News19,135 Articles

November 20, 2009

Windows 7 breaks sales record

Twice as many sold as any previous OS

Eric Lai

Microsoft has announced that Windows 7 has sold twice as many units as any other Microsoft operating system in the same time period.

During its annual shareholders' meeting, CEO Steve Ballmer also dismissed market share gains by Apple's Mac computer to "a couple of tenths of a percent" and said that many young people would eventually outgrow their preference for Macs.

"Some of it is marketing, some of it is phase of life," Ballmer said in response to a shareholder question about Microsoft's poor perception among younger buyers. "The truth is we do quite well, even among college students.

"Windows 7 gives us a real opportunity to get back that audience," he continued. "With the down economy, people understand that the Mac is a lot more expensive for essentially the same computer" as Windows 7.

Ballmer said Microsoft plans to keep investing in web search, the Windows Mobile operating system and cutting-edge technologies, such as the Xbox's in-air motion controller, Project Natal.

He defended the Windows Mobile OS from a questioner, saying it was a "small but important fact, that we have quite a bit more market share than Android. We have about 10%-12%, Android has 3%, iPhone about 20%, RIM 20%-25%, and Nokia about 45%."

"It is a competitive game," he continued. "We have a lot of opportunities to improve our products and market position."

Addressing persistent rumours of a Microsoft-manufactured phone, such as a Zune Phone, Ballmer said, "We think we have the right strategy, which is to focus on the software, not build a phone, and offer a diversity of phones like we offer a diversity of Windows PCs."

See also:

Computerworld US

Free whitepaper: Is social networking really bad for business?

<<newer story | back to index | older story>>

Comments received


Patrick said on Friday, 20 November 2009

Steve Ballmer alone is enough to put you off any Windows products.

What is this?

Subscribe to PC Advisor now and claim your FREE gift

Keep up to date by adding PC Advisor News to your iGoogle home page or Google Reader


Question of the day!

Does your smartphone replace your need for a laptop when on the move?

Question of the day!

Does your smartphone replace your need for a laptop when on the move?

% of PC Advisor readers agree with you

Yes
TBC
No
TBC

What tasks can your smartphone do that would have traditionally been done on a laptop?

119 characters remaining

Follow the conversation at @SmartphoneFocus

web browsing, search facilities, voip, email, word processing everything RT @Graham_D_C

Mainly email but getting better at spreadsheets etc, RT @IDGdan
Google


Recent reviews

Reviews index


Latest reader comments

Latest reader comments


Top news

News index


Latest blog entries

Blogs index


 Our RSS feeds

Sponsored Content

  • Take the internet to new places with the Nokia N800
    Communicate how you want to, where you want to with instant messaging, email and internet calling. View movies, browse the internet wirelessly and watch TV on the high-resolution screen and listen through high-quality stereo speakers with headphone jack.
    Buy now