexas112, on 07/04/2008, -11/+9I really thought their market share was higher than that by now.
    • kbro, on 07/04/2008, -4/+5In the U.S., it probably is higher than that.
  • Shatneresque, on 07/04/2008, -11/+9awesome
  • MaXPL, on 07/04/2008, -14/+15slow day for apple news huh so someone posts BS for people to read.
  • whyknot2k, on 07/04/2008, -14/+42WOW! Watch out Microsoft, only 92% to go!!
    • jo21, on 07/04/2008, -1/+3sarcarms was hard to catch there.
      the WOW! was believeable
    • darienphoenix, on 07/04/2008, -3/+7*42% to go.
    • BlueStarr, on 07/04/2008, -0/+5When is decrease ever a good thing? So yeah they better watch out cause because if trends continue that sarcasm of yours will soon turn into disbelief.
    • digitalpencil, on 07/04/2008, -0/+4Firefox now represents just under 20% in market share, does that mean that IE7's the best browser ever? oh wait..
  • junsumoney, on 07/04/2008, -20/+12Macs FTW!
  • wignasty, on 07/04/2008, -25/+11Macs suck...
    • MacParrot, on 07/04/2008, -2/+4Well so does you're mom but I'm not complaining.
  • tnoy, on 07/04/2008, -32/+328%?! OMFG!! MICROSOFT BETTER JUST GIVE UP NOW!!
  • davidlitts, on 07/04/2008, -6/+13*Imperial March plays as Bill Gates strolls back into Microsoft HQ*
    "***** this"
    • Kanidia, on 07/04/2008, -1/+5WE'LL DO IT LIVE!...

      Introducing Windows Live.
  • Fistdantilus, on 07/04/2008, -12/+3... and it only took them infinite advertising and extreme popularity of a peripheral product.

    Hold on one sec, it's fricken beach-balling again. ARGH.
  • rasmasyean, on 07/04/2008, -7/+5"This data provides valuable insight into significant trends for internet usage."
    http://marketshare.hitslink.com/

    This statistic doesn't count all the computers that don't use the internet much (if at all).
  • jman583, on 07/04/2008, -15/+7Wow... I thought it was a closer to 15%(and I hate Macs).
  • tama00, on 07/04/2008, -10/+1Microsoft has a large amount of shares in Apple its not like Microsoft care. When Apple went down hill some years ago Microsoft bailed them out. So its not like Microsoft is ***** in their pants over the 8%. They are more worried about Linux's 1%...
    • notoneofus, on 07/04/2008, -1/+8I don't think so. Microsoft *used to* have partial ownership in Apple. Not for the last 8 years, though.
    • skingers, on 07/04/2008, -1/+6It's amazing how ignorant people are about this and continue to spread this disinformation.

      Microsoft bought $150M of non voting Apple stock and committed to develop Office for the MAc for 5 years as a settlement in a legal case where Microsoft was distributing software stolen from Apple's Quicktime.

      A) it was not a "bail-out" of Apple it was a settlement for Microsoft being caught red handed pirating Apple's code.
      B) It was not a "large amount of shares" and they were even non-voting stock. $150M may seem like a lot to us but in terms of actual ownership of Apple, it was insignificant.
      C) Microsoft sold this stock (at a tidy profit) some time ago and are no longer invested in Apple.

      Google "microsoft sued over quicktime" - it's all there.
      • mrBitch, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1RE : "A) it was not a "bail-out" of Apple it was a settlement for Microsoft being caught red handed pirating Apple's code."
        As well as "microsoft sued over quicktime", try Google "plot to kill quicktime"
  • rayburt456, on 07/04/2008, -18/+13Geez...any other product with only 8% market share afer 25 years would have been taken off the market.

    Jobs has to open things up. Otherwise, single digits are his past, present and future.
    • skingers, on 07/04/2008, -3/+9Apple posted $7.9Billion revenue last quarter and 59% of that came from Macs.

      http://www.macscoop.com/articles/2008/04/23/apple- ...

      You think this product should be pulled from the market?
    • BossKey, on 07/04/2008, -1/+9So all the high-end cars and audio/video brands that only have 8% market share or less should go and die now? I really don't think we should be stuck with just General Motors, Sony...and Microsoft.
      • jimmydurden, on 07/04/2008, -0/+6yeah jobs is really struggling to make ends meet isn't he. how apple is even still functioning is beyond me. *****, their stock price is only what 5X that of microsoft......they should just give up...
    • robrohan, on 07/04/2008, -7/+4I wonder what the farreri market share is...
    • mrBitch, on 07/04/2008, -0/+3RE : "Geez...any other product with only 8% market share afer 25 years would have been taken off the market. "

      Apple's retail market share is 66% for computers that cost $1,000 or more ...
      Apple's retail market share for computers under $1,000 is 14% ...
      http://digg.com/apple/Apple_desktop_retail_market_ ...
  • piratearggghhh, on 07/04/2008, -5/+8I think one of the main reasons why the PC continues to dominate is that they are just a lot cheaper for the masses and there is a whole lot of software out there - and realistically, most people have bootleg software.
  • latova, on 07/04/2008, -19/+10Microsoft controls the software.
    Apple controls the software and hardware.

    I don't see how Apple is better.
  • gamelord12, on 07/04/2008, -13/+13I can't believe so many people see this as a good thing. Sure, both OS-X and Windows are closed-source software, but at least with Windows you get SOME freedom. With a Mac, your computer is whatever Apple wants it to be, not what you want it to be. It comes with things you don't want at your expense (some people may not want a web cam or miniaturized hardware in an all-in-one), and it won't come with some things you do want because Apple doesn't want them (TV tuner, Blu-Ray). I'm all for healthy competition, but I'd rather see an 8% market share of Linux, BSD, or Solaris before I'd like an 8% market share of Macintosh.
    • Primeius, on 07/04/2008, -4/+16You really haven't used a Mac at all have you?
      • zdiggler, on 07/04/2008, -11/+3Yeah and I don't like it.

        Too simplified.
      • jszaszvari, on 07/04/2008, -1/+8Ummm, Sorry but if you really knew how to use a mac then you would realise that its only Simplified on the top layer.

        I can open up a terminal and there we go, Unix shell.

        Anyone familiar with BSD/Unix/Linux/Mac know that they all really fall under the same category in terms of advanced capabilites.

        Only difference is that Some of the others are Open source, But you also cant forget that older Mac OS kernels are open source now.

        The stupidity of people on here really amazes me.

        For christ sake people OSX is a very customised well made Unix OS

        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_OS_X
        "Mac OS X is a Unix-based operating system"

        My Point: If you actually know anything about advanced computing, Then you know that its a rock solid OS.

        Look @ this
        http://images.apple.com/macosx/pdf/MacOSX_UNIX_TB_ ...

        Sorry whats that, ADVANCED unix functionality out of the box?

        All you people that say "Linux is better, BSD is better".. You have no idea what you are talking about, And it gives me great pleasure reading all the comments on here and laughing at how so many people on here think they "UBER SKILZZZ" on computers, when in reality they know nothing.

        An im not even a fan boy, I use Linux, Windows and OSX.

        But sorry You cant listen to me, Because i only have 15 years experiance in C Programing, Unix Mainfraim Administration and Network Security. I might not be qualified enough for a opinion.

        Get your facts straight, or dont comment at all

      • rasmasyean, on 07/04/2008, -7/+0You get your facts straight!

        Those Unix based OS’s are not “advanced OS’s”.
        They are “flexible OS’s”.

        Windows is an “Advance OS”. Because windows works with so many combinations of franken-computers…so many server systems…so many robots that make computers themselves…prolly make macs too! They are not just for internet and home pictures you know? They even monitor you when you’re in the hospital so you don’t die. So don’t knock something that people use to save lives.

        Just because you did 15 years with the same 20 year old C/unix things doesn’t make it advanced. If you ever did programming on Windows, you can crank out an equivalent unix app in 20% of the time. That is ADVANCED. Some things in unix are so difficult to do that it’s not even worth it so they mostly use it for server type stuff and number crunching. There is a reason why each OS is used in various situations, but your descriptions are just bogus.
      • mrBitch, on 07/04/2008, -0/+4@rasmasyean RE : "If you ever did programming on Windows..."

        LOL - Now I KNOW you have not coded any apps under Windows. If you call Windows an "Advance OS" then you are making statements with no basis in fact or reality. You are an idiot.
      • rasmasyean, on 07/05/2008, -4/+0Actually, I have 15 years if development experience. Unix, Windows Desktop, Windows server, Web, mainframe, and various microprocessors in Assembler. When you get out and work you will see. Or perhaps you're just some college kid who took a few classes and now thinks he knows everything! Oh and regarding college, I also attended one of the best engineering schools in the world and received full-scholarship AND full-fellowship. That means I didn't have to pay a dime for what would cost others in todays education system, around $300,000 USD. In addition, I have taught collegiate educations for 10 years. I think that qualifies me to claim Windows as an Advance OS based on fact and reality.
      • mrBitch, on 07/30/2008, -0/+1@rasmasyean RE : " I think that qualifies me to claim Windows as an Advance OS based on fact and reality. "

        No - you just disqualified yourself by making a stupid uninformed statement.

        Again, I have to say that you may have attended some engineering courses - BUT if you call Windows an "Advance OS" then you are making statements with no basis in fact or reality.

        You learned absolutely nothing. You are (in fact, and reality) an idiot.
    • jszaszvari, on 07/04/2008, -3/+12Windows, Freedom?
      That made my week. Thanks.
      I use Macs at work and a PC at home and a Mac laptop. I am a Recording Studio engineer.
      If i had to use a PC at work, I would have hung my self a long time ago.
      Your statement shows everyone that you really havent used a mac properly or at all.

      Apple controls the hardware because... Wait for it... Wait... Here it comes... Operating system compatibility.

      Sure you can install OSx86 on almost any computer. But its not gonna work well, Sometimes it does.

      I know that when i buy a Mac that my operating system is going to work AMAZINGLY with the hardware.

      We have a first generation iMac from 1998 at my work here. It has not been reinstalled or no hardware at all replaced. Its used as a Kiosk to perform certian departmental tasks.

      If you can tell me where i can buy a PC with Windows that in 10 years time will still be running as well as the day as it was taken out of the box, Then i will get one.

      Lets run uptime on that box.

      p-kiosk:~ kuser$ uptime
      12:32 up 3385 days, 2 users, load averages: 0.46 0.48 0.73
      p-kiosk:~ kuser$

      Can someone please show me a Windows box that has a uptime like that?
      • zdiggler, on 07/04/2008, -4/+3We got windows 2000 server that been running for more then 10 Years. It just serve files only reboots when we get long power outages, we get a lot here. It got no keyboard, mouse or monitor either. Never change any hardware in it. Custom built with parts form Fry's. I open it up and vac the dust out of there time every a few months.
      • jimmydurden, on 07/04/2008, -0/+3that damn closed unix! can't find anything to run on it.....
      • DylanClements, on 07/04/2008, -0/+4Our mac has been running 15 years and is dust free.
      • bxblox, on 07/04/2008, -2/+1It wouldn't be a fair comparison. MS doesn't make hardware. If MS made all windows PCs, maybe there would be something to compare in that department.
      • mrBitch, on 07/04/2008, -0/+2@bxblox RE : "MS doesn't make hardware."

        Microsoft DOES make hardware. Microsoft are trying to copy Apple by dipping their toes into the complete hardware / software integrator field.

        Have you worked out what products Microsoft have built?

        Let me help you: XBOX, Zune, etc...

        Guess what the profit figures are so far for Microsoft trying the Apple hardware experiment? MS are in the hole billions of dollars and counting.
      • mrBitch, on 07/30/2008, -0/+1@bxblox RE : "That wouldn't be fair, MS doesn't make hardware."

        Microsoft DOES make hardware. Microsoft are trying to copy Apple by dipping their toes into the complete hardware / software integrator field.

        Have you worked out what products Microsoft have built?

        Let me help you: XBOX, Zune, etc...

        Guess what the profit figures are so far for Microsoft trying the Apple hardware experiment? MS are in the hole billions of dollars and counting.
  • CRiZ, on 07/04/2008, -12/+5yeeeee. go mac!!!
    • ertz, on 07/04/2008, -7/+3don't get too excited, 90% of those are PCs running OS X
  • PaganHeathen, on 07/04/2008, -26/+17Yay 8% I'm the tallest midget in the world.....

    Apple is a locked down oversimplified product ecosystem.
  • JSavage37, on 07/04/2008, -18/+9So...Mac is beating Windows, right? Oh, wait, no.

    Let's rephrase this: Mac is 1144.7% less popular than Windows.
    • BossKey, on 07/04/2008, -2/+3You forgot "...and that margin is shrinking fast."
      • exeprime, on 07/04/2008, -3/+1if by "fast", you mean "slow", yes.
    • soopafly, on 07/04/2008, -1/+6Internet Explorer is still beating Firefox. Hmm...must mean that Internet Explorer is better.
  • omyard, on 07/04/2008, -9/+12I got my first Mac this year and I love it. All my home computers will be Mac from here on out.
  • FSUCHEEF, on 07/04/2008, -14/+5I am more then happy with my ability to right click that i just dont seem to get with Mac
    • jimmydurden, on 07/04/2008, -7/+2*****...what have i done without the right-click for the last five years. Screw this mac.....it's obviously inferior. I mean i haven't even had to install anti-virus....oh wait it's coming....any day now.....
    • Jrwhite8, on 07/04/2008, -3/+8Macs have supported right click for about 8 years now and have shipped with a multi-button mouse for nearly 3 years.
  • CoMpUtErITGuY, on 07/04/2008, -6/+16Cool. Maybe in 20 more years it will reach 16%!
    • dysonlu, on 07/04/2008, -5/+3And nobody who's reading this will be alive to witness Mac reaching 50%.
  • JSavage37, on 07/04/2008, -6/+3Yeah, I mean it'll only take 13 years at this rate.
    • drakethegreat, on 07/04/2008, -0/+2You're logic is twisted because you are assuming a linear growth.
  • Alphapsi12, on 07/04/2008, -8/+1Ok lets take a step back and examine the 8%. That 8% consist of OS X which works legally on Apple Macs where Windows (fill in the blank) consist of the majority. Apple is a OEM in the same realm as Dell, HP, Toshiba, Sony, etc. If we are going to compare, compare Apple OS X to Dell MS OS market share, Sony MS OS market share, etc. Add up the 300+ OEM that uses MS OS vs OS X.
  • lolmax, on 07/04/2008, -2/+5As a mac user (although I've got XP installed as well so I can play Battlefield 2), I honestly hope the marketshare doesn't get much larger. It seems like the bigger your userbase the harder it is to manage updates and fix problems quickly and effectively.

    Even though this is a little off the subject, I sort of miss the days when people hated Apple because not many people used it. Now theres a lot more idiots on the platform to make all of us respectable users look bad. At least back then I could feel a little rebellious using something no one else did. Now all of a sudden I'm a trendy douchebag that uses macs because they are cool and such.

    both platforms have matured pretty well. i can work just fine on both, i just work a little faster on a mac having been brought up around them.
  • mrbutter, on 07/04/2008, -4/+2glad that false advertising is helping so much!
  • GreatDrok, on 07/04/2008, -3/+6zdiggler said "We got windows 2000 server that been running for more then 10 Years."

    Hmmm, odd given that win 2000 was only released in late 1999. What year is it where you are?
  • DarkReign16, on 07/04/2008, -7/+2I use Linux because I love the choices involved in installation, such as the choice between 30 or 40 commands to install flash.

    /s
    • onedingo, on 07/04/2008, -2/+4# pacman -Sy flashplugin
      So on mine it's not even 40 chars.

      Yep. That whole learning/thinking for yourself thing is such a drag.
  • surferjoemaui, on 07/04/2008, -11/+6percent of population with I.Q. over 125? About 8%
    proof:
    http://www.wilderdom.com/intelligence/IQUnderstand ...
    • theoriginalaks, on 07/04/2008, -2/+1I know at least one person directly above me who is not in that 8%! but will probably make an unprovable internet claim along the lines of "Actually, I am, thank you very much." then walk away for dramatic effect (all in his head of course)

      Seriously, how long have you been holding onto that tidbit to unleash it in a snobbish gas cloud of smug?
    • dysonlu, on 07/04/2008, -2/+9And percent of population with I.Q. below 75? About 8%.
      • DylanClements, on 07/04/2008, -2/+3Percentage of current US Presidents with an IQ below 75? 100%
      • surferjoemaui, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1Yes!
      • rimantas, on 07/05/2008, -0/+1same goes for above 120, right?
    • nittanylion06, on 07/04/2008, -3/+2"I'm a freaking genius because my laptop has a picture of an apple on its cover."

      /linux >> you
  • igutekunst, on 07/04/2008, -6/+10I want a mac.
    • avatarpalin, on 07/04/2008, -2/+4Dude do it, trust me you will love it.
    • bxblox, on 07/04/2008, -4/+2Yeah dude, trust him.

      /s
    • kaiquan, on 07/04/2008, -1/+2really, wanting is a first step towards getting one. i suggest wait for september when the new product line comes out (hopefully) but u'll sure be happy owning a mac
  • mrminty, on 07/04/2008, -8/+8My god! That's almost 9%!
    Look out Microsoft!
  • avatarpalin, on 07/04/2008, -0/+2Hmm I would like to see that broken down by Business and Home..

  • Skidmark66, on 07/04/2008, -7/+2be 50% before you know it, the avalanche has begun
    • LastVisibleDog, on 07/05/2008, -4/+1Funny, AppleDevotees were saying the same thing 20 years ago and will likely be saying the same thing 20 years from now
  • liquidmetalband, on 07/04/2008, -5/+2I guess this really serves as a timer to humanity's total stupidity. I mean, once Apple gets over 50%, then half of us will be so stupid we can't even do a little technical work to repair some computer parts now and then. AMAZING.
  • liquidmetalband, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1By the way, Linux still hasn't grown enough. I think Linux actually needs a corporate monster behind it who pays off companies like Dell to install it by default with WINE.
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