In the world of monopolistic operating systems, it certainly didn’t take long for Windows 7 to be on more computer than Microsoft’s previous, bungled platform Windows Vista.
Net Applications now reports that Windows 7 accounts for 14.5% of all operating systems on active computers, leapfrogging ahead of Vista which now stands at 14.3%.
This comes juse nine months after Windows 7 became commercially available, making it just about the quickest that any new operating system has overtaken its predecessor. If you don’t believe me, just look at Windows XP. That OS still has a 61.9% market share.
It also gives more credence to Microsoft’s statement that Windows 7 is the fastest-selling operating system ever, already making its way through 175 million sold licenses, the vast majority of which are through PC makers who now almost unanimously sell all new computers with Windows 7 installed.
Vista never went above 18.8% market share in its unfortunately short-lived lifespan. Its peak was last year, right before the launch of Windows 7, though it never came anywhere near the dominance of Windows 2000 or Windows XP.
Even though Vista was widely considered a huge failure, by the mere fact that it was a Windows platform, it still catapulted above Apple. And ever since the launch of Windows 7, Mac OS X’s market share has been dwindling. It now accounts for just 5% of all operating systems currently being used. Of course, that’s because only one manufacturer uses that operating system, but the fact that its numbers have been slipping is noteworthy.
Besides, Apple is more focused on the iPhone these days anyway.
