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What's the most popular Mac and Windows shareware?

I'm just curious, is there any list of the most popular shareware for the Mac and Windows platform, and if so, are Windows people more likely to download games or Mac people?


Dave's Answer:

That's a fun question! The logical place to turn for this sort of information are shareware archive sites, and two of my favorites are Versiontracker.com and Download.com.

Before we check those sites, however, it turns out that I also get a weekly Download Dispatch newsletter from CNet and it includes a top-ten Mac downloads list:

Top Mac Downloads from CNet

That's a staggering number of downloads, and when you consider that both versions of LimeWire do the same thing, let you access the bittorrent / peer to peer (p2p) networks, it's rather disturbing to realize just how many people in the Mac space are downloading tools that gain them access to [almost always] illegal copies of music, video, software, ebooks, and related digital content off these networks.

So are PC users any better? Here's what Download.com reports:

Top 10 PC downloads from download.com

Ugh, a lot worse. With only a few exceptions (ICQ, IrfanView) these programs all about interacting with these p2p networks (LimeWire, Morpheus and Bittorrent) or avoiding virus and spyware trouble from unknown PC software. Speaks of the reality of life in the world of Windows, doesn't it?

Let's look at VersionTracker's Top Downloads for the Mac:

Top 10 Mac downloads from versiontracker.com

Phew, that makes me feel better. Probably partially because Versiontracker has a solid focus on utilities and related, there's a lot less dubious software on the list, and indeed there are some great applications on that list in my experience!

One more: Top Windows Downloads from Versiontracker:

Top 10 PC downloads from versiontracker.com

So there you have it, across these various download sites. Do Windows people download more games? I don't think so. Do both Mac and PC users have a strong predilection for downloading stuff from peer to peer networks, perhaps not all illegal digital content, but ...

Hope that helps answer your query!


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Categorized: Mac OS X Help , Windows PC Help   (Article 6951, Written by )
Tagged: cnet, download.com, downloads, freeware, shareware, versiontracker
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Reader Comments To Date: 1

chalina said, on February 23, 2007 9:49 AM:

I would like to know if there is anyway I can get internet explorer 6 on my powerbook G4. Ok The other option is to find a browser that is compatible with the internet explorer 6 that will work with the mac. The website that I need to go onto does not allow access without a internet explorer 6 which I reall think is super stupid. Oh yeah the website is www.trendmls.com. When I enter my password information it will determine the browser that I'm using and if it is not the internet explorer 6 or something compatible Im doomed. HELP

Starbucks coffee cup I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!











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