Comments on: The Mac owns the U.S. Windows owns the world. Nary the two shall meet?

The Mac is making great strides in the U.S., while Windows dominates the rest of the world. Do the two growth curves reflect different stages of global expansion?

[chriswininger1]

As many readers have already pointed out you can't really say Mac is dominating the market form the figures shown here. The number of PCs in the market still way outweighs the number of Macs. However, it is good to see that Mac is growing. In as much as standardized platforms make software development easier I still like to see variety and some of Microsoft?s less than ethical business practices have been disconcerting over the years. Keep it up Mac and if you really want to make some head way you should try developing some real enterprise level solutions that can support actual infrastructure. To my knowledge Macs are still being used primarily as workstations. I have not really ever seen a Mac deployed as a web server or being used to host company e-mail. These positions are almost always held by UNIX, Sun, or Microsoft based architectures. I do not know enough about Mac to know if this is because Mac doesn't provide such solutions or if they are simply not promoted well, but I think now is the time to break into that market. Do it quickly, while Microsoft is still taking fire over Vista!

P.S.

Has anyone looked at the Zonbu. If you?re looking for a lightweight PC and generally have a broadband connection to the internet it seems like an interesting alternative to a windows based pc.

[hpew]

Apple does make servers, along with server specific software. See: http://www.apple.com/xserve/

[kelmon]

There are a few companies that run on Apple servers but they tend to be few and far between for good reasons. While the Xserve and OS X Server options are typically cheaper than certainly Windows servers, they tend to do less and therefore are not a good fit for a business, particularly if they already have an investment in Windows. I rather suspect that Apple will concentrate on making OS X a good client on a Windows network rather than seek to replace Windows entirely, simply because of the huge gap between what Apple currently provides compared to what Microsoft does.

[hpew]

The lack of growth of the Mac is because of brainwashed (by Gates & Company) IT departments which TO THIS DAY steadfastly REFUSE to support Macs, based on the same old tired hogwash arguments.

[kelmon]

I agree that there is a reluctance based on fear of the unknown, but it is also true that if an IT department was to try and support Macs as well then the overall cost of supporting the organisation would increase. By adding Macs you are effectively doubling the complexity of the IT infrastructure (assuming it was just Windows before - it would be less if there was already a mix of platforms). While a Mac typically requires little support, those that do are completely different to Windows and therefore the reluctance to support them is well founded. That said, if the Macs can deliver more value to the business than they cost it then a business case for them can be made and IT will have to do it.

[blinkdt]

"IT departments which TO THIS DAY steadfastly REFUSE to support Macs, based on the same old tired hogwash arguments"

@hpew . . . I can deploy 130 fully configured Windows XP and/or Windows Vista machines on a Saturday morning all by myself. And they will require virtually zero ("0") maintenace during the year--truth. Those 20 eMacs we bought? They where a royal pain to deploy, noone wanted to use them (that Mac Lab sat empty all year), and they ALL failed (inherently defective motherboards--so much for "they just work"). I got'cher "Hogwash." Mac cheerleaders make me sick.

[Hopalite]

I own both MAC Laptops and PC Desktops. I like them both. I haven't had a major problem with either one. This constant war between only PC users and only MAC users is relegated to fanatics. LINUX is ,according to my brother,just as good as both MAC and PC. However; CNET'S article should never have been printed. It gives the impression that CNet doesn't know business facts.

[cmsunion]

It's kinda weird how trends are always different in America than in the rest of the world.

[i_made_this]

"On the other hand, is Windows the new cheapskate strategy? Do people only buy it if they're looking for something cheap and "good enough"?" No. And no. Actually, Windows isn't cheaper at all - it's much more expensive. The OS X Leopard operating system is less than one half the cost of the Windows Vista Ultimate operating system. And the comment "Mac Owns the U.S." - in the headline, no less - is so absurd, it's an embarrassment to the C|NET editorial staff. All this article's trying to say is that OSX' miniscule market share improved its position at the cost of one of tech's all-time most expensive, year-long marketing campaigns.

[blinkdt]

"Public perception still dictates that Apple computers are more expensive than the competition, even though study after study (and my own experience) continue to disprove this highly popular misconception"

Otter . . . study these stats: I just bought three (3) Dell Inspiron 1720s today, including bag and mouse. I won't bore you with the stats, but let it be said loud and clear: those THREE machines cost less than ONE C-O-M-P-A-R-A-B-L-E Mac. I don't know what "studies" you're reading or what you're drinking, but the bottom line don't lie, baby.

And word to the arrogant: Vista is coooooooooool, baby. Add a little Office Enterprise and CS3 Master Suite Collection (not the dumbed-down Mac seconds) and you are all set to *actually do stuff* Have fun with "that iLife thing you do."

[CDQE]

title: "The Mac owns the U.S."
article text: "my beloved Mac "

And how would YOU spell "conflict of interest"?