Microsoft Windows is now used as the operating system on just 26% of internet connected computers, including desktop PCs, smartphones and tablet computers, according to new figures by Goldman Sachs.
The figures, republished by ZDNet, reveal that Microsoft’s share of the operating system market has eroded from 95% in 2004 to just 26% today.
In contrast, Apple’s OS X (used on its Macintosh computers) and iOS (used on the iPad, iPhone, iPod touch and Apple TV) has grown from just 5% in 2004 to 29% today.
However, the fastest growing competitor has been Google Android, which claimed just 1% of the market in 2008 but has grown to 39% in 2012.
The figures demonstrate Microsoft’s failure to turn its dominance of the traditional PC market into success in the fast growing smartphone and tablet markets.