What the heck, we did it for browsers, now let's do it for operating
systems. As users of Windows, it will probably come as no surprise
to you that your operating system is the run-away best seller. Here
are some interesting facts about Windows, all culled from Windows
magazine. The story is called "The Future of Windows," but it might
as well be called "The Future IS Windows":
• The total number of operating systems--both Windows and
non-Windows--sold each year is expected to increase from
83 million copies in 1996 to 136 million in the year 2000,
according to research firm Dataquest. Windows' share of
this expanding market is projected to grow from 86% in
1996 to 92% in 2000.
• Though the Mac OS, UNIX and OS/2 sales all grew in absolute
numbers last year, Windows 95 and Windows NT were the only
operating systems to gain market share.
• Total new copies of Windows shipped each year is projected
to climb from 71 million copies last year to 123 million
in the year 2000.
• Windows 95 is the fastest-selling operating system ever;
Microsoft ships between 3 million and 5 million copies per
month for a total of more than 70 million copies so far.
• Windows NT Workstation sales are expected to increase from
4 million copies last year to more than 50 million copies
in the year 2000, Dataquest projects. (That's not a total.
It's the number Dataquest expects Microsoft to ship in the
year 2000 alone.)
• Analyst Rob Enderle, of Giga Information Group, estimates
the number of Windows users (actual people) to grow from
about 150 million by the end of 1996 to 215 million people
by the year 2000.
Now, it's worth noting that DataQuest has always been *way* off
in their projections, but these figures are still interesting.
Using Netscape's accounting tactics, we can see that the Microsoft
Exchange client is the best selling E-mail system on the planet
with over 70 million "users." They should advertise that more.
:) Sorry, I couldn't resist