I'm looking for an "independent" or "third-party" list of the
best-selling software applications purchased by businesses. Timeframe
can be either recent or within the last 2 years. I'm defining independent as an
industry magazine or publication. I'm NOT looking for a list of
best-selling software from someone like Amazon.com, because it
contains too many non-business applications.

I found a top 10 list for the week of June 22-June 28 of 2003, a top
20 list for the month of May of 2003, and a top 10 list for the month
of December of 2000 for business software application purchases. 
These were compiled by NPD Techworld and PC Data (PC Data was acquired
by NPD Intelect) "NPD INTELECT® ACQUIRES POINT-OF-SALE TRACKING
DIVISION OF PC DATA" March 16, 2001
http://www.npdtechworld.com/techServlet?nextpage=pr_body_it.html&content_id=254

NPD Techworld is an independent provider of information services: "As
the gold standard for sales and marketing information, NPD Techworld
has a proven track record of providing reliable and credible
information - nearly 15 years tracking technology markets."
http://www.npdtechworld.com/techServlet?nextpage=about_techworld.html

As you will see, computer security applications and operating systems
have been the consistent top sellers over the last few years.

Please request clarification if needed.

Sincerely,

Wonko


"Top-Selling Software
Week of June 22 - June 28, 2003

Business
 
Rank
 Title
 Publisher
  ASP
 
1
 Norton Antivirus 2003
 Symantec
 $41
 
2
 MS Windows XP Home Ed Upgr
 Microsoft
 $96
 
3
 MS Office XP Student & Teacher Ed
 Microsoft
 $132
 
4
 Norton Internet Security 2003
 Symantec
 $62
 
5
 Norton System Works 2003
 Symantec
 $64
 
6
 VirusScan 7.0 Home Ed
 Network Associates
 $41
 
7
 QuickBooks 2003 Pro
 Intuit
 $271
 
8
 MS Windows XP Pro Upgr
 Microsoft
 $189
 
9
 Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0
 Adobe
 $89
 
10
 McAfee Internet Security 5.0
 Network Associates
 $44"
 
http://www.npdtechworld.com/techServlet?nextpage=pr_body_it.html&content_id=426
NPD Techworld

"Top-Selling Software: May 2003

Business
 
Rank This Month
 Rank Last Month
 Title
 Publisher
  ASP 
 
1
 1
 Norton Antivirus 2003
 Symantec
 $42
 
2
 2
 MS Windows XP Home Ed Upgr
 Microsoft
 $98
 
3
 3
 Norton Internet Security 2003
 Symantec
 $65
 
4
 5
 MS Office XP Student & Teacher Ed
 Microsoft
 $135
 
5
 4
 Norton System Works 2003
 Symantec
 $65
 
6
 8
 MS Windows XP Pro Upgr
 Microsoft
 $189
 
7
 9
 Norton Internet Security 2003 Upgr
 Symantec
 $40
 
8
 10
 VirusScan 7.0 Home Ed
 Network Associates
 $41
 
9
 7
 QuickBooks 2003 Pro
 Intuit
 $269
 
10
 13
 VirusScan 7.0 Pro
 Network Associates
 $36
 
11
 16
 Norton Antivirus 2003 Pro
 Symantec
 $63
 
12
 11
 Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0
 Adobe
 $90
 
13
  
 McAfee Internet Security 5.0
 Network Associates
 $41
 
14
 12
 McAfee SpamKiller 4.0
 Network Associates
 $28
 
15
  
 Norton System Works 2003 Pro
 Symantec
 $92
 
16
 6
 Norton Antivirus 2003 Upgr
 Symantec
 $30
 
17
 14
 Norton System Works 2003/Personal Firewall 2003 Bundle
 Symantec
 $77
 
18
 15
 Acrobat 5.0
 Adobe
 $225
 
19
 17
 QuickBooks 2003
 Intuit
 $196
 
20
 18
 Norton Personal Firewall 2003
 Symantec
 $49"
 
http://www.npdtechworld.com/techServlet?nextpage=pr_body_it.html&content_id=414
NPD Techworld



"1.  Norton AntiVirus 7.0 (Symantec)
2.  Microsoft Windows Me Step Up Promo (Microsoft)
3.  Norton SystemWorks 2001 4.0 (Symantec)
4.  McAfee VirusScan 5.0 (Network Associates)
5.  Microsoft Windows Me Upgrade (Microsoft)
6.  Microsoft Windows 98 Upgrade Second Edition (Microsoft)
7.  Norton AntiVirus 7.0 Upgrade (Symantec)
8.  McAfee VirusScan 4.0 Classic (Network Associates)
9.  Norton Internet Security 2001 2.5 (Symantec)
10.  Norton Utilities 2001 5.0 (Symantec)
Source: PC Data, December 2000."

"Top-Selling Biz Software" PC Magazine, April 3, 2001 
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,481500,00.asp

---

Request for Answer Clarification by dawsons-ga on 18 Jul 2003 09:26 PDT

Thanks, this is great information. 

Any chance you could find the Top-100 list? I don't see that at NPD's
site. I'd be willing to add another $20 for this. Do I need to submit
a separate question.

---

Clarification of Answer by wonko-ga on 18 Jul 2003 10:00 PDT

Thank you for the five-star rating.  Had I found a longer list, I
would have provided it.  You could, of course, post a request for a
top 100 list as a separate question and see if any other researchers
have any better luck than I did finding a longer list. Some may have
access to proprietary databases that I do not have access to with that
type of information.  Alternatively, you might try contacting NPD
directly and asking them how much they would charge for the list you
are seeking.

Sincerely,

Wonko