Interesting Chart: Windows Releases vs. Mac OS Sales

[ztirffritz]

"Ever since Windows 98 came out in June 1998, every time Microsoft (MSFT) has launched a new version of its operating system, Apple's computer sales spike during the same quarter.

Broadpoint AmTech analyst Brian Marshall, who noticed the trend, observed:

"\"We have concluded that no negative correlation exists on Apple's (AAPL) hardware sales when Microsoft launches a new OS. Ironically, we believe new OS launches from Microsoft (MSFT) may have even acted as a 'delayed accelerant' to AAPL's computing sales.\ wrote:

Reminding us that correlation does not equal causation, Brian notes, "Apple's success (or failure) in the computing market is largely idiosyncratic (or company-specific) in nature and not dependent on others in the industry.""


http://www.businessinsider.com/chart-of-...os-2009-10



edit: Corrected title to match chart. Thanks Matt.

[mattkime]

i think it would make more sense to compare it to market share.

[michaelb]

I don't really see a spike for a quarter or a meaningful trend with the MS releases dates.

But it does show how generally stagnant Mac desktop sales have been, and how almost all of the growth has been in laptops.