Mac OS X Lion growth slows, hits 16% of Mac share

updated 09:05 pm EST, Sat November 12, 2011

Chitika has Lion adoption levelling off

Adoption of Mac OS X Lion has slowed significantly in the past month, Chitika found in its latest web traffic results. While it was up to 14 percent in September after being available for two months, it had moved just two percent more by late October to hit 16 percent of the Mac user base. Snow Leopard still had a clear majority at 55 percent, while even the four years old Leopard was at 22 percent.

Researchers speculated that the slowed rate may have come from trepidation based on early feedback. The issues have usulaly been temporary, but have included Wi-Fi reliability and short battery life on MacBook Pros. Other complaints, such as the at times counter-intuitive default scrolling, might have also played a part, Chitika said.

Not mentioned, but possibly playing a role, are the added performance overhead for some and for the discoverability. Apple sells Lion on USB drives at its stores, but the OS' primary download mechanism is through the Mac App Store. This not only discourages casual upgrades from those who don't know Lion is available but rules it out altogether for those on Leopard and Tiger, who can't see the download option.

The adoption rate is still faster than for Microsoft. Windows 7, now two years into its lifespan, has only just overtaken XP, becoming the first OS to overtake XP since it launched a decade ago. Vista was eclipsed quickly, but primarily because it was unpopular enough both at home and with corporate buyers that Microsoft didn't see as many software upgrades and, in some situations, saw buyers skip buying their usual software upgrades or even skip new PCs to avoid using the 2007-era software.

By Electronista Staff

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computers, industry, software, Microsoft, Leopard, Vista, Windows 7, Windows XP, Snow Leopard, Apple, Chitika, Lion, Mac App Store

Geoduck

Junior Member

Joined: Jan 2010

+26

11/12, 09:22pm | report spam | (1 reply) close | reply

XP Effect

I've not upgraded for the same reason my last employer is still on XP: Snow Leopard is a known quantity, it has no surprises, it works with all of my equipment, simply put it's 'good enough'

I'll go to Lion with my next MacBook Pro. Until then, there's no reason for me to upgrade.

DoctorGonzo

Grizzled Veteran

Joined: Oct 1999

+23

11/12, 09:58pm | report spam | (2 replies) close | reply

I love new and shiny things but...

Lion buggy, and tries to force patterns inherited from a handheld UI onto a desktop UI.

It also killed Rosetta outright, even though it's something that quite honestly should be a separate purchase from the Mac App store.

chas_m

Moderator

Joined: Aug 2001

11/12, 10:17pm | report spam | close reply

Next generation

To some extent I agree that the non-availability of Lion in stores is hurting adoption, but I think what's really keeping those other numbers up is equipment: there's a HUGE number of last-generation G5 owners and first-gen Intel buyers (even early Core2Duo Intel buyers who incorrectly think Lion is too advanced for their circa 2007-2008 machines) that will be replacing their machines over the next year or two. I'll bet that number jumps up significantly after xmas, and grows steadily in 2012, which would be the four-to-five year mark for 2007-2008 era machines.

facebook_Terri

Via Facebook

Joined: Nov 2011

+19

11/12, 10:29pm | report spam | close reply

No Rosetta

The removal of Rosetta is a deal killer for us.

Not even sure abut the other issues as removing Rosetta means we can't even try Lion.

jfgilbert

Fresh-Faced Recruit

11/12, 10:33pm | report spam | (3 replies) close | reply

Too much of a change in direction

Apple is oversimplifying its desktop OS, trying to make it easier to use. This does not work well for those who are using it in a professional environment, whether as a development platform, a graphic design workstation or an administrative workhorse. Unnecessary restrictions like the inability to access hidden files, or the removal of "Save as..." in many built-in programs, make it annoying. If I wanted annoying, I would be using Windows, so I will stay with Snow Leopard as long as I can.

graxspoo

Joined: Nov 2008

11/12, 10:52pm | report spam | close reply

Not much there for me

I don't like the gesture business: it's a stretched metaphor. The launch-pad thing is like 'whatever.' 'Mission control?' I don't like spaces widgets or exposÃ©, so that's useless to me. The lack of scroll-bars is weird. Full screen mode: I know how to maximize windows, but thanks. In short, the entire development effort behind Lion was directed at a demographic that doesn't include me. It was aimed at trying to make OS X more of an easy sell to new iOS users. I understand why Apple would want to do that, but for me it isn't worth the upgrade cost, or possible destabilization. I'm also not a big fan of the App Store or the new 'download only' distribution model. Snow Leopard is a great OS. I'm very happy with it. So, I'll wait and see what 10.8 looks like.

DaJoNel

Joined: Aug 2010

-9

11/13, 01:13am | report spam | (1 reply) close | reply

Really?

Lion is not overly simple. In many ways it performs exactly like Snow Leopard. It's not any buggier than Snow Leopard, in fact I find it much more stable. Auto-save can be disabled. And really? Rosetta? PPC has been obsolete since 2006. That's over five years for developers to rewrite their apps. SERIOUSLY PEOPLE.

BlueGonzo

Joined: Dec 2010

11/13, 05:47am | report spam | close reply

Rosetta

I think for most users it's the absence of Rosetta from the OS. It took me about a month to find a replacement for my dear old Freehand. Lion itself is IMHO one of the most stable releases of OS X. If it's not possible for Apple to continue supporting Rosetta as a add on it would be great if Apple allows us to virtualize Snow Leopard (not only the server) with Parallels.

bobolicious

Joined: Aug 2002

11/13, 08:49am | report spam | close reply

Rosetta here too...

...as a busy business a forced app migration has halted further hardware upgrades. Like dropping QTVR lack of legacy OS support is a gimme that Apple needs to get if they want business adoption/penetration.

Even a sales rep I spoke to at the Apple store couldn't confirm which OS was on the refurbished systems ? Can you imagine that from a Windoze dealer?

sibeale1

Joined: Feb 2006

+11

11/13, 09:21am | report spam | (4 replies) close | reply

No Rosetta, Fuggitaboutit

People who think Rosetta isn't needed are mostly newbies who don't have 10,000 pre-2005 documents that are valuable and can't be accessed without Rosetta. Apple burned us old-timers once before when they killed ClarisDraw without leaving us any way to access our archival files. Fortunately, third-parties like Intaglio helped out, eventually. We won't get burned again. No lion until Apple gives us a way to access files that depend on Rosetta.

facebook_Eric

11/13, 10:24am | report spam | close reply

I passed

I'm staying away from it for all the reasons stated. If I remember correctly, my professional Epson printer which has never had it's software updated by apple or epson after 10.5 needs Rosetta to install. Besides I don't want my pro desktop looking like a phone, nor have any use for razzle dazzle gestures.

Foxypaco

Joined: Apr 2010

-10

11/13, 10:28am | report spam | close reply

You best solution

since you are still using pre-2005 documents is to use a pre-2005 computer. Problem fixed, stop whining.

footie07

Joined: Aug 2007

11/13, 10:37am | report spam | (1 reply) close | reply

Rosetta Required for Quicken

The dumbest move Apple made in leaving Rosetta behind in Lion was that leaves the large installed base of Mac Quicken 2007 users in the lurch. We've used Quicken from Intuit for 10+ years. Tidbits did a good job of suggestions of new apps to transfer to, but the few that I tried were just so-so, plus who knows how long those apps might be around.
We would gladly pay for Rosetta on Lion, but it just makes more sense for Apple to support it properly or allow virtualization of Snow Leopard on Lion.

Paul Huang

Dedicated MacNNer

Joined: Sep 1999

-3

11/13, 10:58am | report spam | (2 replies) close | reply

which JACKA55 is going to spend 2x for 10.7 on USB

For the average user, the three-hour download wastes not only time, but valuable resources such as electricity and time that the computer could be used.

$20 premium to have the 10.7 installer on a USB is one thing, but paying $79 on the USB option? Forget about it.

BigMac2

Forum Regular

Joined: Dec 2000

11/13, 11:02am | report spam | close reply

comment title

For Rosetta to work it need more than a few files, all frameworks need to be compiled for both platform and add to the OS weight. Rosetta, like Classic before was only crutches to give time for developer to update their software, and lots of software got abandoned after time. Best advice, don't stuck your self on abandoned software and move on your precious old files as quick as possible. You can skip 1 generation of OS, but after 2 problems start to emerge

panjandrum

Joined: Dec 2004

11/13, 11:20am | report spam | close reply

And for good reason

There is a good reason Lion hasn't caught on; the UI changes are downright terrible. Sure, it is still stable and fast, but the layer on top of that great OS - the layer we all interact with every day, is awful. My largest mac-based client (50+ Macs + xServe + iPads etc.) recently informed me in no uncertain terms that no equipment in the organization would be moving to Lion. Turns out that nearly everyone on the board of directors upgraded to it and universally hated it. I ended up having to restore all their systems to Snow Leopard. What a pain. Sound like any other major OS release all us Mac fans made fun of recently. Maybe Apple thought they just needed to emulate Microsoft for a change and made their own Vista. Regardless of what you read on the internet from the most die-hard fan boys; I have yet to meet a single person in real life who likes Lion - and the majority of people I work with downright hate it. (I work with 40+ mac users every working day of my life).

facebook_John

-6

11/13, 11:56am | report spam | close reply

Chikita should stick with banana's

This story should be called FUD from a company that should report about banana's. Lion sales have not slowed and Mac sales have increased since Lion was released. Lion sales continue to grow to date 25%.
Chikita is an advertising company that doesn't know anything about statistics. Read this story from Appleinsider. Tells a very different story.
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/11/11/web_stats_indicate_mac_os_x_lion_still_growing_very_fast.html

WiseWeasel

Joined: Apr 1999

11/13, 01:27pm | report spam | close reply

Leopard Upgrade

On my one Mac that actually supports Lion (my other is a G5 tower permanently stuck on Leopard), it's now running plain Leopard, as I never got around to installing Snow Leopard, and I can't upgrade directly to Lion. I would have to buy and install Snow Leopard, and then buy and install Lion, and I didn't find any of the features of Lion worth the effort of doing two successive OS installs. I really don't like the dependence on the Mac App Store either. However, the main issue for me is that I don't see any value in Lion. I guess I'll use it when I eventually get another Mac.

facebook_Shameer

-1

11/13, 02:24pm | report spam | close reply

What other choice is there?

For those complaining about the Mac App Store or gesture-based UI, what other choice is there really? Windows 8? I don't think so. Windows 8 will also have a required app store, plus the fact it has gesture-based tile UI. Plus if you buy a Windows 8 PC / tablet running on an ARM processor, it won't support any legacy apps either, only native Windows 8 apps.

In about two to four years from now MS & Apple will converge at the same end point which are devices that contain a "dumbed down" gesture based UI & are deeply integrated with cloud services.

This leaves Linux as your only option on desktops / laptops which is basically beating a dead horse. Linux is not even relevant on the desktop anymore.

-4

11/13, 02:25pm | report spam | close reply

GJGY1B

Joined: Sep 2011

11/13, 07:42pm | report spam | close reply

No rush

I own two Mac Minis and one MacBook Pro. Only one of those will run Lion; I use Quicken 2007 on that machine.Â

Apple chose to dump me as a customer by dropping web hosting and Galleries in the transition from MobileMe to iCloud. Dealing with that before next June is a higher priority (and just more boring work) than updating my operating system.

I have yet to see or read anything about Lion that makes me feel like it's a compelling update for long-time Mac users . I have read a lot that makes a convincing case that it's a wrong-headed attempt to turn Mac OS into iOS.

I'll eventually migrate my one qualifying machine; I've already started using a replacement for Quicken. When it comes to replacing hardware, I'm sorry to say, I will, for the first time since 1985, consider alternatives to Apple. Apple is clearly moving away from users who create content in favor of those who only consume it. It's probably the right business decision, but it's disconcerting and a little sad for those of us who have enjoyed getting our work done on Apple products.

Atgard

Joined: Oct 2010

11/13, 10:00pm | report spam | (1 reply) close | reply

Don't Like Touchscreen UI on Desktop

The article gives every possible excuse but one: lots of us bought desktop computers with big monitors (like Apple's own 27" iMacs, which are fantastic), and don't want a UI designed for a 3.5" touchscreen foisted on our desktops. I feel like many "features" in Lion are steps backward in usability, UI design, and the amount of control I have over my computer. (Examples: full-screen apps, removing scroll bars, no "Save As," hiding important files/folders, etc.) I am happy with Snow Leopard and have no intention of "upgrading" (I even got a copy of Lion free with the Up To Date program, but am not installing it). I hope 10.8 focuses more on Mac users who use their computers for productive tasks -- but I am fearful that the Mac desktop computing experience is no longer very important to Apple, which sells like 8 iPhones & iPads for every Mac these days.

SillyPooh

Mac Enthusiast

Joined: May 2000

11/14, 10:39am | report spam | close reply

Why gamble with your work OS?

Snow Leopard is a stable, no-nonsense OS. Lion looks like a gamble, unpredictable. I rely on my mac to get the job done, quickly, efficiently. I have no use for iOS on my mac! The Mac OS team should be smacked, seriously. It's the first time in my life that I don't see any reason for me to upgrade. And there is so much that can be done here guys. Get your act together and release something useful.

11/14, 10:53am | report spam | close reply

Lion Stable and working fine for me

Lion is stable and working fine for me. No it's not a touch screen UI. You use the mouse or trackpad for touch UI but you're not forced too. Don't like launcher, you don't have to use it. If you update your apps you won't need Rosetta because they will all run natively in lion instead of using old slow powerPC code. Want your scrollbars you can set it so they don't hide in the system control panel.
So far I see a lot of people writing about stuff they don't know about. Every comment in here that's negative about Lion can be adjusted by you the consumer so you can still have just about everything you had in Snow Leopard in Lion if you don't like the newer interface. Oh, and you can make scrolling work the old way too. I've been very happy with Lion and have been using it since it came out. 10.7.2 the latest version that you upgrade through software updates runs very stable and smooth.

downpour

11/14, 12:09pm | report spam | close reply

I've upgraded my systems to Lion, but it's disappointing that I can no-longer play great classic games like Stronghold... of course if someone could convince Firefly to do an iPad port of that game, I would be willing to overlook this ;0). It would be nice if Apple offered some kind of optional emulator for running older apps.

I also haven't really noticed any advantage at all using Lion over Snow-Leopard. It has mostly just been a hassle to be honest. The changes are just gimmicks for the most part. But at least I'm up-to-date.

testudo

11/14, 04:04pm | report spam | close reply

Many people miss the point on rosetta. It's always the same in the Mac world. The defenders will tell you that it's your fault. You should be updating your software. Or the software maker's fault for not reading Apple's mind and knowing Rosetta was going to be killed. Forget that the software people have might be good enough and just works. Forget the time and effort and money needed to Intelize an app. Developers should just do it. And then users should just upgrade to the latest version. Who cares how much it might cost a business to update their software just to run on a new Mac. That's meaningless to the discussion.

But we're not allowed to say that Lion makes, say, 50% of all Mac programs incompatible, just like you couldn't say Leopard made 50% of all Mac programs incompatible (by removing classic). It's Apple "moving forward from the past".

Meanwhile, if Windows 7 can't run someone's 20 year old printer, or ancient Windows 98 app, we hear how Windows is so incompatible and buggy and crashes and they can't do anything right. When we hear about some IT department saying "We're going to stick with Windows" we call them sheep trying to protect their jobs, rather than people going "Why should we switch to the Mac where we won't know when our current software will just stop working, where we won't be able to run our OS of choice on our hardware because you can't install the previous version of the OS on new hardware, where we don't know when some peripheral will stop working because some key framework has changed and new drivers are needed".

vintagegeek

Joined: May 2007

11/17, 11:52am | report spam | close reply

Too Many TurnOffs

The family has 3 computers eligible but it just doesn't seem worth the risk. From everything I've read I'd end up turning off a number of features anyway. I don't want a new desktop UI. I have an iPad and iPhone and I like their UI. But its ridiculous to try and transfer features of it to the Laptop/Desktop. Plus...I hate the restore partition paradigm. It's the same c*** Windows Manufacturers have plagued their users with for years. I think Apple is missing the boat by not having a package on the Store Shelf for $30-$40. Not a $70 USB Stick (rip-off). I think some accountant made that decision...not the marketing person. I'll wait for next boat when there may be a feature I need.

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Mac OS X Lion growth slows, hits 16% of Mac share

updated 09:05 pm EST, Sat November 12, 2011

Chitika has Lion adoption levelling off

XP Effect

I love new and shiny things but...

Next generation

No Rosetta

Too much of a change in direction

Not much there for me

Really?

Rosetta

Rosetta here too...

No Rosetta, Fuggitaboutit

I passed

You best solution

Rosetta Required for Quicken

which JACKA55 is going to spend 2x for 10.7 on USB

comment title

And for good reason

Chikita should stick with banana's

Leopard Upgrade

What other choice is there?

What other choice is there?

No rush

Don't Like Touchscreen UI on Desktop

Why gamble with your work OS?

Lion Stable and working fine for me

comment title

Rosetta

Too Many TurnOffs

Login Here

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Electronista Marketplace

Mac OS X Lion growth slows, hits 16% of Mac share

updated 09:05 pm EST, Sat November 12, 2011

Chitika has Lion adoption levelling off

Related Articles

Recent Articles

XP Effect

I love new and shiny things but...

Next generation

No Rosetta

Too much of a change in direction

Not much there for me

Really?

Rosetta

Rosetta here too...

No Rosetta, Fuggitaboutit

I passed

You best solution

Rosetta Required for Quicken

which JACKA55 is going to spend 2x for 10.7 on USB

comment title

And for good reason

Chikita should stick with banana's

Leopard Upgrade

What other choice is there?

What other choice is there?

No rush

Don't Like Touchscreen UI on Desktop

Why gamble with your work OS?

Lion Stable and working fine for me

comment title

Rosetta

Too Many TurnOffs

Login Here

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Electronista Marketplace