Install base is a measure of the number of units of a particular type of system (usually a computing platform) actually in use, as opposed to market share, which only reflects sales over a particular period. Because install base includes machines that may have been in use for many years, it is usually a higher figure than market share. Many people see it as a more reliable indicator of a platform’s popularity.

We all know the PS3 is behind Microsoft in terms of sales by a few million. This difference is mostly due to the head start Microsoft had, and they have managed to continue to lead in terms of sales. However, when you take many factors into play, it actually turns out that the Playstation 3 has the larger community of both consoles. Read more