The latest market share data from Net Applications reveals that macOS drops to third place as the most popular desktop operating system. Windows always had an edge over the macOS in terms of the desktop operating system market, while macOS coming in a distant second. However, as per reports by GeekWire, the latest IDC report reveals that last year the market changed, and saw a surge from Google’s Chrome OS, which moved it into second place, whilst pushing macOS down to third.
This might seem like bad news for Apple, but actually, it’s Microsoft who suffered. In recent years, Apple’s macOS has been increasing its market share from 6.7% to 7.5%. Windows on the other hand suffered a steep drop, falling all the way to 80.5% in 2020 from 85.4% in 2019. Chrome OS being the big winner in this turmoil, jumped from 6.4% in 2019 to 10.8% last year, which handed it a clear second place in the charts.
macOS drops to third spot due to pandemic?
2020 was the biggest year for PC demand in a decade, thanks to the pandemic sadly. Millions of people were told to stay at home, however, they were still needed to work, be entertained, and children still needed to learn, so everyone bought computers. It’s impossible to determine if Chrome OS’s surge was due to a combination of many people’s demands for a laptop, short supply, cost, or if macOS will become a permanent third place desktop OS from now on.
Microsoft clearly realizes Chrome OS as a threat to its market share and is responding. Windows 10X is a new operating system under development by Microsoft as competition to Google’s currently-popular one. It was meant to make its appearance on devices last year, but due to the pandemic or some other complexities, it never appeared. We shouldn’t be surprised if laptops and tablets start running 10X this year.
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