Mac Market Share Over 7% In December

[MacRumors]

Apple continues to make market share gains according to online trend research firm Net Applications.

Last month, Net Applications reported that Apple's share was up to 6.8% with corresponding declining Windows market share. Today, Net Applications reports that the Mac has crested the 7% barrier and is at 7.31% for December 2007. Meanwhile, Microsoft's Windows OS continues to decline in market share, with a still dominant 91.79% in December having eroded from 92.42% in November. Apple (and to a lesser extent, Linux) have been steadily taking market share from Microsoft for the past 6 months.




Courtesy, Net Applications

In contrast to market share numbers by firms like Gartner which combine quarterly results from the industry to give market share of sales, Net Applications market share numbers attempt to represent installed base of internet users. More on how Net Applications gets its numbers...


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[Eidorian]

More like over 9000, right?

I digress. It's good to hear especially after getting a lot of Windows + crappy Terminal clients + Xming to switch over.

Not that Xming is a bad thing.

Everyone drooled over my MacBook's looks. I drooled over Core Foundation, 64-bit, and Terminal.app.

[FJ218700]

great news, especially for AAPL stockholders over the next month.

it would be incredible to reach 10% marketshare by Jan '09

[aridon]

I looked really briefly at that link on how they calculated the data and they talked about Iphones and such under the browsers section. I'm sure the extra 5 million safari's being used helped things some.

[leekohler]

This is great! It's not surprising though. People are really starting to get it here in the city. I'm beginning to see more Macs than PCs in cafes these days.

[igazza]

9% after macworld

[kinless]

Also somewhat (and I repeat, somewhat) pleasing is that IE7 has finally overtaken IE6 as the dominant browser.

Being a web developer that makes me giddy. Now Firefox/Safari needs to overtake them both, but we'll leave that goal for 2012.

[gusapple]

I'm not surprised. I had a friend who asked for a Mac for Christmas a few years ago. His dad said that there was no way that he would ever buy a Mac. This year, my friend asked again and because of Boot Camp, his dad went with the Mac.

[2A Batterie]

I give much of the credit to Vista. Microsoft may as well have named it Windows Frank Stallone. It's kind of like MS is a football team that's beating itself- fumbling, throwing interceptions, penalties, etc. Worst OS ever. That, and OSX just being superior, is my theory.

[MonkeyClaw]

Well my parents switched over to a nice little MacBook so I guess their helping!

[space1nvaders]

When Apple reaches 10% I think momemtum will carry them to 50%.

[Eriamjh1138@DAN]

7% is impressive. A few years ago, it was at 2%. 10% would be nice.

What this really means is that Apple hardware sales continue to increase faster than the rate of other "PC" sellers. This means more money for Apple and more adoption of OSX.

We will NEVER see 50% Apple market share. Apple can't build that many computers. In addition, we will NEVER see 50% OSX market share unless Apple opens it to generic PCs. We all know that will not happen.

[kinless]

Originally Posted by Eriamjh1138@DAN

We will NEVER see 50% Apple market share. Apple can't build that many computers. In addition, we will NEVER see 50% OSX market share unless Apple opens it to generic PCs. We all know that will not happen.

The question is...would we even WANT that to happen?

Don't we enjoy being part of the niche market and ignored by the virus writers?

[countach]

Sure you could see 50% market share. Apple is quite capable of contracting out that much manufacturing. Nobody thought at one time that MS could have 95% market share.

As for the stats, a .5% point move in one month is HUGE. If it continued the whole year that would be 6% points in a year, and AAPL stock would be $500 in a year.

[.:R2theT]

Originally Posted by Eriamjh1138@DAN

We will NEVER see 50% Apple market share. Apple can't build that many computers. In addition, we will NEVER see 50% OSX market share unless Apple opens it to generic PCs. We all know that will not happen.

I agree we will never see Apple with 50% market share. But with the kind of company Apple has become in the last 6 or 7 years, I am sure they could take care of any demand that comes. As long as that demand is organic in nature, as it is currently.

[SilentLoner]

I have to say the OS X is just a more peaceful experience in my opinion. The market share being steady would of made me happy but to see it increase is even better.

[rish]

I'm not sure how accurate the calculations are however going by interactions I have had with friends personally, I'm finding more and more people are switching to Macs. It's slow but it is definitely increasing. I've met quite a few strangers at John Lewis stores and Apple Stores contemplating the move over to Macs and given them a gentle nudge. Mind you I've taken on a few die hard Windows sales people too who then push more customers to the Mac market because of their sales tactics.

Even today a technophobe friend of mine is definite about his next purchase being a Mac within the next 2 months.

I agree with other postings. Get to 10 (or 15) percent and momentum will generate.

Working on 4 family members at this time to move over.

[ThunderLounge]

Originally Posted by kinless

The question is...would we even WANT that to happen?

Don't we enjoy being part of the niche market and ignored by the virus writers?

Valid question. While an increase is good, too much could end up a beast.

Then again, as a lot of those windows viruses are because of microsoft, has Apple ticked people off like that? While not every virus out there is written under those premises, a good share of them are.

I think the biggest obstacle against a large (25%+) market share is attitude, competence and mindset. To illustrate, there's a lot of lemmings in line for the cliff jump.

I've got a buddy that I laugh at all the time while he reinstalls his OS because its so screwed up. Now he wants to move to even more parts, and vista. I laughed so hard I cried. He just can't comprehend that there is something better, that would keep out of his way while he works. He's a great guy, but sometimes a little dense I guess. To be honest, I think he's scared/intimidated by the thought of not having windows, and having to learn something new. Even if it's a breeze, it can be a scary thing to folks who honestly don't know what they're doing.

[jackc]

Oh no! As market share increases, my self-worth is declining!

Time to go full-blown emo.

[rezonat0r]

Originally Posted by kinless

Don't we enjoy being part of the niche market and ignored by the virus writers?

I hope that was a joke But in case it wasn't...

Virus writers are not ignoring OS X at all. Going down in history as the creator of the first "real" virus for OS X is more than enough to get people trying. It hasn't happened because OS X is relatively secure and has sensible default services running.

[macmike47]

Originally Posted by kinless

The question is...would we even WANT that to happen?

Don't we enjoy being part of the niche market and ignored by the virus writers?

Good point - while spreading the love is a kind and generous thing to do, it's quite nice being part of the minority. If Steve and friends keep going at the same rate, the market will no longer be niche.

[iTeen]

it will only continue to grow thankfully.

[cameronjpu]

Originally Posted by ThunderLounge

I think the biggest obstacle against a large (25%+) market share is attitude, competence and mindset. To illustrate, there's a lot of lemmings in line for the cliff jump.

The biggest obstacle to Apple getting that high is profitability and thus price. Apple doesn't sell a PC for under $1000, but that is the VAST majority of the PC market right now, and growing. The Dells and HPs of the world aren't less profitable than Apple because they have crazy expenses, they are less profitable because they don't make 50% profits on the hardware sale like Apple does. Apple will never be able to serve the part of the market for whom $200 in upfront cost makes a large difference.

As they say - "the poor man pays twice"

[!¡ V ¡!]

Q. Will be able to keep up with product and production if it reaches 10+?

A. With a growing user base and more revenue, I am certain that is capable to handle this task. At present and in the past production and demand were not certain.

Q. With popularity Mac OS X will see more viruses and the sort?

A. Quite possible, its the nature of the beast I am afraid.

Q. Mac OS X needs to be ported to run on average PC for more market share?

A. It's possible to run Mac OS 10.5 on average PC, the problem is that it does not run 100% as native hardware. Profit is the name of game and market share is cheer second. Seems quality is being pushed down to 3rd and dropping.

Being in the minority for such a long time as a Mac user does not make me envious to reaching 10% or higher. It does not bother me in the least as long as Quality and Experience is attained.

[TheSpecialist]

I notice Windows fanboys browse this site too, as why the hell would someone rate this news negative. Shoo, fanboys!