Sales statistics for Windows vs Macintosh

[David Sabine]

Hello,

I'd REALLY like to see new statistics regarding the usage and adoption of Pro Tools on Windows and Macintosh.

Digidesign, can you please publish some of these numbers?

When people register their software, what percentage of people choose "Windows" and what percentage choose "Macintosh"? (Can we see an annual record?)

What percentage of seasoned users are still using Macintosh? (What percentage of them are switching?)

What percentage of new users are using Pro Tools on Windows? Macintosh?

Where's the major "growth" happening? In the Windows userbase? Or the Macintosh userbase?

Any stats you can share in this regards will be very helpful.

[AMZavareei]

I'd say it's about a 15.7:1 Mac to Windows ratio for Pro Tools HD users, a 1.2:1 Windows to Mac ratio for Pro Tools HD users, and a 1.6:1 Windows to Mac ratio for Pro Tools M-Powered users.

I based this on numbers of postings in the various categories on the DUC.

Maths....

[David Sabine]

Thanks for the input. Perhaps there's some truth in your estimation.

[pezking]

I think that gives a vague indication, however I'd take it with a spoonfull of salt...

I think more Windows users experience problems than Mac users. This could potentially skew the results. Remember that the majority of people come here to discuss a problem, not to talk about features etc!

I think in the Pro World, the usage is around 80% Mac based.

In the consumer world, it is much more evenly spread. I'd say 60% Windows and 40% Mac.

In the education sector it is almost solidly PC (in the UK at least when referring to schools). Probably 90% are PC based.

I have nothing to base these figures on other than my own meandering experiences. I wouldn't expect Digidesign to publish these figures - but then maybe they would!

[David Sabine]

Thanks pezking. Your estimations don't surprise me.

[x9blade]

Originally Posted by pezking

I think that gives a vague indication, however I'd take it with a spoonfull of salt...

I think more Windows users experience problems than Mac users. This could potentially skew the results.

weird, i've been watching mac and windows forums for years it seems they both equally have many many problems. just seems buggy on both platforms. nothing official just observations on the duc.
i'm starting to think that this whole" RUNS BETTER ON A MAC " is just a myth
for the non believers, go look at the mac forum. just as many problems as the pc forum.

[pezking]

Originally Posted by x9blade

weird, i've been watching mac and windows forums for years it seems they both equally have many many problems. just seems buggy on both platforms. nothing official just observations on the duc.
i'm starting to think that this whole" RUNS BETTER ON A MAC " is just a myth
for the non believers, go look at the mac forum. just as many problems as the pc forum.

You may be correct, I don't know for sure and certain. I'm just going by what I see on a day to day basis

I think that the size of the user base affects the number of problems. The type of problems experienced are vastly different too.

I'd say that because of the fact that more pro users are on mac, they report more problems (numerically), and also more obscure problems. But percentage-wise, I have seen a greater amount of Windows based problems.

When it comes to compatibility it's plain to see that purchasing a Mac is far easier than purchasing a PC but that's just the nature of the beast. That's not to say that Digidesign are prefering Mac to PC (which many people infer from this).

[BradLyons]

Unfortunately, there is just no way to measure this. I have (3) Pro Tools systems including (2) PTHD3 Accel systems on Mac and an LE system on a MacBook. Both of the HD Accel systems on Macs were originally on Windows.... I have clients that I have configured Windows systems for and others on Macs, both for LE and HD. Some move from Windows to Mac, others from Mac to Windows. Confused yet?

You'll find the AVID guys in Windows and those working with these systems on Windows with products such as Mojo and AV10 options. Likewise, there are Mac users that are using CAT5 to tie into Avid Express through Video Satellite and MEdia Station. Personally, I am using Final Cut HD---so for me being on the Mac it makes everything more fluent.

[AMZavareei]

Well it is very dead in the HD for windows board. Does that mean we don't have many problems, or there aren't many of us?

[vudoo]

I just move from Mac to Widows. Both platforms worked great and once you're in the app itself, there's hardly any difference other than getting used to the keyboard shortcuts.
There's less activity on the Windows thread most likely because there hasn't been a lot of changes with the OS itself ( so most likely less problems and incompatibilities to deal with ) as oppose to a Mac where we've seen major updates every 6-8 months. Windows XP been around for decades now !