IDC Says Linux Will Pass Mac OS Market Share By 2005, Possibly End Of 2003

by , 3:15 PM EST, December 19th, 2002

In an article about iSync at ZDNet, we noticed a quote from IDC concerning Apple's market share. While the overall point of the article was to deal with iSync and Microsoft's own data syncing efforts, the battle for market share also entered the story. Apple's slipping market share was mentioned, along with the supporting quote from IDC that we think you will find interesting. From ZDNet:

IDC estimates that the market share for Mac OS dropped to 3.1 percent in 2001 from 4.6 percent two years earlier. Windows, in contrast, has more than 90 percent market share.

"Certainly by...2005, possibly by the end of 2003, Linux will pass Mac OS as the No. 2 operating environment," said IDC analyst Dan Kusnetzky.

You can find the full article at ZDNet's Web site.

The Mac Observer Spin:

Linux surpassing the Mac OS? Surely Linux will continue to gain users as time marches on. There are many Windows users out there who have grown discontent with Microsoft's buggy software and onerous licensing, and this is especially true in the corporate environment. While some will Switch to the Mac OS, others will switch to Linux. But Linux overtaking the Mac OS for the #2 slot? We think we'll add this to the Apple Death Knell Counter, for posterity's sake, of course.

What do you think, will Linux take over the #2 spot? Join us in the TMO forums to discuss the issue.

ZDNet Article