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Survey Indicates Microsoft Windows' Market Hold Cracking TMCnet Contributing Editor Microsoft (News - Alert) has long had a hold on the market for operating systems in that many of us cannot complete our everyday computer tasks without Windows. The company’s strategic approach has been so successful that many of us wouldn’t know our way around a computer if we weren’t navigating with the help of a Windows system. Our undeniable dependency on this technology has created tremendous demand and enables Microsoft to dominate the market.
This now could all be changing. According to the latest release of Evans Data Corp’ North American Development Survey, Windows dominance on the client is cracking. This report reveals that targeting of the Windows OS has declined by 12 percent from a year ago, continuing a two-year gradual decline.
At present, 64.8 percent of North American developers are targeting some version of Windows, compared to 74 percent last year. What’s more, this is expected to drop another 2 percent in the coming year. And, although Windows remains the largest market segment, Linux targeting has increased by 34 percent from 8.8 percent targeting a year ago to 11.8 percent today.
"If we look back over the 10 year trend we've been tracking on OS targeting," said John Andrews, President and CEO of Evans Data in a statement, "it's clear that a shift away from Windows began about two years ago, and the data shows that this migration is now accelerating. Linux has benefited, but we also see corresponding growth in niche operating systems for non-traditional client devices. The landscape is changing."
This Spring 2007 North American Development survey is the 19th volume in a comprehensive bi-annual series that began in 1998. Other key findings from the survey of more than 400 software developers and IT managers include:
Evans Data Corporation focuses on providing regularly updated IT industry market intelligence based on in-depth surveys of the global developer population. The company’s syndicated research includes surveys that center on developers in a wide variety of subjects.
Susan J. Campbell is a contributing editor for TMC (News - Alert) and has also written for eastbiz.com. To see more of her articles, please visit Susan J. Campbell’s columnist page.
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