I would like to see the numbers of SATISFIED Vista users vs. Mac users?
And the number of downgrades from Vista to XP
Almost all corporate sales for Vista are actually XP installs
Microsoft still owns the desktop, that is not in doubt.
What is doubtful is that the majority of people with Vista PC's like them, and how many people switched to Mac or a Linux flavor as a result of Vista.

That is the joy spin. You can selectively pick stats to make your case.

I would agrue that a more appropriate comparison between percentage INCREASE of market share of Vista is more appropriate to compare to the percentage INCREASE of market share of Leopard. This would measure how much Vista (percentagewise) has made in roads into the Windows portion of the OS market share compared to how much Leopard (percentagewise) has made in roads into the Mac OS portion of the market share. With that type of a comparison, then I am guessing that it will be much more of real comparison as BOTH Leopard and Vista will be going from ZERO market share to some number.

Or the other comparison is to look at increases (or decreases) in market share of Windows as a whole vs. the Mac OS as a whole. If you look at comparison, then you would "see" Apple doing well and Microsoft losing ground.

Of course, the intent of the article is that to point out that Microsoft is still the dominate player when it comes to the OS market. I would just argue that that stats used are not really appropriate. All you really need to point out is that Microsoft still has about 90% of the OS market with various version of Windows and the Mac OS only has about 7%. You could also compare the number of Vista licenses sold to number of Leopard licenses sold...but that is still likely comparing Apples to oranges (pun intended)...while I am sure that Microsoft is selling TONS more licenses of their current OS, the reality is that Apple is NOT a OS/software company per se, but rather a hardware company. So, if the idea is to compare how well Apple is doing compared to Microsoft, then that is NOT the appropriate comparison. It is only appropriate if you want to compare how well Apple is doing in OS market share to Microsoft, which is a no brainer...Microsoft is kicking Apple's rear in absolute terms...but Apple is gaining ground while Microsoft is losing ground. It is like watching a NASCAR race...yes, the leader might be several laps ahead, but the second place car is closing ground (whether or not the second place car can really catch the leader is a WHOLE other question).

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[soapbox] Backup good...no backup bad!! [/soap box]

To Lifelonglego: It's nice to see an intelligent comment! I'm running Vista Ultimate throughout my home, and love it!

You correctly observe the many security benefits available in Vista. Here Apple is sorely, and sadly, lacking. What's more frightening is that the vast majority of Apple users are completely non-technical (i.e., unable to use a PC) and don't appreciate the need for security. Apple is a zero-day attack waiting to happen!

A funny story: I was sitting next to a guy at dinner and we started talking about PCs. He reflexively started bashing Vista. I calmly observed that I had Vista running on a variety of PCs, the newest of which is 2+ years old. I went on to add that the Vista experience was fantastic and problem-free. My new "friend" started sputtering about Linux...how it doesn't need to be secured (Wrong!!) and grew madder by the moment as I countered every one of his uninformed notions by correctly observing "Vista does that..." The poor guy was so mad, he got up and left.

Thanks for a great post!

G-Man

OK, I have not had an apple since I was a teenager in the 80's using the old applesoft basic. I have had a Windows based computer since the early 90's.

I just read these two reviews talking about how great Vista is and couldn't help to wonder if they work for MS... I have a Compaq laptop right now which came with Vista Home Premium. I basically use it for nothing but word processing, email and basic web surfing.

It crashes all the time unless I am surfing on firefox. I was a die hard fan of MS before this OS.

To Vista standards my laptop is bare minimium at 2GBs RAM, a dual core AMD X2 TK-53 processor with an NVIDIA GeForce Go 6100 integrated graphics.

These features you talk about being so great on Vista just made what would be a great system on XP, not good enough on Vista for features I honestly don't need.

Don't try make windows seem so secure, we all know the truth about that, and no I am not denying that linux and apple need security but honestly I like using my own security and common sense. The over built but still lacking security of Vista in test after test has proven to be little to no better than XP and just makes needing a more expensive over built computer a requirement now just so my son and I can get online to say hi to his mom in the army from time to time where ever she is based at any given time.

I know things progress and programs get more and more demanding but I have yet to see any program that does anything more special on Vista that I need or truly want it than what it could have already did on XP.

Bottom line is Vista goes all the way to Z to get from A to B.

As far as this story I'm guessing by these number linux has had a .54% increase in the OS market.

Sorry security should be an add-on to an OS not built in because not everyone needs security. A closed network in some offices does not need an OS that has a 10-15 GB footprint because of security software in the OS when it has no security threats.

That is my argument against Vista and was my argument defending previous versions of windows before Vista existed.

My next computer will be a linux computer. As far as switching data formats actually a lot of opensource programs for linus also have version on windows and recognize on either OS the windows data formats and can access them and run them.

Yes there is a learning curve on learning the new interface of a different OS and its software, but a lot of the software I would pay for with Windows I can get for free with Linux.

A Vista computer with 16 GB of RAM runs like a Linux computer with 1-2 GBs of RAM, just imagine how my next desktop will run on Linux with a 2.6 Quad core, a crossfire graphic setup and 8GBs of 1066 RAM.

Hardware like that was built to dazzle not run windows. MS needs to realize that an OS is the foundation for a system and not the other way around...

Vista has just become MS Tower of Babel. Microsoft needs to realize the PC or Mac are God not windows...

You can configure a Mac Pro with two Core 2 Quads and up to 32 GB of memory.

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[soapbox] Backup good...no backup bad!! [/soap box]

Let's face it: The resurgence of Vista shows that the cream always rises to the top.

Linux, an obscure quirky OS will settle in to the hobbyists' realm.

Mac's are for those who can't use a PC, hand the reins to a corporation and submit to lock-in with a closed architecture. Seems a high price to pay.

Not me man!

In summary, I quote from another post: "MOST problems with Vista are actually between the keyboard and the chair."

HEY,ENOUGH OF THESE VISTA BASHING
I HAVE PC WITH (LINUX) UBUNTU. ANOTHER WITH (MAC)TIGER AND ALSO WINDOWS (VISTA).
I AND I REALISED THAT VISTA SUPPORT MORE DRIVERS,SOFTWARE WITH GOOD SECURITY THAN OTHER OS.LINUX IS WORST IT DOES NOT EVEN RECOGNIZE MY VERISON AIRCARD AND ITS GNOME GRAPHIX IS TOO BAD.