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February 26th, 2010

Behind the IDC data: Windows still No. 1 in server operating systems

Posted by Mary Jo Foley @ 5:38 am

Categories: Channel, Corporate strategy, Linux, OEMs, Windows server

Tags: Operating System, International Data Corp., Microsoft Windows, Operating Systems, Linux, Software, Mary Jo Foley

International Data Corp. released its fourth-quarter global server data on February 25, listing the top providers of server hardware. But what about on the software front?

According to IDC’s data, Windows is still the dominant player. The fourth quarter 2009 was more robust than the third, in terms of total revenues and units. Windows’ share of the total stayed constant unit-wise, yet declined, dollar-wise, when compared to the previous calendar quarter.

That said, Windows is still far and away the No. 1 server operating system, in terms of units, and the definite leader in terms of dollars.

Here’s IDC’s OS share data break out.

Units (Q3 2009/Q4 2009)

Windows    1,248,200 (73.9%)     1,434,225 (73.9%)
Unix                72,001 ( 4.3%)           84,851 ( 4.4%)
Linux            357,491 (21.2%)         412,041 (21.2%)

Total          1,688,859                   1,941,966

U.S. Dollars (in millions) (Q3 2009/Q4 2009)

Windows   $4,487   (43.0%)           $5,393 (41.6%)
Unix          $2,803   (26.9%)          $3,877  (29.9%)
Linux         $1,537   (14.7%)          $1,905 (14.7%)

Total         $10,423                        $12,952

(Note: Sorry: I included the wrong dollar totals originally. These are now fixed.)

Windows Server and SQL Server are the biggest bottom-line contributors to Microsoft’s Server and Tools business.  It will still be another few years before Microsoft’s investments in cloud computing begin kicking in and contributing dollars to Redmond’s coffers, officials have conceded.

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  • Talkback
  • Most Recent of 111 Talkback(s)
RE: Behind the IDC data: Windows still No. 1 in server operating systems
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Posted by: maidishoes Posted on: 02/28/10 You are currently: a Guest | | Terms of Use
If you are counting ...  n0neXn0ne | 02/26/10
Yea...  bmonster | 02/26/10
numbers don't look right..  c_mc | 02/26/10
The figures only show OS sales, which, is quite meaningless when you want  DonnieBoy | 02/26/10
Right. IDC numbers are dead on when they speculate  John Zern | 02/26/10
Cell phone sales are quite different, since each and every one ships with  DonnieBoy | 02/26/10
You're grasping at straws.  John Zern | 02/26/10
You are grasping at straws. OS sales is NOT equal to OS usage.  DonnieBoy | 02/26/10
How many of GE's are?  John Zern | 02/26/10
YOU are grasping at straws. OS sales is NOT equal to OS usage.  DonnieBoy | 02/26/10
How do you know "the big boys all install their own image of Linux"  DevGuy_z | 02/26/10
No, it is well documented that Google creates their own custom images.  DonnieBoy | 02/26/10
We aren't talking about Google.  DevGuy_z | 02/26/10
Only a very small fraction of Windows Server  LiquidLearner | 02/26/10
my thought  jk_10 | 02/26/10
Slight disagreement  Cobra7fac | 02/26/10
that was my point  jk_10 | 02/26/10
Sales figures not installed base...  storm14k | 02/26/10
They maybe accurate...  mrlinux | 02/26/10
Good point  Axsimulate | 02/26/10
yes, very  Mitch 74 | 02/27/10
Nope *NEW*  Rama.NET | 02/27/10
Please clarify *NEW*  apexwm | 02/26/10
These are servers, so, almost nobody will pay for Windows Server unless *NEW*  DonnieBoy | 02/26/10
Because they're not relavent. *NEW*  John Zern | 02/26/10
Incorrect. *NEW*  storm14k | 02/26/10
Netcraft has shown to be an incomplete metric *NEW*  John Zern | 02/26/10
Agreed. Most servers are not Web servers *NEW*  DevGuy_z | 02/26/10
RE: Behind the IDC data: Windows still No. 1 in server operating systems *NEW*  Loverock Davidson | 02/26/10
$1.9B of "nobody wanting Linux" *NEW*  daboochmeister | 02/26/10
Its flat *NEW*  Loverock Davidson | 02/26/10
In one ear, out the other. [nt] *NEW*  olePigeon | 02/26/10
@Loverock *NEW*  prof123 | 02/26/10
OK *NEW*  Loverock Davidson | 02/26/10
Ha ha ha *NEW*  Viva la crank dodo | 02/26/10
@prof123 *NEW*  Cobra7fac | 02/26/10
hah *NEW*  Rama.NET | 02/27/10
Correct Perspective *NEW*  Kromaethius Massoud Saladin | 02/28/10
Wanna bet? *NEW*  bendib | 02/26/10
Uhm... *NEW*  bendib | 02/26/10
RE: Behind the IDC data: Windows still No. 1 in server operating systems *NEW*  tburzio | 02/26/10
How is that ? *NEW*  mKind | 02/26/10
Mary Jo: Yes, in terms of OS revenues, but, how about in terms of total *NEW*  DonnieBoy | 02/26/10
Why does it matter? *NEW*  No_Ax_to_Grind | 02/26/10
It makes a difference *NEW*  mKind | 02/26/10
I don't see how it matters. *NEW*  No_Ax_to_Grind | 02/26/10
It matters because that is what is running the most important internet *NEW*  DonnieBoy | 02/26/10
Huge Assumption *NEW*  DevGuy_z | 02/26/10
It really is not that hard for a large company to install a distribution *NEW*  DonnieBoy | 02/26/10
Orthagonal argument. *NEW*  DevGuy_z | 02/26/10
OS purchase cost is a rounding error *NEW*  de-void | 02/26/10
You assume far too much. *NEW*  No_Ax_to_Grind | 02/26/10
What difference does the bottom line of MS or a distro make to you? *NEW*  storm14k | 02/26/10
Because when companie make $$$ they *NEW*  No_Ax_to_Grind | 02/26/10
So when they create jobs.... *NEW*  storm14k | 02/26/10
If you read the story, MS is doing very well at being marketable. (nt) *NEW*  No_Ax_to_Grind | 02/26/10
Total usage? Windows still the preferd server OS *NEW*  John Zern | 02/26/10
No, they are only measuring OS sales, not preferred OS. Almost all of l *NEW*  DonnieBoy | 02/26/10
what do you mean by "big boys"? *NEW*  bmonster | 02/26/10
Google, Amazon, eBay, eTrade, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo, too many *NEW*  DonnieBoy | 02/26/10
All Tech companies, you leave out blue chip *NEW*  DevGuy_z | 02/26/10
Thank you *NEW*  bmonster | 02/26/10
Why not list all the companies in the world *NEW*  John Zern | 02/26/10
Also, you did not answer my question. How much do you pay for it? *NEW*  DonnieBoy | 02/26/10
Anyone who's ever dated ... *NEW*  de-void | 02/26/10
I'd think thats obvious.... *NEW*  storm14k | 02/26/10
It's just not true *NEW*  bmonster | 02/26/10
Maybe in your mind its not true... *NEW*  storm14k | 02/26/10
Again...your opinion *NEW*  bmonster | 02/26/10
"Judging whether someone is a skilled developer or not is very subjective" *NEW*  storm14k | 02/26/10
It's subjective *NEW*  bmonster | 02/26/10
@storm14k: Your arrogance is worrying *NEW*  de-void | 02/26/10
What *NEW*  Rama.NET | 02/26/10
I'm wondering if he pulled that statement out of *NEW*  John Zern | 02/26/10
I must have struck a nerve... *NEW*  storm14k | 02/26/10
@storm14k: You don't know me either *NEW*  Rama.NET | 02/26/10
C is rapidly becoming a Microsoft thing. *NEW*  DevGuy_z | 02/26/10
Incorrect again. *NEW*  storm14k | 02/26/10
No, still I'm correct *NEW*  John Zern | 02/26/10
Nothing needs to change *NEW*  storm14k | 02/26/10
Probably not as relevant as you think it is *NEW*  bmonster | 02/26/10
You would be surprised how many small companies install Cent OS or *NEW*  DonnieBoy | 02/26/10
Sure *NEW*  bmonster | 02/26/10
Have you heard of Google, Amazon, eBay, eTrade, LinkedIn, *NEW*  DonnieBoy | 02/26/10
yes *NEW*  bmonster | 02/26/10
You haven't been in many fortune 500 companies then. *NEW*  storm14k | 02/26/10
You presume alot. *NEW*  bmonster | 02/26/10
Thats my experience as well.. *NEW*  mrlinux | 02/26/10
I presume nothing... *NEW*  storm14k | 02/26/10
We can agree on that *NEW*  bmonster | 02/26/10
Then would you also agree that... *NEW*  storm14k | 02/26/10
RE: Then would you also agree that... *NEW*  bmonster | 02/26/10
Nope not surprised at all. It IS THE small companies that install these. *NEW*  DevGuy_z | 02/26/10
I doubt *NEW*  Rama.NET | 02/26/10
You "imagine" is right! *NEW*  DevGuy_z | 02/26/10
Linux more expensive than Windows! *NEW*  IE8 | 02/26/10
Mediocrity and Junk pervades... *NEW*  itguy08 | 02/26/10
Sure, right, dead on, whatever. *NEW*  John Zern | 02/26/10
plain wrong *NEW*  Rama.NET | 02/26/10
I haven't seen the TCO argument proven anywhere. *NEW*  storm14k | 02/26/10
Agreed *NEW*  bmonster | 02/26/10
You hit the nail on the head *NEW*  crazydanr@... | 02/26/10
Really, ask the city of Munich. *NEW*  No_Ax_to_Grind | 02/27/10
It is possible - look at the SysAdmins *NEW*  jorjitop | 02/26/10
Windows admin by choice *NEW*  crazydanr@... | 02/26/10
wrong *NEW*  Rama.NET | 02/26/10
Whatever... *NEW*  bmonster | 02/26/10
CAL non-sense *NEW*  anonymuos | 02/27/10
Cognitive dissonance and Donnieboy *NEW*  tonymcs@... | 02/28/10
RE: Behind the IDC data: Windows still No. 1 in server operating systems *NEW*  maidishoes | 02/28/10
RE: Behind the IDC data: Windows still No. 1 in server operating systems *NEW*  maidishoes | 02/28/10

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