>Now look at desktop OS sales: the ratio stands in the most recent quarter at about 91:8:1 between Microsoft’s Windows, Apple’s Mac OSX, and “self-build” machin

>Now look at desktop OS sales: the ratio stands in the most recent quarter at about 91:8:1 between Microsoft’s Windows, Apple’s Mac OSX, and “self-build” machines which probably get Linux. This is a drastic oversimplification... Some of those Windows machines will have Linux put on and many "self-build" machines will have Windows (or Hackintosh OSX). The vast majority of the Windows and OSX sales will likely stay as Windows or OSX boxes, so the data is still largely valid - but I feel this particular measure is a bit of a reach. Furthermore, we can say this is isolated to technology, but in my opinion this happens in Facial Tissue sales just as often as tech. This is a law of human preference: on average 90% of people follow the herd, 9% go for a close alternative, 1% go hardcore. This is even true of characters in TV shows! 90% of people favour the hero, 9% are into the side-kick, 1% dig deep into some random character, possibly even creating new backstories. [edit: clarity]