Market researcher IDC expects to announce within weeks that Linux’ PC market share in 2003 hit 3.2%, overtaking Apple Computer Inc.’s Macintosh software (as reported a few weeks ago it has fallen at 1.8%, for the first time). And the researcher expects Linux to capture 6% of this market by 2007. That’s still tiny compared with Microsoft’s 94% share. Desktop Linux hasn’t had any appreciable effect on Microsoft’s finances yet, but it could do damage if Linux manages to grab a 10% share of the market, say analysts. IDC estimates that desktop Windows’ share will shrink slightly, to 92% in 2007 as Linux’ share doubles. The first big question though is how all this will have an effect to Apple’s business.

News source: OS News