Apple Mac hits record 6.81% market share in Net Applications survey

All these comments and no one has addressed the core of Mac OS failing - it has ZERO appeal to geeks. Geeks are the backbone of the IT industry, and the like to be hands-on, and in full control. Geeks don’t like pretty buttons, one-click mice, and plug-n-play solutions. Geeks like CMD, RegEdit, and customization of their OS. They want to be able to open the machine up, replace components, re-wire & re-code. Macs offer none of the above.

High-level IT personnel in major companies across this country (and the world) shy away from Macs because they are too simple. They work great for grandma and grandpa, but not as enterprise-level, scalable solutions. Until Apple creates a Geek-oriented OS, the Mac OS will always remain Windows puny wannabe sidekick.

“The last I looked Apple Stock is in the 190’s/share (AAPL) and Microsoft stock (MSFT) at the mid 30’s. Check the 2-year trends and you’ll find where people make their investments. I remember a few years ago when things were just the opposite.”

LOL, do you think this would still be the case were there no such invention as the ‘iPod’? Let’s not forget that this one product line alone accounts for something like 2/3 of Apple’s profit.

3.34% is not very much growth at all considering that Apple just released “its best operating system ever.” Windows Vista, which is probably MS’s its worst release ever (except for Windows ME) grew by 16%. How to explain this?

Reply: They (The Macs) were removed because they were 10 years old and collecting dust in the corners of the classrooms. Kids don’t have Macs at home and don’t want to use them in school. But more or less, they were just old. We simply opted not to replace them with Macs. In addition, corporate America and Higher Education still favor the PC. That’s a fact. That may change someday, although I doubt it. But until then, it is my job to prepare the kids for entry into that next step.

I am not discrediting the Mac’s ability to do work. You can plug it in and turn it on. What I am frustrated with is the dilated pupils of the Mac community. You take it so personally - it’s so political to you. Regardless of platform, it is inherently more expensive to run multiple OS’s in any environment. Multiple licenses, multiple knowledge bases, multiple server platforms. The point I was trying to make, again before you started weeping about your “intuitive” machine, is that we made the choice to go to PC and it works great for us. PC’s can and do work fine. Mac’s can and do work fine as well. And to you, it is “intuitive” because you are familiar with that environment. Am I more familiar with Windows than Mac? Sure I am! That’s why the district hired me and that’s why the users in our environment enjoy a carefree computer wokspace - because I have taught myself to serve them using the tools that I am comfortable with. They in turn respect the fact that if they want support in this environment that they will use a PC vs. a Mac. And they love it!! It’s not that they want to use a PC or a Mac, they simply want to be productive and prepare the students. In some ways I am almost admitting to you that I have a level of ignorance about the Mac, just as I am certain you have a level of ingorance about the PC. There is no tyranny in this place. I am not a Nazi in regards to what “appliances” are used. I simply offer to help within the confines of my knowledge base. Furthermore, the ill placed brush stroke that all PC’s are garbage and fail all the time and that all Macs are bulletproof and never get a virus is malarchy. By your own words you have admitted that the computers, Mac and PC alike, are simply appliances. So the real argument is not which is better, it’s simply which do people prefer. My argument is that people prefer to do what’s comfortable to them.

And when did I bring up stock prices? The iPod and iPhone have been great moves on Apple’s part. Mac has found some resistance in the marketplace to their computers, so they have broadened their product offerings to compensate. That’s great business sense! And the products are cool and they sell a ton of them. Hats off to Apple! That brand recognition may even yield more computer sales. Yeah for Apple! But don’t get all fired up over 6% market share. Improved? Yes. On the verge of changing the world, not even close.

The last I looked Apple Stock is in the 190’s/share (AAPL) and Microsoft stock (MSFT) at the mid 30’s. Check the 2-year trends and you’ll find where people make their investments. I remember a few years ago when things were just the opposite.

“The bottom line is, if the equipment is setup correctly by someone who knows what they are doing, a smooth running Windows environment is easy to achieve. The problem is every snot-nosed ITT Tech grad and MCSE certificate holder thinks he knows how to setup and maintain a Windows environment. When the environment fails - due to incompetent people, not equipment failure - people cry the Mac blues. Rest assured, at our school PC is not the option - it’s the answer.”

Reply: A computer is an appliance. Essentially, sophisticated adding machines that operate swiftly. One’s and zero’s and a user interface are not mystical and don’t have personalities. Since current Mac’s can run all major operating systems, then why were they removed unless you did it to insure keeping your position as an overlord of an clunky appliance. Mac’s are for people who simply want to do their work (intuitavely) and avoid having submit to the snobbery of some uber-geek.

I am a Newtwork Administrator for a school district in Ohio. I continue to listen to the wagging fingers of the Apple-Cult talk about the “instability of a Windows network.”

First of all, the stability of a network is pretty far removed from the stability of an OS on a workstation. However, the stability of a server or workstation could certainly be measured by the uptime and availabilty provided by the resident OS. Be sure to keep your ideas straight as you Mac addicts nod your bobble heads to the cry-baby rhythms of your bandwagon buddies.

2nd, at our disrict (as in SCHOOL DISTRICT, as in the EDUCATIONAL ARENA) we have removed all Macs from our district and have run an ALL WINDOWS environment for the past 4 years. We have had only 1 major outage - it happened when somebody threw a breaker and the UPS’s finally crapped out over a holiday break.

The bottom line is, if the equipment is setup correctly by someone who knows what they are doing, a smooth running Windows environment is easy to achieve. The problem is every snot-nosed ITT Tech grad and MCSE certificate holder thinks he knows how to setup and maintain a Windows environment. When the environment fails - due to incompetent people, not equipment failure - people cry the Mac blues. Rest assured, at our school PC is not the option - it’s the answer.

This world is in no danger of being overrun by Mac users. 6% market share?? Nice job Apple. You are barely beating back the market share of two video game consoles.

Wifone, I could care less about my Mac’s ability to play games. You’re missing the point here.

What’s more interesting is that 81% of the market share lost by Windows actually went to Mac OS X. I think that’s a true indication of people switching.

OS Wars - 81% of Windows market share loss went to Mac OS X

I love articles like this. Articles that promote the Mac. I despise the typical Windows user mentality. The more people that buy a Mac the better. The many jackass software companies that have always dismissed and ignored the Mac will soon be forced to develop software for the Mac too if they want to continue selling their software. I love that. Forced to change by their own ignorance. Attention all you windows only software developers…. rise and shine, it’s time to wake up. Personally, I would love to see Microsoft go completely out of business. Long live the Mac.

Saw something in this string of comments about Apple’s lack of penetration into the corporate market. Let me say this about that. I’m a middle-aged corporate computer ERP systems guy whose wife got an Apple not long ago. Started playing with the computer a bit and like it a lot. Needed a replacement for my company issued PC and tried to get an Apple from the company. Was turned down even though the marketing department has many because the infrastructure boys/girls didn’t want to have to support another platform. When I said that XP could be run on the machine, I got a bunch of blank stares and detected a bit of panic. Asked around the company (2B in sales) and it seems that I am not alone in my request. At some point, somebody’s going to realize that total cost of ownership of an Apple Mac is less than that of a PC. When that happens, hold onto your hat, as they say. It will be a huge tipping point.

It’s not a hard debate at all, oh please! A multimedia computer should be able to do 3 things simultaneously: crunch numbers, play audio, display graphics. Simple benchmark test: play a 3D game. Has anyone *ever* seen a decent game running on a Mac OS? Short answer: no. Conclusion: Mac OS simply is *not* a decent OS for a multimedia computer. Period. It looks nice though. But I don’t buy computers to stare at a pretty desktop. And I’d still rather look at my girlfriend, who looks much better than anything Apple has ever made.

PS: I’m *not* a M$ fanboy. I love my Apple iPhone, even with its lack of UMTS, GPS, MMS, video camera, etc. etc.

It really is a tough debate. I was a Windows user all my life until this past August and, frankly, I was satisfied. I was used to the system crashing every once in a while, I was used to sifting through application windows, etc. I even remember trying a few Macs over the years and not being terribly impressed-I found the OS hard to use after being so accustomed to Windows (and I think that’s the mindset many current Windows users would find themselves in, which is fine).
But give anyone a month with Mac OS X and they will see that it is a better operating system. That’s really the bottom line.
Yes, Windows fanboys (like I used to be) will say I’m wrong, but I encourage them to spend some time with Mac OS X and discover how easy it really is to use.
I am actually happy that Windows stole many of Apple’s ideas for use in Vista: without functions like being able to see all your windows at once, or to see the desktop instantly, Windows would be getting pretty obsolete.

In terms of market share, however, Apple has a long way to go before it catches up to Microsoft. The reason for this? As I said: Windows gets the job done. People aren’t itching for something better-at least not yet.
But when they do start wishing there was a faster and easier way to get work done on a computer, Apple will start seeing the user base roll in.

Couldn’t resist sharing this bit…as far as I’m aware at least twice in 90’s Microsoft made substantianl investments into Apple so as to help keep them afloat…

What I find amusing is that Apple’s market cap is more than half Microsoft’s, while holding about 7% of the operating system market. What has Microsoft been doing with all that marketing power the past few years? Not much, and that is borne out by Microsoft’s tepid stock performance over the past few years.

I think that once Apple breaks the 1 in 10 threshold, they will be able to break into the recalcitrant markets held by Windows systems, which are fostered by IT people who make a fortune maintaining troublesome Windows networks.

Chew on this Scott, Dan & Eric:
http://blogs.computerworld.com/iphone_browsing_marketshare_closes_in_on_1

Folks, quit bashing Windows. Windows works quite well.

I know because it run it every day via VMWare on my Mac.

I enjoy being able to purchase my own hardware for my pc when it breaks from the store and manufacturer of my choice.

In response to Scott from Grand Rapids. Don’t look only at Apple’s corporate market share. In those Enterprise Data Centers you find many Dells no doubt. Look at Dell’s financial record of late and you will find shrinking profit margins. Apple’s margins have always been healthy. Apple does not aggressively compete in the low margin enterprise arena.

Those Enterprise Data Centers are stocked with machines recommended by IT Professional whose competency and career is tied to Windows based systems. Those same machines went through a procurement process that involved CFO types that like to keep IT costs down.

Apple does better in the Education arena where decision making centers more around total cost of ownership and usability. Apple is also making inroads in people’s homes for much that same reasons and the fact that the decision maker is the end user.

There is plenty of room for Apple to grow in the home and educational markets and leave the Enterprise battle to the bottom cost to Dell and other Windows box assemblers.

We have a HUGE group of professional photographers and videographers to whom taking professional photographs and video images for magazines and various advertising media. They all use APPLE Computers and Software.

You people just don’t get it. Plus sounds like some back-peddling regarding MSFT OS. Scott, Dan and Eric, have a nice life in Fantasy Land, your not worth the words anymore.

You guys just don’t get it. Who distorts the facts more than someone in denial plus sounds like some back-peddling regarding MSFT products. By the way, I use Microsoft Office and like it, all this discussion is Windows OS related, thanks for trying to take a single issue and expand it to something else. I’m just fed up with people who spew incorrect information about Apple products and get away with it without a response. You people aren’t worth the words anymore. P.S. Mike from Chicago, you sound like one of the few sane Microsoft users out there. Good words!!!! Scott from MI, join Dan and Eric for the rest of your life in Fantasy Land.

I’m wondering what Apple’s corporate market share is given I’ve been in over 20 Enterprise Data Centers in various industries and *never* seen an Apple product in *any* of them. If you want proof of Apple’s *failure* to amount for anything other than pleasing teens who have mommy and daddy’s credit card at the mall, there you have it.

Women. I repeat, women. Female, i.e. girls. Funny how the Apple stores are full of them. Elderly, old people, grandmas. Funny how the Apple stores are full of them. People, humans, children. Funny how the Apple stores are full of them. Must just be a coincedence? Certainly not a trend. Could we all be looking at Job’s tailights?

I couldn’t stop laughing after reading the ignorant response to my posts. I use Vista as many others and enjoy it and are very pleased with it. I stated that Apple makes good products, but you seem to not be able to let go of the first couple of months of the release of Vista. I stated after some updates things improved tremendously. Now read what you want into that, but Leapord is even worse than Vista, and that is suprising beings Apple has control over all the drivers on their closed system. MSFT has to depend on Hardware suppliers to get it right. Look at the big picture and realize MSFT is at the hands of many others products on top of theirs, unlike Apple. And don’t blame Microsoft for others poorly coded programs either. Same is true for all the OS’s. The world needs less arrogance and more real production. Use what fits your needs sir and stop the pandering and your many distortions.

These arguments always amuse me. I prefer windows systems and haven’t switched to vista yet but will when I purchase my next new PC. I do not have any problem recognizing Apple has a great business model and makes great products.

I am in no way offended if someone who religiously into apple hates windows. Why do I care? Seriously.

I do find amusement when others refuse to recognize a single positive thing about microsoft. It didn’t get to be a world class company by creating garbage?!? Oh well.

I welcome the competition and am glad I have the choice between the two.

Dan, you and Eric should have coffee together! I had to stop laughing before responding. Many people (including a whole country like Japan) know how bad Vista is and are bashing Microsoft, not just us so-called Mac evangelists. The rest of your response shows you have no grip on reality. The iPod and iPhone are changing the world, your just too pissed off at Apple’s success to see it, You are right about one thing, keep the blinders on, you Microsoft supporters won’t see the cliff coming!

Keep dreaming Helge. AAPL will surpass MSFT’s 92% OS market share in 2010? Maybe by 3010. Typical fanboy pie in the sky pipe dreams.

Commets from Oslo Norway, Helge

I support Eric Cincinnati, fully.
It is too late from Microsoft, only down side for theme. The effort hey do now to correct will come as a result years from now.
Finally, very welcomed is MAC OS.
It will grow steadilly, and out pass Microsoft someplace around 2010.
Vista is the definition of “crap” and bad workmanship- cheating the consumers all the way to the bank..
Helge, Oslo, Norway

Same stuff, different day from the Apple fanboys. It’s amazing how many of these Mac evangelists have used Vista and just know that it’s awful. FYI, it’s not. It’s stable, fast, and fun to use. More likely they’ve never even seen it and just bash anything MSFT. When that fails, they crow about the stock price despite the sky high P/E and ignore the fact that AAPL is priced for perfection, and will plummet after the first quarterly earnings miss. Then they move on the the iPhone which apparently is the greatest device in the history of the world even though sales have levelled off here and it’s only about 50 million units behind Motorola’s RAZR at this point. I wonder if Jobs kicked his dog or threw anything against the wall with the GOOG and VZW announcements the past few weeks regarding Android, open network access for any CDMA handset, and LTE. There’s nothing Jobs loves more than a closed system, and AAPL’s iPhone model took a serious hit, even if he doesn’t know it yet. The best part is how they bash the methodology of any survey attempting to show AAPL market share in any category. The only surveys they accept are ones that show AAPL share growing astronomically. Keep the blinders on lemmings, the cliff is much less scary when you don’t see it coming.

Well if you read my first post you would see that I state that there were problems at first, but mainly due to drivers and software, but yes some OS problems as well. I have been reading 100’s of blog posting about people saying to stick with “Tiger”. “leopard is the new Vista”, and yes I will save you from link hell on that as well. Atleast I am honest about what I say and admit the truth. Just do a search and you will find what I am talking about. You are the same guy that thinks these OS’s are windows 98 or ME. I may have my head in the sand, but your’s in the concrete my friend. It sucks being the under dog, but Vista is selling pretty darn good and many are enjoying it besides the people with a point to make. No one is perfect and something like an OS is very very hard to get perfect. Apple makes good products no doubt, and a Mac was my first computer and I loved it. I don’t doubt you enjoy your Mac, but don’t act like there is no way I can enjoy my Vista just the same. Thats what I am talking about sir.

Yes I have used Vista, XP and a number of loser versions. and it is a piece of crap that is why I tried to and still like to use Mac OS when I can. Have you ever used Mac OS? Yes I had to restart 5-6 times a day on Windows. And again you can’t read, the article you reference regarding 44 patches is for Tiger not Leopard. I never stated Apple is totally secure, that would be crazy, all s/w has some vulnerability. Also tell me where I lied or distorted? Your the one that brought up 14 security patches, which by the way is bad for Vista, not good as you implied and your wrong Vista is NOT more secure than Leopard. (I could put links to articles like you, but it would fill up the page). It did take 5+ years since Windows update from XP. So, don’t try to compare Vista to Leopard, you will lose every time. I am tired of Windows users slamming an OS far better just because they have their heads in the sand and like you, will fire back at distortions. I have used both in the past, no more, Mac OS is the future!

I know I am an idiot, never claimed to be any smarter than most people, but compared to you I am very smart. I take it you do not use Windows Vista as you state you use MacOS? For all that think that Linux and Apple are secure from the final builds you are crazy. Its people like that who distort the truth in their favor. Its called being targeted, and Windows has the biggest target by far. Why is quicktime and itunes so vulnerable, not because of Windows, check this http://blog.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2007/11/apple_plugs_44_security_holes_1.html . 44 patches released for Apple products, I know this hurts to see, but I like to be fair accross the board. Someone should look at the unpatched vulnerabilities in Linux as well, they exist people. Use what you like, but I will fire back whenI see lies and distortions. Thats all

Eric,

Your an idiot! Everyone who understands software knows Vista is crap plus can’t you read Vista is NOT dominating market share XP is and the % is only higher because of Microsoft’s blitz ad’s that duped many into switching. 14 patches? Seems Vista is filled with holes even after 5+ years of development. Windows works all the time, Hah! Sure after 5-6 restarts a day. Stick to your backward-stone age software and I will laugh at you when Mac OS passes your beloved Vista and takes a big chunk out of XP.

iPods at 70% market share? Of what? Perhaps (and a big perhaps) of dedicated music players. BUT if you want to talk market share of .mp3 or digital music capable devices - including mobile phones which have taken on more and more of the converged experience (even Apple realised this and moved the ipod into the phone market with iphone)the iPod’s percentage of global market is less than 5%. Music-cappable cell phones outweigh dedicated players by enormous margins. The same is tru for digital cameras. I believe the latest figures I’ve seen were close to 5:1 in favor of camera-phones over digital cameras.

Guys, Apple should continue to grow now that the content on internet flavors media. On the other hand they should not try to grow their business to fast, since that may generate quality problems which would damage their reputation. Quality and brand loyalty are more importante then volume for apple future.

Two words:

Stock Price

Sure and my neighbor must have the best roof in town
because he’s already patched it 14 times this year. The
rest of the neighborhood can’t match those numbers, so
we all must have leakier roofs than he does. Right?

How much money is Apple leaving on the table because of its closed-box, boutique business model?

ummmm…none? Last time I checked they are selling Macs at full price as fast as they can make them….

instead of only running on Apple’s pretty but limited and overpriced hardware line?

Well I own both Dell and Mac laptops. guess what - to make the Dell functionally the same as my MacBook Pro, the price difference was…..$75. Dell then charged me $65 shipping. Oh, and I didnt get iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD. I had to ASK not to have tons of CRAPWARE preinstalled and even then it took me an hour to get trialware off.

I use both so I am not a complete fanboy but when I really really want something done, its always my Mac(s).

I am an Apple shareholder and I am not about to sue!

http://www.mediafaxfoto.ro/photos.php?search%5Btitle%5D=FRANCE-TELECOM-APPLE-IPHONE&search%5Bmode%5D=list&search_section=home&language=en

So when do we see the end of those annoying web sites that insist that I “upgrade” my browser because they are “optimized” for Internet Explorer? How many store fronts are losing sales by not supporting that 7% Mac OS user base? Have you ever refused to buy something online because they wouldn’t sell it to you via your web browser? I have.

what ken and others like him do not realize is that an effective(Gartner’s) .5% increase in market share equals
lots of $$ for Apple and a bunch of happier investors
Apple is the new Sony, for the next 5 years immense growth is the keyword

Why is it split “Mac Intel” and “Mac OS”? That does not make sense. Mac OS runs on Intel or PPC processor. They probably meant “Mac Intel” and “Mac PPC”.

Well, I can’t say I’ve ever met a Ken that was smart.

That said, I can’t think of a single person that has praised Vista or Microsoft in recent years.

Ken seems, not completely daft, and certainly smarter than all other Ken’s I’ve ever met. Could it be that Ken’s real name is Steve?

Not Steve Jobs! No, no –Steve Ballmer!! ;)

Is it possible that the figures are skewed in favor of Windows and Mac users who mostly use it for surfing and emails?

Plenty of developers tend to use Linux because they want more than a shiny box to surf and most of them have dual boot machines. I don’t think this survey captures the Linux market share accurately.

Well, this is all great. This will not move the stock. Still the overall percent is very small. Apple OS is in use many for fun and games. NO serious applications are developed on Apple platform.
Steve had consulted to me regarding this matter and I told him to focus on electronic gadgets.
I would go and read and/or buy a MacOS book from one of the comparison sites http://www.valuesticker.com and get an idea as to what MacOS can do.

Ken, I guess BMW or Mercedes shareholders should sue those companies too. I have no idea why those companies continually think that making luxury cars that only appeal to a certain segment. Why doesn’t Merecedes start making a $10000 piece of junk for fleets? Their shareholders should sue them for not doing that instead of making them lots of profit margin.

While we are at it, Target’s shareholders should sue them too for not running stores that are the equivalent of flea markets like Wal-Mart so they will bring in some more customers.

A vast majority of that 90% of Windows computers are enterprise. Hell, my company probably owns 500,000 Windows computers.

Tell me the last time that Dell doubled its maketshare, Ken.

Ken your last comment is very astute and I agree with everything you said. The elitist business model of Apple regarding their OS is very frustrating - which is why for my dollar, I will stay in the PC world. BG

Eric, I hope you were being ironic. Releasing 14 security patches is not a good thing. Its better to never have to release security patches because you software works right the first time… :)

Hate to Break the news to everyone, but Windows Vista is going to dominate this survey for a long time to come. Yes there were some problems such as performance and reliability, mainly due to poorly coded drivers. After getting all new drivers and running the MS updates, I am enjoying my Vista much more than XP, it is worth the upgrade now that the platform is very stable. As for linux, there are too many flavors and no real public interest, because as we all know, if you don’t download from unknowns or visit questionable websites, Windows will work all the time everytime, well unless the hardware dies. Oh and Vista is way more secure than any other OS, 14 security patches this year! I’d like to see Apple try and get those numbers, but I think they are through the roof this year, looks like the little red target is getting much bigger for Apple. Eat on that a little!

Ken,

shareholders sue Apple?

Last 12 months, Dell shares went down 10% (that’s MINUS 10!), Microsoft is up 16% and Apple is up 99.5%!

Last five years Apple is up 2251% vs. Msft at 29%

If you are a stock investor this last few years you should be kissing Apple not suing them. Also which PC maker has the potential to GROW it’s market share like Apple. Apple can DOUBLE it’s market share, can Dell? or HP or Msft so which stocks have greater profit potential?

Microsoft’s earnings (EBITDA) are $22B and its profit margin is 27.5%. Apple’s EBITDA is $4.7B, one-fifth Microsoft’s, and its profit margin is 14.5% (about half MSFT’s), and this is after the huge success of iPods and iPhones. Is there any prospect of AAPL catching MSFT on either of these measures using its current walled-garden strategy, especially if one separates out the Mac business? Microsoft clearly shows that one doesn’t sacrifice profits for market share in the software business.

Share prices, as I hope we all know, are prone to hype. Though it seems likely that Microsoft’s growth days are over and Apple is obviously growing, it’s hard to justify AAPL’s P/E ratio.

Regarding accusations of “non-thinking,” as always it’s the quaint religiosity of Apple believers that suggests some lacking skepticism.

@Ken: Microsoft has shown that the software franchise works in one and exactly one instance. That scheme has since failed for cell phones and mp3 players. MS didn’t even try it for game consoles. And it’s even arguable whether illegal acts (i.e. convicted monopoly) led to it working in that one instance.

Apple is generating substantial profits off its computer business today. Why should they sacrifice that for market share? Didn’t Dell and Motorola just try that? And where are Kevin Rollins and Ed Zander going today?

Comments like yours always amuse and annoy me. They are both amusingly ignorant and annoyingly arrogant at the same time.

Linux market share is much higher than .57%. Have you even considered that more than 50% of the internet websites out there are powered by Linux. In some countries Desktop versions of Linux exceed the 10% mark. While I’m a Apple user, I hate to see Linux get shortchanged every time it’s mentioned in the press.

Apple shareholders should sue?? I’m sorry, but in June ‘04 AAPL was a split-adjusted $15 / share. Now it’s at ~$180 / share. Ken, you’re an idiot. Think before you post.

According to experts more knowledgeable than I..and you, Mr. Broomfield, Apple equipment is cheaper when one includes depreciation which in the Apple world is tiny in comparison. It is like buying a Toyota ( note..I did not say BMW or Lexus), quality give a higher rate of return even on a standard and common vehicle. It is not true in the PC world wherein Apple dominates in resale value. This means several things and not the least of this is that people like and trust the hardware quality of this equipment never mind its fine design. Those that do not care about design, can shop elsewhere. Clearly the stockholders are very happy with the huge increase in stock prices on Apple this year. Mediocre products? Please. Apple Macbook Pro runs Vista faster and better than any PC never mind its own wonderful OSX.

Apple make hardware AND software - to simplify and put them in an OS popularity list is interesting, but means little.
Add the hardware and software numbers together and you have a market share in real terms of around 15%, ignoring iPhones, iTunes and iPods, which have a market share of around 70%!
Apple Inc. is worth about half of Microsoft in share value, with only one tenth of Windows market.
And they are MUCH more profitable.
So why should the shareholders sue?
Your comment is stuck in the past - please think a little before you do your ten-second ‘analysis’.

Articles about Mac market share reaching a new single-digit high always amuse and annoy me. What should Apple’s market share rightfully be, based on the MacOS’s merits and Windows Vista’s problems? 50%? 70%? How much money is Apple leaving on the table because of its closed-box, boutique business model? How many MacOS users could Apple charge ongoing rents to if the software ran on any hardware out there, instead of only running on Apple’s pretty but limited and overpriced hardware line?

Apple insists on repeating the historic mistake that let Windows dominate the market, leaving Macs confined to an effete niche. Microsoft proved long ago that owning a software franchise that leverages commodity hardware is the most profitable strategy, even with a mediocre product. Apple shareholders should sue.

Where is Linux in this equation? Has the author done his homework?

ex ped: Linux is at .57%, up from .50% a month earlier. Thanks for asking. –Philip Elmer-DeWitt