“Gates, in Las Vegas Sunday, boasted that Microsoft has sold more than 100 million copies of Windows Vista since the OS launched last January,” McDougall reports. “While the number at first sounds impressive, it in fact indicates that the company’s once dominant grip on the OS market is loosening. Based on Gates’ statement, Windows Vista was aboard just 39% of the PC’s that shipped in 2007.”
“Gates’ statements at the 2003 and 2008 Consumer Electronics Shows thus reveal — calculating roughly — that Windows XP captured about 67% of the new PC market during its first year. Vista, by contrast, captured just 39%, or less than half, of new PC shipments in 2007,” McDougall reports. “The numbers are no doubt troubling for Microsoft, which spent millions of dollars developing and promoting Windows Vista.”
McDougall reports, “Contributing to Vista’s woes is the fact that new desktop alternatives to the Windows operating system have emerged in recent years — including Apple’s beefed up Leopard…”
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Dirty Pierre le Punk” for the heads up.]
I’m typing this on my brand new POS HP/Compaq 6910p – doesn’t that just roll off the tongue? I work for a monster consulting firm and the whole firm is switching over so there’s nothing to be done. So sad. Anyway, I got an email at work over the holidays saying my ThinkPad was EOL and I had to bring it back in and get a replacement and that it would have Vista on it. I asked if there was any way to keep XP and tech support said no, everyone MUST “upgrade” to Vista.
What a POS OS, not that I had any doubt. I have 2GB of RAM in this machine and it’s still slow as hell and takes forever thinking about doing anything. Sure, they eye candy is pretty – weren’t the icons designed on a Mac??? – but trying to get anything done is pathetically slow.
One of my co-workers got hers today after I warned her yesterday how crappy Vista is and she mentioned that to the tech guy. He said it’s not as bad as everyone is making it out to be. Ha! So I’m not the only one bitching about it.
@ Kelli:
The primary reason for graphics departments using Macs is color management and fidelity. I work in the design practice at a Windows-only strategic communications firm. We insisted on Macs and got them.
@Angleus520:
“One of my co-workers got hers today after I warned her yesterday how crappy Vista is and she mentioned that to the tech guy. He said it’s not as bad as everyone is making it out to be. Ha! So I’m not the only one bitching about it.”
Too bad that makes a crappy slogan. “Windows Vista: Not as bad as everyone’s making it out to be.”
Your frustration. Our fault.™
My last full day at Microsoft…
http://www.tweakvista.com/Article39218.aspx
@ Kelli
I have been working almost 3 years in the print department at a large media company in Toronto, and spent the first 9 months of it working on a PC. Now, as anyone will tell you that knows me, I am a “Mac Guy” through and through, but have worked on PCs back and forth over the years and figured that by 2005, the disparity between the two platforms must have been pretty small.
I could not have been more wrong.
After making a lot of noise and waiting very patiently, my company (of 600+ employees which is totally PC centric) finally caved and bought me (and my co-workers) nice shiny new Macs. Not only are we all roughly twice as productive on the Mac (less steps are required to perform the same tasks on a Mac than on a PC – simple OS efficiency), but we are able to utilize better resources (plug-ins and libraries) and create better looking consistent output on a regular basis. I kept a journal documenting my various struggles while tethered to my PC, and I will never go back. Especially hearing of the nightmare that is “Vista”.
I was using the same software packages on the PC as I am now on the Mac – initially Quark (v 6.5 at the time), and then InDesign, and of course Illustrator and Photoshop. Simply generating a high-res PDF on the PC was a chore (especially with Quark), now I live in a pretty blissful workflow, and can create 100s of individual versions of an ad without breaking a sweat.
I’m sure there are a bunch of people on this site who can cough up pretty similar stories.
bob
to put it in perspective though, there are now more vista users than osx (intel and ppc)
To correct that perspective, there are now 100 million Vista CDs laying around in drawers and IT cabinets. There is nowhere near 100 million actual Vista users.
bob
to put it in perspective though, there are now more vista users than osx (intel and ppc)
To correct that perspective, there are now more Vista CDs laying around in IT closets and desk drawers than there are OS X users, but there is nowhere near 100 million actual Vista users.
And to further correct your mindset, no one gives a damn about the market share myth anyway. Apple’s minority status did not stop it from releasing wildly popular hardware and software that makes the competition look sick.
“To correct that perspective, there are now 100 million Vista CDs laying around in drawers and IT cabinets.”
They also make nifty Frisbees for little people. The millions of AOL CDs are all up on the roof.
His Shadow is right, Apple may have a minor market share, but its movements creates shock waves with in the computer industry. As we all know where Apple goes other follow.
I don’t care if Zune Tang is satire, it’s misinformation like that which ends up in company poilicies.
@RePlay
Zune Tang usually does his usually funny shtick buy reversing everything so my guess is the Photoshop 4 was the first Windows version.
Also to put it in perspective there are over a Billion ALO CDs being used as high tech coasters, so there.
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“there are over a Billion ALO CDs being used as high tech coasters”
Not to be overly pedantic, but wouldn’t that make them low tech?
That would follow the company mission as well.
“Any “graphic artist” who’s “very happy” with Vista’s UI is not an artist.”
You said it Fred!
I am currently stuck on a PC at work and it SUCKS!!! We have an old G4, but the software isn’t current and there doesn’t seem to be much hope for that any time soon.
So I just go home and work on my G5.
Whatever the true number (less than 100 million and with post-purchase downgrades), it is clear that Microsoft has given Apple an incredible advantage during the next five+ years. Not only are Windows users switching because they want Mac OS X, they are also switching because they don’t want Windows Vista. Sure, some may still buy a PC and use XP on it, but since it will take Microsoft at least five years to release an alternative, XP will look (more and more) as ancient as it is under the hood.
ken1w is right.
Vista is really an ad for MacOS.
Too bad most people can’t spend another grand on a MB, after they spent 500 USD on a crappy low-end VistaHomeBasic brick.
bob
to put it in perspective though, there are now more vista users than osx (intel and ppc)
Did you work that out yourself, or did you steal a statistician to work that out?
Microsoft windows owns over 90% of the industry – Apple is around 5-6% in the world. 39% equates to over 30% of the entire industry. So well done with your calculations.
Here’s the point though, only about 30% of their 90% wanted to upgraded. (I’m guessing 9% brought it, then trashed it for XP or Mac OS). People waited 5 years for a OS that was supposed to fix all the flaws of XP – it was released with more problem than before so people go back to the slightly less crap – but still crap XP. Windoze has only gotten worse since ’98 in my opinion (I started with windoze 98, then upgrade to 2000 and then XP – That was when i realised it wasn’t gonna get any better and switched back to Mac.
XP won’t last forever, so unless Microsoft can pay users to switch to Vista or they manage to create a decent OS the XP users will most likely require something more and will switch to Linux or Mac OS X. Thus is why Microsoft should be worried, when they face losing 67% of their market.
Having said that, Apple may save their arse… The ability for Apple computers to run multiple OS’s will allow Microsoft to hold part of that market.
God I ramble. Sorry. Enough from me.
Hard a uncofirmed rumor that Dell will drop Vista and stick with XP…
Herd from a client today. But cant confirmed.
re: Fred Mertz,
WTF are you talking about? Ever since Photoshop finally came to the MAC in version 4 MAC sheep think they rule the graphic arts world. Vista is a work of art. Form meets function in new and enlightened ways. Microsoft’s color schemes are candy for the eyes. The quality of transparency and beautifully rendered drop shadows are magnificent. Arial is in all its glory. Kudos to Redmond for a job well done!
Cupertino, start your copiers, and this time hire a couple of people who understand and care about design when you implement human interface elements. Dorks.
Your potential. Our passion.™
—-
Well my ‘friend’, I am a Design Consultant with over 17 years working in all areas of the creative industry. I have lived and worked as a designer in three countries and have won afew design awards for interface design and I can safetly say that NO ONE that is serious OR earns their living, or is serious about their creativity NEVER uses windows.
I have friends in the movie industry, one of which was a high level post production manager on the last three star wars films who I see reguarly and whenever I visit I see banks of Apple Macs – no windows pcs.
I know the Creative Director of Saatchi and Saatchi, one of the most renowned advertising agencies in the world and yes you guesses it – they ONLY use Apple Macs.
You talk about good interface design, well my ‘friend’, speaking as someone who makes his living creating interfaces for various devices I can say you know FUCK ALL.
I wont go into the countless design errors and graphical contradictions used in the poorly concieved and amateurish Vista interface because to be honest I will be here for the next month listing and explaining it all to you.
I will leave you with this final comment, leave the creative comments to the professionals who are trained and make their living creating these products… on Apple Macs.
@Petey
It’s satire… jeez, you’re embarrassing us all.
Being one of those IT people who have installed their VLK of Windows XP on every new pre-configured with Vista Dell we’ve bought at work I can say that 39% Market Share for Vista is wildly optimistic if not out right wrong. 100 million PCs may have shipped with Vista, but according to most web statistics, Vista currently holds somewhere between 7 and 14% of the actual installed user base.
Sadly still more than OS-X, but how much of that was simply because Dell, HP, and others gave their users no choice?
Can I just say that I hate the car/computer analogy? Neither the markets nor the products are remotely analogous. Yes, Apple makes a superior product with a small market share, but that is the only similarity. Apple is not like Porche, Ferrari, or even BMW. Where is BMW’s entry level model to compete with the Ford Focus? Where is Porche’s sedan? Where is the Ferrari minivan? Apple makes the mini and the imac. Those specialty car companies aren’t trying to cover the entire market with a range of products like Apple does.
There are a number of reasons Apple has a small market share, but not a single one of them is because they sell a premium or specialty product priced beyond the income level of most Americans. Mac OS is made for the average American, and priced where most people could afford a Mac.
Apple fell behind in OS market share when it refused to license its OS in the 80s. Microsoft became the defacto standard and used its market dominance to remain that way. Meanwhile, Apple went through a rough patch after Jobs was ejected. It rebounded nicely once Jobs returned, but Microsoft’s momentum, unfair market practices, and ignorance has kept Apple’s market share low in recent years. None of that remotely resembles anything in the auto industry.
So please, stop with the car/computer analogy. It is just flat out wrong.
Macs are like a box of chocolates. They look good, they taste soooo good, and everyone will hate you for having it.
[ A nervous anticipation ripples through the auditorium. ]
… Petey !!!
[ Unanimously and in precise synchronization a thunderous cry of adulation shoots forth, After a while the master of ceremonies pleads for a bit of composure. ]
Master of Ceremonies –
“Well done sir, that was an absolutely smashing rebuke. You took our breath away and held us spellbound, as you systematically and with clinical precision deconstructed and ultimately demolished your adversary … Excellent work indeed sir.”
[ Further ecstatic applause from audience. ]
Master of Ceremonies –
“Needless to say you made use of all the compulsory elements, and yet, further to this, you also incorporated an additional stream of consciousness that was simply awe inspiring and truly sublime … Bravo.”
[ The master of ceremonies turns, and is handed an item from his “charming assistant” ]
Master of Ceremonies –
“So, it is with great pleasure that we award you with this magnificent “PLONKER” trophy.”
[ They shake hands, and engage in a little low level small talk, after which the master of ceremonies takes to the microphone again. ]
Master of Ceremonies –
“And so Ladies and Gentlemen, Petey would like to say a few words of gratitude.”
Petey –
…
How many of you Mac faithful have even tried Vista? I run it on my Mac Pro for gaming and the occasional check deposit (USAA can’t seem to get that working on Safari or FireFox), and it’s proven stable, fast, and secure. It plays nicely with my PowerBook G4 and MacBook Pro (or they play well with it). And I’ve got a second copy coming for my MacBook Pro for a business trip coming up – I need Windows for some programs I’ll use on the trip.
The point is, Vista and XP aren’t the piles of crap you make them out to be – I run them without antivirus and have never had a virus or had to do a format/reinstall in 15 years of working with computers. Do I prefer OS X and the Mac platform? Without a doubt. They’re not perfect by any stretch though – I never did get my Epson Photo RX500 scanner to work under 10.4.9/10. Vista worked right out of the box with no additional drivers. So did 10.5. But 10.5 has its share of weirdness going on right now, too.
mw: sense, as in “some of you have no sense when it comes to Vista”
Petey,
Are you sure you didn’t pound that one out on a PC running Windows Vista? You have all the negativity, resentment and pomposity us Windows enthusiasts treasure. I like how you tap into your anger and insecurity to come up with something truly special. I wish I had your gifts my friend. Come over to the light side. Join me and we can rule MDN together and quell this MAC rebellion once and for all!
Your potential (and you have loads of it). Our passion.™
P.S. I have 21 years in the creative industry, and I believe that’s 4 more than you. I win again! Cuddles.