Windows Vista Sales Show Slow, But Steady Growth

Microsoft finally got some good news about Windows Vista. Its new operating system is now more popular than Apple's Mac OS.

According to the latest figures from market watcher Net Applications, 4.52% of all computers connected to the Internet were running Windows Vista in June, up from 3.74% in May. By contrast, 3.52% of computers were running the Mac OS, down from 3.95% the previous month.

It's the first time Windows Vista has surpassed the Mac OS in popularity since Vista was released in late January. Vista can't declare victory over the Mac just yet, however. When Macs running on Intel PC chips -- so called MacIntels -- are added to the mix, Apple's market share jumps to 6%.

But the momentum is all on Vista's side and it will likely soon surpass all Mac platforms combined. Vista's market share has moved from 0.93% in February, to 3.02% in April, to the current 4.52%.

Microsoft's Windows XP continues to dominate the PC market, controlling 81.94% of all desktops connected to the Internet, according to Net Applications. That's virtually flat with the previous month, when XP held 82.02% of the market.

Microsoft is surely welcoming the news that Vista is gaining steam. Earlier this week, Acer CEO Gianfranco Lanci told the German edition of the Financial Times newspaper that, "The whole industry is disappointed with Windows Vista." Lanci said Vista lacked enough compelling features to draw consumer upgrades.

Last week, Microsoft lowered its own prediction for Vista sales compared to sales of Windows XP. The company said that in the next fiscal year it expects the mix to be 78% in favor of Vista. Previously, the company had forecast that Vista would account for 85% of combined Vista/XP sales in the next fiscal year.