Mac OS X Intel posts significant share gains in October

Based on the firm's calculations, Mac OS X for Intel was the only computer operating system to see its share rise beyond 10 basis points and was also one of only four to post positive gains, which included Mac OS X for PowerPC-based systems.

According to the data, Mac OS X Intel saw it share rise sharply from a 0.84 percent share in September to a 1.12 percent share during the month of October. Similarly, Mac OS X for PowerPC rose from a 3.88 percent share to 4.09 percent share.

The only other operating systems to increase their share of the OS usage market were Windows XP, which inched up 0.06 percent to 84.62 percent, and Windows Vista (beta), up 0.03 percent to 0.09 percent.

Windows 2000, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows NT, and Linux all reflected slight share loss during the month. Of the five, Windows 2000 saw the largest decline from a 6.08 percent share to a 5.79 percent share.

Apple's Mac OS X Intel share gains underscore the company's extremely successful transition to Intel processors, which began in January and wrapped up during the first half of August.

During Apple's last fiscal quarter ended September, the Cupertino, Calif.-based company said it shipped a total of 1,610,000 Macintosh computers, the most ever during a three-month period in its corporate history.

Net Application's October operating system data would indicate that sales of Macs continued at a record pace during the month, in excess of 600,000 new systems.

Sales are Apple's Intel Macs during the 2006 holiday quarter are expected to best those posted during the December quarter when Apple releases its next set of quarterly results in mid-Janaury.