Microsoft vs. Apple: The Race Continues...

In a recent publication by Ed Bott from ZDNET.com, I discovered some data that is essential to proving that "storytelling" is indeed a successful means of communication.

Bott highlights the "steady decline" of Windows XP (see photo below) since 2008 despite the rejection of Windows Vista launched by Microsoft in 2007 and the increase in Vista and notably Windows 7. This data, from Netmarketshare.com, is based on the percent of total Internet usage by computers using Windows as an operating system (see pic below).

But, what about Apple? Apple seems to be catching up to Microsoft, thanks to iOS-based devices. What are iOS-based devices you say? Those little things you see people using to connect to the internet and talk on the phone, yea, iPhones. But, not just iPhones, iPod touches and iPads are considered iOS-based devices that account for the growth of OS X usage (see pic below). 

The Net Market Share stats confirm that OS X’s share of Internet usage rose from 3.45% in early 2008 to more than 5% last year. But, what is really behind all this? I say that it's just a story away. Mobile Internet usage has grown dramatically since 2007 (see pic below) and this is in large part due to Apple and Microsoft's attack on the mobile operating system market.

But, why are people buying these devices? How has Apple's market share increased so much these past few years? Good advertising? I say, good storytelling.