Mac users just can't kick the Windows habit

Nine in 10 Apple homes harbour PCs too

NEWS

While popular wisdom says 'once you go Mac, you don't go back', new research has revealed that the majority of Mac users also harbour PCs in their homes.

According to a study by analyst house NPD Group, while the percentage of Mac households is inching upwards - reaching 12 per cent this year compared to nine per cent in 2008 - Mac users are still attached to their Windows PCs.

The research found that nearly 85 per cent of homes with an Apple machine also own a PC.

The typical Apple household tends to be fond of its hardware, owning twice as many gadgets as the average home, according to VP of industry analysis at NPD Group, Stephen Baker. Apple households are also more likely to own several computers: 66 per cent of Apple households have at least three computers, compared to just 29 per cent of PC homes.

Perhaps unsurprisingly given their higher spend on electronics, the statistics show Apple owners tend to be wealthier than the average consumer. According to the research, 36 per cent of Apple computer owners reported household incomes greater than $100,000, compared to 21 per cent of all consumers.

An earlier survey conducted by NPD revealed consumers who were willing to buy an expensive computer were most likely to go for an Apple Mac over any other brand, with 91 per cent of all computers sold for more than $1,000 being Macs, according to the report.

The Mac vs PC debate could soon progress to another form factor: recent rumours have suggested Microsoft is planning a dual-screen tablet codenamed Courier, to compete with Apple's equally unconfirmed tablet, thought to be due for release in 2010.

Comments

There are 6 comments. Join the discussion

  1. 1. anonymous

    Oh yes we can kick the habit - easy - the issue is that some business applications are only available on Windows - but you can run Windows on a Mac!!

    • 7 October 2009 08:30
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  2. 2. anonymous

    ... so your explanation for the statistics is...?

    • 7 October 2009 11:09
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  3. 3. Gradivus

    Lies, damned lies and statistics.

    Much more interesting would be - of those households with both Macs and PCs....

    Which is the newer machine?

    Which is used more frequently?

    Which is used for routine daily tasks, such as email and web surfing?


    I use a new-ish Mac and also have a 5-year-old Windows XP lappy, that gets booted up for about half an hour a month, at most.

    • 7 October 2009 13:11
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  4. 4. Roy Judd

    An article founded on an ill-conceived premise. I own Macs. I use a Mac as my computer of choice. My company however, insists I use their hardware, their software and their Windoze PC. This isn't a habit, it's a handicap that feels like a prison sentence. Windows 7 or Windows 70, my answer's the same: thanks, but no thanks!

    • 7 October 2009 21:03
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  5. 5. anonymous

    ... so your explanation for the statistics is...?

    • 8 October 2009 18:10
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  6. 6. Andrew Smith

    My explanation is simple. The vast majority of the 40 million plus Mac owners were once Windows PC users. We're all packrats and we still have that old Windows PC in the garage. . . collecting dust and rust.

    • 14 October 2009 00:51
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