85% of Mac owners have Windows too

Macs are severly lacking when it comes to support. People rant and rave about AppleCare because they will make you fell all warm and fuzzy but it is a joke to get anyting repaired. We have deployed 2000 HP laptops int he field, and while you may say they break more often, I can have their laptop repaired and back in their hands within 24 hours. We have a dozen macs, one of them had an issue charging on a thursday, my options are to ship it off to a depot or to wait until Monday and take it 50 miles to the Mac Store for the next available appointment on Monday. They are not a supportable machine that can be deployed to a business user. Ooh, and at least on my pc I can log in a guest without nuking my data, have they fixed that Snow leopard issue yet?

Never owned a MAC, but likely will. Spent years as a developer in the PC realm.

No matter what you prefer, if you regularly invested in AAPL *like I did* starting just after the 2000 stock dump, you would be laughing yourself senseless while reading this meaningless (albeit subjective) back and forth banter.

Cha-ching!!!

After reading all the valid points about mac owners characteristics, I can conclude that Mac owners are defenitevely smarter the rest of the bunch.

I work in a hotel/resort that offers free internet access to our guests. Our IT dept. gets about 10 calls per week for guests who cannot seem to figure out how to connect to the internet. Guess what? 90% of them own macs and do not have a clue, and are very technologically challenged.

Wow, talk about numbskull pollsters. The obvious reason why 85% of Mac owners may own Windows too is because Macs now run on Intel so they can easily dual-boot and not run at emulation speeds.

Not really sure what the point of the rest of the questions are. Sure do wish I banked $100K a year though. According to the survey I'm 70% more likely too because I use a Mac.

The last time I touched a Mac was when I was in high school where the Mac OS version was 7.6 or close to it. I would definitely like to toy around with Mac OSX however I do not have the exorbitant amount of money lying around to buy something that will likely only amount to being a toy for me to play around with. $2000-$2500 for a Mac whos PC equiv with similar specs will be priced at $700-$1200.

I am a PC user and will likely remain a PC user as they can do everything I could ever want to do. The Macs I remember using were extremely limited by comparison.

I have a laptop loaded with Windows 7 and am fairly impressed so far. Reboot times are like nothing at all now.

I love how CNN is always on the MAC bandwagon /sarcasm.
The reality is that MACs are overpriced underpowered equipment meant for users who are too uneducated to use a Windows PC. I own 3 Windows PCs, A Windows Laptop, A Windows Netbook, various Virtual Machines running multiple Windows Operating Systems for testing, and a ton of gadgets from multiple manufacturers. The fact is that people who own multiple gadgets or PCs are usually technically inclined. It has zero to do with wealth or with owning a ridiculously overpriced MAC. Thank you CNN again for subpar reporting. I enjoy the stupidity that envelops your organization these days.

I am a former Microsoft Consultant that used to write MS-DOS 2.11 and 3.00 Manuals. At the time I wrote, MS-DOS was the best imitation of the Operating System of choice for Mainframes, and that was UNIX. But now many years later, MS is still using a non-UNIX architecture, while Linux and Mac OS X are based on UNIX. I am also partial to Intel as I served in Intel Customer Service at the Y2K turnaround. Since adopting Macs to do iPhone Development 1 year ago, I have discovered that it is hard for a former Windows user to adopt to Mac because Macs don't for example allow you to highlight some files and just press the DEL key to delete them, and also the Mac OS X interface is riddled with + and – buttons that don't have Hover balloons explaining them to be ADD and DELETE functions. Despite this, I am enthusiastic about Snow Leopard 10.6.2. I have been following recent postings on the Internet on how to install Snow Leopard on any Intel Box, be it hand-crafted or from Dell or Asus. I have installed Mac OS X on an Asus eeePC 1000HE and a Dell Mini 9 for fun and I now have Netbooks with 10 inch screens that are smaller than a MacBook Air! I am A+ Certified, MCP, and LPIC Level 2 Linux certified, and I love Win 7, Ubuntu, and Mac OS X. My Mac OS X system has VMWare running Ubuntu Linux, Windows 7, and Windows XP. I am sorry that as a Mac OS X owner that sometimes I get overenthusiastic about my systems, but after four years of experience of doing Desktop Support for Windows 98 and 2000, and my recent experience with supporting Vista, I can see that unless Windows 7 is a major hit next month, then people really ought to seriously Google for the 0SX86 project.

Being a poor college student the argue about money and higher end for Mac just isnt a real arguement. Computers are investments reguardless of what form you go with. After my freashman year of college my dell xp laptop was stolen and I decided to pony up some big bucks and go after a macbook pro. I havent look back sense. I can't explain it and when people ask why I like my mac I just say I'm not really sure why it just seems to be more simple and fun. I still use xp all the time as I do desktop support for a local organization and truth be known I love xp. After ten years using and working with it is very simple to use and perfect for the work environment. But in terms of home use and simple wasting away time in front of the computer screen I'll take mac any day. Which can just as easily be done in front of a windows pc. All-in-all they are the same both work fine and both have the risks associated with any major electronic device. Things break, things happen, its all apart of life. Play around with both and pick for yourself. I will continue to use both for as long as possibeq

I own both Macs and PCs. The Mac is easy to use while the PC has far greater capabilities.

I choose my Mac notebook over my pc laptop when I go on trips because it starts up quicker and all I need to do is check my email.

However, the PC is where I do anything outside of basic web surfing and picture sharing.

I am an avid photographer, and I use the same 3rd party software to convert my RAW files to jpg. It takes significantly longer on the Mac, the mac also tends to corrupt some of the image files during conversion. I also use the same 3rd party software on both PC and Mac to do some HDR photo work. Basically, it takes twice as long on the mac, and my Mac is newer and cost much more.

My other issue with the Mac is that it crashes a lot when I watch videos with soft subtitles (Vobsub or similar).

Outside of photo work, videos, and games, I prefer the mac. It's so simple it seems more like a regular appliance. Like a TV or microwave. But on that same token, it's just like an appliance, I feel very limited and the performance outside of just basic stuff is pretty poor. The PC feels like a performance or work machine whereas the Mac is a useful home appliance.

All in all, I couldn't give up either. Although my PC will do more and do it faster. The Mac is so simple and fun to play with.

In my opinion, Macs should be the consumer standard while PCs should remain in the work or enthusiast sector. Mac's are the point & shoot cameras, where as the PCs are the DSLRs.

Macs are the Honda Accord of the computer world. Reliable, simple to use, no hassle, traction control, etc. Perfect for the average household for everyday trips, you could take it to the race track, but that's not where it excels. PCs are like the Lotus Elise, raw, finicky to drive in traffic, heavy clutch, no traction control (well, some of them), terrible in the snow, tiny trunk, very little sound deadening, perfect car for the enthusiast but you wouldn't want to commute on it.

I learned to appreciate the Mac at work in a big university and learned that it is a much more reliable and stable, not to mention enjoyable, platform compared to windows. Now I have 5 macs in my household and all of them are still in great working conditions. One of them dates from 1997 and cannot run MacOS X but it is the classic 20th anniversary Mac and a very unique model which can be remotely turned on and off. None of them are loaded with windows, because they are not needed.

Every since the IBM/Microsoft/DOS schism, The guys that went to Microsoft has helped make the personal computer a device that every man can affford to own. While Apple has stayed entrenched in the close-to-the-vest, full-retail, proprietary approach. Were it not for "open" companies luke Microsoft and Intel, PC ownership would be much more rarre. Thank Jobs for the Mac. Thank Gates for spawing the industry.

Something that has not been mentioned at all in these comments is Apple Care. Apple has excellent customer service (a great majority of the time).

With a PC, I can type, email, draw, retouch a photo, watch or edit a movie, do calculations…What makes a Mac so special? I used Macs for 10 years. Being the artsy type, I was not smart enough to use the earliest Windows operating systems, and needed something more intuitive. But then I switched to PCs about 10 years ago because the curvy shapes and fruity colours looked too gay. Being a practical person, I buy what I can afford.

Let see, I own 3 Macs now. How did that happen? A little history to share.
Bought the 1st Mac for my son when he was in grade school (the school was using them). That was 8yrs. ago. In the first 3 yrs my HP brokedown and I got another which lasted only 2yrs. When that was getting repaired, I used my sons Mac and loved it. 3 yrs. ago I bought an iMac for myself and never went back to a PC. Now my son is in high school and uses the iMac for all his work, so I bought a Macbook Pro for work and love it. The 8yr old Mac is used by my daughter who is now in 4th grade. Still works great, never broke down.We have never lost any files,data or programs and none of them ever hung up or needed repair. Could it be that it is a better nachine and operating system? By the way XP runs better on a Mac.

I guess if we were in the States we would be one of the 85% as we own an iMac, a Windows PC and two Windows laptops. I bought my first Mac 5 months ago (after 18 years of Windows) and have never looked back. The only reason all that Windows stuff is still around is because we can't afford to replace four computers at once.

I look at it this way there is nothing wrong with pcs its the substandard os that is the problem. If you brought a new car that needed to be fixed as much as MS operrating systems need patches would u be happy. I think not so come on MS give us an operating system that actually does what its supposed to with out the crashes and the freezes. And can some one please do someting about bios boot times.

I was a Mac user for over Ten years but last year got sucked in by a slick sales patter and brought a lap top pc and have regreted that decision from the moment i switched it on.

Windows users are not brainwashed like Mac users.

Been a mac owner for years my first was a quadra, macs touted as the graphics industry standard with the adobe programs.Wife uses a Pc with autocad. was time to update both computers in the household and with the economy we could only afford one.Went with a pc with an intel i7core and put adode cs4 on it and it is fast fast fast. The vista 64 bit reminds me a lot of OSX. Comes with a free windows upgrade when it comes out and I here it even looks more like OSX. I will replace my mac when finances allow and I can afford that Steve Jobs Tax but for now I'm impressed.On the old mac now try to get her off the PC so I can get back to it.

I haven't seen anyone comment about Windows 7. Of all the reviews I've read about it I've yet to read a negative one.

Question: linux is excluded due to open source

Which would the government bail out if Apple or Microsoft was going to fail?

There's your answer…

This is very interesting. For people who worked with PC for long enough should remember how it was like 14-17 years ago. There was only DOS(IBM or MS) and MAC. If anyone still remember DOS command line. I started with 3.0/3.1 then Windows 3.0 without chance of trying Win 1.0/2.0/2.5. During DOS era, MS was competed with its competitor on the programming language and the compiler. The market was also fragmented into 2 major player, MS and Borland. After the compiler then it was OS between IBM OS/2 and Windows NT. Later again between MS Office and Lotus. Now it is MS and MAC. Love to see what will be next.

To Jeff: Houghton, MI, Who said, "a MacBook Air is not a netbook. MacBook Air is a thin MacBook Pro with many of the same disadvantages as other netbooks (no optical drive, less memory/HD, etc)" Read your comment. I would consider that a netbook. Wouldn't you?

I use extensively both Mac and PC. For my personal computing I've always relied on the Mac, is a great user experience and I have no problems whatsoever, I’m convinced the Mac is the best computer in the market and I love mine. However at work, where I spend quite a lot of my time I use a Windows PC (with XP), it’s not my decision, so be it. In the last 8 years, I’ve never had any serious problem with my PC either. I must mention the IT staff at work is quite good, but I woudn't think for a moment to switch to Macs at my work. For many folks in this forum a computer only has two options. It's great or it's crap. That's absurd. We as consumers should behave like consumers and not members of a ridiculous cult. (The same goes for apple fan boys and PC lovers)

Lets Just Face It No One Likes A Mac Owner But My Stuff Works And It Will Never Become A Pile Of Junk Somewhere Overseas WE Are A Poor Family From Cali With Four Macs

Yes, this is all about tools. I am a web and database developer who has worked freelance for more than 10 years. My primary client is a major PC manufacturer. I own only Macs and have never owned a PC during that time. I make an excellent living.

If you insist on continuing this idiotic argument at least use facts, and please don't pretend that Macs don't hold up in a professional environment. I don't run Windows on any of my macs. In fact, the only time I have had to touch a PC is via VNC when testing websites for Internet Explorer.

Feel free to google "web development" and "Internet Explorer" to find out what the development community thinks about the quality of that software and its status as a "Professional" tool.

I wonder how the question was asked. Did they ask about a PC or Windows? One advantage Macs do have is that they run Windows and Mac OS. Some of these Mac users that also have PC's may in fact be Mac users running Windows on their Mac.

Absolutely amazing how defensive and self righteous the Windows users are here-but not surprising.

I am really surprised at the lack of technical knowledge I see in the Mac versus PC versus Linux debate. Like anything, there is not a 100% clear solution in the tech world for the Mac versus PC versus Linux debate. I shall preface my below comments with the following: I used to own a Windows box that I upgraded (hardware mostly, new OS only if it was better than the previous release) every three years or so. In addition to the Windows box, I have a Mac mini, a MacBook Pro, and a Linux server (running Ubuntu). After using other operating systems, I decided not to replace my Windows box when it died. Windows is just too slow and bothersome, no matter what speed the hardware is. Also, I do not like the direction Microsoft is going with its operating system software.

Back to the debate:

First of all, numerous people are treating hardware and software as one. Obviously, they are separate components. In my opinion, Windows has slow operating system software, Mac has fast operating system software, and Linux can be an incredibly fast and lightweight operating system for anyone who has the time and skill set to make the changes.

Another part of the debate that I have not seen discussed in my quick skim through is the notion of the superiority or lack thereof of operating systems versus application software. Windows has horribly slow and faulty operating system software, but Windows' application software is excellent. I use Microsoft Office products on my Mac.

All of my endless babbling is to say: I used to fit the stereotype of the article since I used to own a Windows machine. Microsoft has not done anything new, innovative, impressive, or cost effective in its operating system software to keep me as a customer. Meanwhile, Mac and Linux continue to innovate and impress me.

Dave, you brag a little too much, However I'm happy you teach your children how to troubleshoot. People that don't use OSX in the house hold, Just haven't bought a Mac yet. I Bought my wife (windows user her whole life) a Mac….then a few months later I installed Vista as a secondary. It seems like Vista was just a waste of space now and is collecting dust on her HDD. Its not just her either. Other Window Users, after owning a Mac cant go back. Mac is too expensive for the average Joe to buy just not like it.

…but never use it.

@ Bryan from Boston;
It's Mac v.s. PC, it sounds dumb the other way :3

That's why my house is 8 computers, all running Linux! NO Windows, but we have 2 I-Pods. No drivers to install, don't have to worry about upgrading my hardware every 2 or 3 years and I don't give a rats A$$ about viruses and all sorts of nasties that Windows and Mac people have to worry about.

http://www.linuxmint.com – Linux for beginners!

My wife & I both have new Macs. I have a desktop and she uses her laptop.

But, I didn't want to give up some of my microsoft applications such as FitDay fitness software. So, I run Parallels software which allows my Mac to run both Mac software AND microsoft applications.

Wow – people love to debate this subject!!! They're just tools people! It's what you do with them that matters most. Get back work and create some real value.

Until a couple years ago, I’d never used a Mac, only PC.

Recently I bought a MacBook and now am frustrated when I have to use a PC. Here's why, Mac's are simple, fast & reliable. No games, but thats why I have a PS3.

Here's my fav reason for loving Mac… My MacBook has crashed ONCE in two years (really!).

Try one, you may dig it, I did!

This is a useless discussion; I built my first computer(s) in 1982 and have yet to date to purchase any name brand system. Currently I have a nine system network in my home connected to a 10 terabyte server. Everyone in the house has their own system as well as an extra in the kitchen for accessing recipes for the wife when she is cooking. My main 3 systems that I use for various functions aside from my Linux server are all multi boot systems. My most up to date system is running a beta version of windows 7 64bit, Ubuntu 9.04 64bit and OSX Snow Leopard 10.6. My system from last year is running Vista 64, Fedora Core 11 64bit and OSX Leopard 10.5. My last main system is running XP w/sp3, OSX Tiger 10.4 and ASP Linux. I find that there is no real advantage with any OS, they all have the basics and they are all good in their own way. But no matter what OS you use, it is nothing without decent hardware.
I have been diligent to instill into my three children on how to build and solve computer issues. For the most part they run multi boot systems as well (mainly Linux and Windows). My youngest is 8 and she can dismantle, replace and reconstruct her system with no help from me anymore. My two sons and daughter find no mystery in what’s in the guts of a system. They understand that most companies buy (most but not all) computer components from the lowest seller, and are well aware that a computer is only as fast as the slowest component in it and will only work for so long with the cheapest component in it. Remember that any OS is only as good as its user.
So folks, take the mystery out of the computer, build and fix your systems yourself. Try multiple OS’s. Not only will it be cheaper, using the best components you can find, but it will set you apart from the sheep that just follow each other touting their the best. Oh yes, one last thing. Our household income is a little less than $70,000 a year and there is not one iPod in the house or GPS device.

@Creekmore, Fort Smith
Z3-1943

Harvard Mark I -started in 1936, first computation 1946.

computers have existed for a lot longer that you might think.

http://www.osdata.com/kind/history.htm

VERY brief history of computing begining with punch card machines of the 1800's

In my opinion, Windows is better to begin with, but some people may prefer Mac. However, when it comes to some of the tasks that need to be done for certain business purposes, Windows is almost required. For example, I don't know of any good development software for Mac. And as far as compatibility, there are lots of things that you can do on Mac and PC, but more that can be done only on a PC than only on a Mac. And when it comes to hardware, Mac's been a complete loser from when it first existed.

Does it really matter? As long as we are all happy with what we have, then who cares?

April 1, 1976 – Apple released its first computer..

1981 – IBM released the first personal computer.

Not to take sides, because Apple v. PC is clearly a matter of personal preference and no one here will convince anyone else to change their personal preference..

I just think it's worth noting that 40 years of working on computers isn't easy to pull off since that would require starting 11 years BEFORE the first PC existed, and 7 years BEFORE the first Apple computer.

I've only been in it for 14 years and consider myself an old timer because I was at it before the first iMac in 97 and was one of those people who hated windows 95 but loved the removal of the 640k cap, and still frequently uses the old 8.3 naming rule… Must've been even tougher before the computers were there, though. I suppose I should be humbled.

I hate that my never returning to this article will mean I won't get to see any response explaining the work done during those 11 pre-PC years.. I'm always interested to encounter the folks that were working with machines in '69.. Especially ones that can somehow use their punchcard knowledge base in modern computing, even though they are almost wholly dissimilar.

If I hear one more witty-ish pc nerd say "Blah BLAH BLAH..APPLE PEOPLE STUPID" I'm going to scream. Pretty seriously people, this is about one thing, return on investment. Hows that Microsoft Stock goin guys? Oh way, you were too busy installing drivers for your new pc to look it up.

ahhh the ressurrection of a fake controversy. A computer, be it PC, mac, any version of the nix's, AS400 ect… are tools to perform a task. As such no one machine is the best at all tasks. 27 years of the PC v. MAC pising contest and it always comes back to the same retoric. "PC's are buggy,virus laden, bland, hard to use pieces of crap." "Mac's are for pretentious trend followers who only use their computers for internet browsing." That pretty much sums up the debate.
One note: The number of new virus's written every day for mac's is on the rise. For you MAC users if you want to keep your machines spyware/malware free the last thing you should do is try to get more people to buy them. Apple is terrible at releasing patches for known security flaws in their products (almost as bad Mircrosoft) don't believe me just google "iphone scurity issues" or "Charlie Miller"

I am an IT analyst also. I have a Promac at home for running Pro Tools and Final Cut. I have a Lenovo netbook that I run Ubuntu and at work of course I run XP. Personally I dont understand the argument use what you want to and let the rest do the same. I prefer OSX but Linux is also a very solid platform. I think possibly one day we will all look back and remember the good old days when OSX and Windows were still around Linux will win because it is open source and people are becoming more technologically savvy and are willing to take a chance on it…

With ANY survey, you can come up with different reasons for the results just as NPD did with this one. Using their numbers, one could put a Windows spin on it. For example, the headline could have been written "10% of Windows owners have Macs too." How? Because 85% of Mac owners own Windows and Mac consists of 12% market share, so 85% of 12% is 10%.
66% of Mac households own 3 or more computers could be written 8% of Windows households own 3 or more computers.

We should ask NPD why they decided to do this survey. I wouldn't be surprised if they were paid by someone that has an interest in seeing(producing) positive information on Apple.

Sorry but Windows is not an Open OS, it is just the dominate OS so more people support it. There are numerous third party cards and addon's for the Apple platform and there would be more if there were more Apple users. It is true that only one company creates full systems and I don't see that changing for some time but you don't bitch about only one company making XBoxes, or PlayStations, or Wii's. So get over yourself, and enjoy a mac or ignore the mac. Why whine about it so much?

Unless…..it is because you envy what it provides?

Just a thought.

this article fails to mention the huge percentage of windows users switching to MAC. This change can be unnerving which is why a large percent would have windows computers and MAC computers for a while. I'd like to see this revisited in 1 year.

Let's see Apple release OSX for any platform, not just Apple hardware. My guess is that any claims of more reliability go away in a heartbeat, when you got grandma running Snow Leopard on an 8 year old Dell.

Also, a MacBook Air is not a netbook. MacBook Air is a thin MacBook Pro with many of the same disadvantages as other netbooks (no optical drive, less memory/HD, etc), with a starting price nearly $1000 more than most other manufacturers upper level netbooks….

BTW, I have no preference. I have a Win 7 box sitting next to a Soalris 10 box. I use Linux daily at school. I've used Mac in teh past, but quite frankly don't have the cash to spend for no discernable advantage.

Interesting… I just read a comment about how Microsoft is a bad company who doesn't care about their customers. I'm guessing you've never been to a convention hosted by Microsoft where they give out "FREE" software and support. Plus provide in-depth training on how to use the latest and greatest tools. Which for the most part are "FREE" as well. To be honest, I think Microsoft has done a lot of work also creating jobs for people by offering free training for software developers so that we can keep up to date on the latest technology. If you don't believe me, google "Heroes Happen Here"…

When's the last time Apple did anything like that…?

mac=stable os,
pc=games+ hardware options
Its not about wealth or trend, its about usage requirements.

My wife and I have 5 computers in our house; three desktops and two laptops (one of each for me and one of each for my wife) all with different versions of windows. My new desktops has 64-bit Vista Ultimate which is amazing, but I also run two other boot drives, one with OSX, and the other running Linux. All have their flaws. OSX is SIMPLE and visually pleasing, but so is my new Vista. Linux is just a network workhorse.

The issue is compatability, Windows has the majority of the market therefore software developers devote more production to windows software. Period.

And FYI, you don't have to buy an over-priced Apple product to get an Mac Operating System, build it yourself and save some money. Its not hard if you can read and use Google!!

To Dave, Victoria BC –>"I've been working with systems for 40 years and all these companies are basically the same. ….. I do a lot of image and video processing and, sorry, but the Apple OS and apps provide absolutely no advantage over the equivalent in the MS world (if you can even find the range of apps available in the Win world)."
This is precisely the point of attraction with Macs for most people, it's simple and inviting to just have a go, no need to feel like a pro.
Im sure PCs can do all or most of what can be done on Macs and more, it just doesn't have that little extra that keeps non pros from giving up of frustration, the ease of use is so amazing you want to try what's next. The average non techie individual knows they re probably using just a tiny fraction of their computer's potential. Apple have managed to actually make you ENJOY using that 5 or 10 or 30%.

Dave, as I expected, you're a Windows user that loves to display his ignorance about Macs and computers in general.

I can't believe even someone as obviously ignorant as you is still using that tired old "closed system" cliche.

I have used Macs and PCs side-by-side since 1986 and I can honestly say you are either a liar or simply far too stupid to be using a computer.

Well I have 2 Mac's a Macbook Pro and Air, 5 iPods and various other Apple devices, and I will admit I own a Toshiba Notebook which I use for gaming and to run Photoshop CS4 (sadly they wouldn't let me have the mac version as company machines run Windows)

I worked in IT Support for 8 years supporting various versions of Windows, from 3.1 to XP, this reason is one why I now use Mac;s at home, I didn't want to bring my work home with me.

85% of Mac people have windows why? because Mac is not good enough and will never be.

Macintosh: So simple it makes idiots think they know what they are talking about.

For all the people out there commenting that Mac’s having more reliable hardware and having fewer hardware crash’s that is simply not true. The most common piece of hardware to fail on any computer is the hard drive, and Apple uses the same brand hard drives that many pc manufacturers do, which means they have the same life expectancy, and thus fail just as often. OSX does crash less than a windows based system, but there is a reason for that. Apple only will license certain apps to be sold on their OS. And you as a software developer must pay to get Apples stamp of approval. The advantage of this is Apple usually will test the software in many different environments and make sure it runs well. This is why there a huge lack software applications for OSX. Whereas with Windows, anyone can develop and sell software for it, even if you are a horrible programmer and your software crashes the OS all the time. Windows as a standalone system will run trouble free forever, it is only when you install certain apps that problems happen, and again that is in large part due to bad third party programs. And yes, Windows gets more viruses, but I have also had to remove them from Macs, I think the kids who write them want to target the largest denominator, ie windows based systems, but as the amount of Macs per household increases, so won’t the security threats.

Sorry Mike. We all have our preferences for how we like to work with computers (I run three at home), but don't deify a company like Apple which forces closed systems as the only way they can get market share. Steve Jobs & co are no different than any other computer company trying to expand their market, and IMHO, is far more restrictive and closed than Microsoft and IBM ever were. I've been working with systems for 40 years and all these companies are basically the same. By the way, I have used and actually don't like the Apple OS, and as for Vista – I knocked it like crazy until I actually started using a Vista 64 bit system. I do a lot of image and video processing and, sorry, but the Apple OS and apps provide absolutely no advantage over the equivalent in the MS world (if you can even find the range of apps available in the Win world).

Could the reason simply be the same reason some(most)Linux PC owners still use windows, namely games, and other software?

It will take some time before the cord can be cut.

This message goes to Michael in Fairfax, Va. about Apple and the netbook. Apple did release one that is similar to the new netbooks. It is called the Macbook Air. Check it out for your self. This actually came out way before Netbooks and is much more stylish.
And if you are planning on owning an iphone, guess what, you will have an apple machine in your pocket. Maybe not a macbook pro or even an imac, but it still runs the same OS. Think about it.

Windows? Is that still around? Wasn't that the software that was made to run like a Mac?

apple is a superior company. get over it pc'ers.
one word – vista. an operating system so terrible they had to trick their users into trying it under a different name. THAT's embarrassing. not to mention xbox 360's 70% failure rate at launch (which they were aware of, yet still released it). how's that for customer loyalty?
also, good luck playing catch up to the iPod with the Zune.
Microsoft really is the definition of a $h*t company that couldn't care less about their customers.

It would be so interesting to have a figure of how many people actually went out and bought a Windows machine after owning a Mac, or even reverted to PCs because they that dissatisfied with their Macs.
Now you don't go out and buy a Ferrari if you haven't got the dow(hmm slight exaggeration), but you accept the extra cost is justified and waging a war against those who can drive them is pointless, you won't change how the world works. THE POINT IS MACS BAFFLE BY THEIR SIMPLICITY.
My wife and I have windows machines for work but God, just the booting time is torture when you re used to near instantaneous start (I start, check bank account and shut down in 90 secs flat on my Intel Imac..ok I have to put down my coffee, but it's true). Once you go Apple you don't go back, there's definitely a bit of hype but it looks good and it works, you can't beat simplicity.

"mac owners are richer" pretty much sums up the rest of the statistics presented. Of course the richer folks are gonna have the other items listed on your charts.

Even if they dont… the chart comparing percentages is skewed. 20% of mac users compared to 5% of all users. Should be comparing between mac users and users who dont have a mac (if this is the case then say so)

Right now the only apple product im considering buying is the iphone. I would be interested to see a mac netbook show up, maybe i would look into mac then (hint hint steve).

Hey! What about my Commodore 64? LMAO at you dolts.

It's obvious that the commenter's who do not like Macs have never experienced one enough. I am a windows developer (C++, C#, java). My daughter was the first one to introduce me to the OSX. After using it for a while i quickly determined that the OS is far superior to Windows. That is why i now own a Mac.

Oh, i still use Windows at work. but, only because i have to…

…and 85% of Ferrari owners have Ford F150 too. That is all a mac is…a luxury tool.

I hate the Apple Cult. I like some apple products but the company is flippin impossible. First thing they told me when I went to troubleshoot my Ipod was 'this wouldn't happen if you owned a mac'. I would also have to deal with software that was designed for the lowest common denominator.

This makes sense as Macs are useful for select functions( yes they are superior for music and graphic design) But when they fail in online gaming and when the vast majority use windows for business and such integration is easier.
Mac people need to quit kidding themselves. They only reason they are not clogged with viruses and spyware is no one wants to put that much work into affection a fraction of internet community. If Macs were dominant they would be suffering.
So obviously to stay hooked into the rest of the community , knowing windows is important. Just like aviation, you may be fluent in your native tongue. But english is the universal language of the field.

I am a Mac user and i own a PC with windows. But, only because i purchased it a long time ago. If i was able to put OSX on it, it would also be a Mac…

I love how the upgrade from Leopard to Snow leopard only costs at most $29 yet, to upgrade your PC from vista to Windows 7, its around $150. So yes PC's may cost less right off the bat, but in the long term you'll end up saving money with a Mac due to the fact that the software apple make such as iWork if far cheaper (only $90) as compared to Microsoft office (around $150). Not to mention the fact that with Mac software you usually get more for your money. Now I'm not saying that Mac is perfect, as it really isn't for gaming (although that's quickly changing) but really if your gonna argue that the cost of a Mac is to high, add the software costs between Pc's and Mac's as well. This includes virus protection software (Mac's and PC's don't require this, but thats a heavy risk your taking with a PC), the cost of word and number processing software, and the cost of OS upgrades.

Hilarious how Mac users think that they perform better at video editing.

Do they even realize that Apple switched to the Intel chpset because what they made was……crap?

And the other geniuses who talk about Windows sucking and Macs lasting forever:

Windows XP has been in use for almost a 9 years…..And still the best OS!!

(until 7 comes out).

Wait! Wait! Wait! Us Linux geeks want to be counted too! Surely there a small but non-zero number of households using Linux as their main OS.

Oh and by the way,..if you Mac/PC type ever wanted an App Store for your PC, check out any of the mainstream Linux installations these days.

Click, download, install and done, No muss, no fuss. Autoupdating, free (as in no-cost, and no strings attached, mostly)…wheee.

I honestly wonder how many non-linux computer users actually have seen linux in it's full capability….

–MG

Sure, I paid $800 more for my Mac than I would have for an "equivalent" PC, but in 9 years, editing video, audio and imaging, I have not had as much as a screen freeze. Also… not $1 in hardware upgrading…. once you go Mac… you never go back….

I have the bootcamp facility on my mac so have the choice of both windows and mac. windows is good for games as there isn't a great selection for the mac. I find using my mac much easier and when things go wrong with it i can usually figure out how to fix it myself. With Windows….forget it..nobody can understand the windows help pages but windows techies.

Awwww… PC users are always so bitter.. I don't make a lot of money, but I invested in a Mac at the G4 stage, and have never gone back. I have to keep windows around to test on IE6 and up (the worst browser for web designers by the way) other than that, I never use it… the whole rich people thing is really off.. smart people, and those willing to invest in a better product will go with Mac.

Why is it that when something nice about Macs is said, suddenly the article is biased? Why is it that we can't have both OSes work side by side equally?

I am a Mac user who has used Windows in the past. It's not for me. I'm not saying it's bad, I'm just saying it's not for me. My household income is a ways away from $100k, but my wife and I do ok and the two of us love our Macs. My wife swore by PCs for years until she started using my PowerBook a few years ago and she hasn't gone back since.

I don't consider my Mac a "status symbol" like many Mac-bashers tend to chant. I don't consider Windows users "sheep" or "uncool" or anything of the sort. We all use what we use because that's what we like. The constant need to fight with each other over whose OS is better or who paid more for their computer is pointless. Maybe in 10 years, neither company will exist and we'll all be using something completely different – who knows?

Macs do, for the most part, tend to "just work", but I've had plenty of Macs that had screen problems, hard drive problems, and a few that didn't even boot up after I brought them home from the store new the day I purchased them. No computer is immune to problems. A lot of Windows machines "just work" as well. I have a virtual machine of Windows 7 running on my Mac right now and it "just worked" the first time I booted it up. I really like Windows 7 and I hope it does well. It's a huge step in the right direction for Microsoft after the way they mishandled Vista.

The facts are these: Microsoft has the greatest market share in the personal computing industry, but Apple is making strides. They are always gaining a little bit of the pie each day and there's nothing wrong with that. They might never catch up to Windows' ubiquity, but who cares? Why should they have to?

People have to stop thinking in black and white and realize that both systems have their strengths and weaknesses. The frivolous BS that comes with fanboys/girls on both sides doesn't further either argument – it just makes you look petty and uninformed.

@Dennis A from Kansas City, MO: I can Bootcamp into Windows on my Mac or run a virtual machine and play games or work in the professional sector. And with the new Snow Leopard upgrade, I can connect to an Exchange server automatically.

Also, your argument about most Mac users not wanting to learn about other systems goes both ways. How many Windows lovers do you see clamoring to learn more about the Mac? All I see is them trashing the OS and touting the benefits of their own systems – just like the holier-than-thou Mac fanboys do.

@Thomas Drashek – Troll.

A Mac is a status symbol? I own a Mac Mini desktop and nobody is aware of this as it is in my home office….It just works better, period. I do own a PC which I have on a KVM switch with the Mac. Those who say that if I have both, I must be using the PC more are wrong…I think I'm just holding on to past habits as I do with my landline phone….

Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong! Mac users have macs because they love macs and they dont have to be rich to have them either. Yes you save a ton of money in the long run versus owning a windows machines. Mac users probably have old windows machines lying around because they switched to mac and still want to use software from their windows platform not to mention there are some slow pokes (windows users/businesses) who havent figured out yet that Macs are just better. Still we dont know how the fact that a mac can also run windows is counted in this study. In every category except games.. I can say there is ample software for mac users but even in the games category that is changing. Mac users love macs for macs. If they love it as a status symbol also its just an extra bonus but it isnt required for us to remain mac users. Mac may be a status symbol in your eyes because its a far greater platform to be on. It looks nicer too, has a better interface that doesnt require you to have a degree in computing and it just works. ANYTHING windows users have negative to say is usually way off.. thats one thing this article hits home on. Windows users havent even tried using mac machines. They simply hate on macs and mac users… how ridiculous and sad and interesting on how threatened they feel.

this is a no brainer… macs appeal to the high end electronics crowd. rich geeks! so why would anyone be surprised by any of these statistics??

if you can't afford a mac, you probably can't afford 50" TVs or navigation systems.

If you can afford a mac but aren't really all that techy, you wouldn't buy a mac, and you probably don't care too much about other electronics either…

what's the point?

I have had to replace the hard drive on my Macbook TWICE in 3 months. Ratchet down your egos, Apple freaks, no machine is perfect.

Don't believe this for a minute!

Time to get analytical about NPD, the methodology, who responded, etc. It's likely a very biased sample; could be that NPD largely sampled Windows PC users of whom some had Macs. Invert that and you'd find that most Mac users also owned Windows PCs. But out in the wild?

Most families, people I know settle on one platform or the other–they don't have mixed households!

Well it seems to me that one reason why Mac owners own more iPODs is because they are already invested in Apple. We have higher capacity MP3 players that can be loaded with a varity of formats from an unlimited number of sources and paid less then a third for them.

I have 3 PC's and a server running Windows and never a problem I can't fix in minutes. I have crashed Macs with no more difficulty then I have PC's. At least with a PC you reboot it recovers, you even power fail a crashed Mac and it comes back still crashed.

I also edit music and video, and burn DVD all on PC's. I've used FPC on Macs and find there is nothing I can't of on my PC's with Adobe that I can do on the Mac. In fact, I can do it better on the PC.

I am a PC. And simply have no interest in spending thousands for a flash looking apple machine that offers nothing but vanity.

I will be getting Win7 with my next machine, sorry to offend the fashion set.

It would be interesting to know if this study includes Windows running on Mac hardware.

I'd be interested in seeing, among these households with multiple OSes, how many also run a flavor of desktop Linux (e.g. Ubuntu).

I remember when reporters were trained to eliminate bias and editors would double check to eliminate any bias that slipped through. Today you can read an article and see a clear bias. It makes reading almost pointless because you're getting someone viewpoint, it's almost boring and predictable. signed, Bored in Seattle.

Interesting in how so many of these comments are defensive while simultaneously trying to be dismissive of the information provided here.

In a nutshell, the news reported here isn't all that surprising: people who have more…tend to be the ones who can afford to have more.

OTOH, some of the other numbers reported aren't that profoundly interesting (NPD probably wants customers to buy the report). For example, rather than recognizing that a lot of Mac households have a PC (85%), it would be more useful to know where that PC is in the local food chain (eg, the oldest machine that the youngest uses, versus a new laptop for Dad's work, etc).

-hh

Despite what some may think its not that people who have Macs have more electronics, its that people who have and use electronics value Macs. Simply put, when you turn on a Mac it works. No fuss, no problem. And since they are not obsolete in a year they are actually cheaper to own in the long run.

Don't forget Mac's strong points in the creative/production field. As an audio engineer and freelance video editor, I would not be able to work without using my Macs.

My family is all Mac, we converted 6 years ago. We still use the machines from our first purchase!

They cost as much as they do because they WORK!
I could buy a piece-o-crap PC but I would have to replace it in 2 years.

The howls from Vista users were heard all the way in Redmond. That wasn't Mac users you heard-that was millions of Windows users who felt taken advantage of by a system no one liked,

I've been making my living with my 'status symbol ' since '89. I've tried Windows. I don't hate it…it's fine. Have you tried the Mac OS?

My own personal computer is an Apple but my Windows laptop is from work. I would not want to operate a Windows platform without professional tech support.

I think Mac owners that have also have Windows spend more time on their Windows machines. The only time we hear complaints about windows it's from people who own Macs. The reason they own Macs is for a status symbol and they have lots of extra cash.

Thats why mac users is for the rich not us. Its for the men in suits who work at Goldman sachs and the like. We cannot afford any macs. Hopefully the pathetic windows family 7 will be equal to user experience. Free office applications.

Other than trying to boast Apple smugness the point of this article is???

Statement like this: "There's a simple explanation for this. Mac users tend to own a lot more computers." is not providing ANY explanation. The only reason they have Windows platform is because Mac application library is very limited. In order to play games or work in the professional environment one MUST have Windows computer on your desk.

"This probably means that Mac users know more about Windows than Windows users know about Macs." That is another empty worded statement. In fact, most of Mac users don't know anything about their own Macs and (in many cases) refuse to learn about other platforms. Jobs/Apple wants his/their buyers to be goal oriented and not the platform driven. The issue here is that the goals are very channeled and limited by Apple. On the other side most, if not all, users are OK with that.

I have no non-Apple computers, but 2 of them are capable of running Windows under virtualization. How would these be counted?

>This probably means that Mac users know more about Windows than Windows users know about Macs.

Yup… I'd characterize Windows users in 3 camps: "All I've ever used at home", "All I've ever used at work", "I've used more than one brand of OS." A big part of the problem with both -Windows- and -Microsoft Office- is the lack of experience with any alternatives.

(I've used Macs, Windows and several flavors of Unix boxes, along with some less common operating systems, over the last 31 years of home computer ownership.)

"Apple household owners' actions and purchases can be used by the industry as leading indicators for hot new products and adoption."
NOW THE WHOLE INDUSTRY IS FOLLOWING AND TRYING TO COPYCAT APPLE AND BE PARASITIC ON APPLE SUCCESS.

So, basically, the Macs are just a fashion statement and everybody uses Windows after all. How embarrassing for Apple…