Microsoft may be trying level best to move users to its modern operating platform, but despite these efforts, Windows 7 market share has increased by leaps and bounds in the past few months.
The popular OS now easily powers one in two PCs worldwide.
And this remains a fact that will not change anytime soon — at least this is not something Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 can do something about. Statistics provided by Net Applications show that the market share of the fan favorite Windows 7 skyrocketed in the past year.
This, despite the launch of Windows 8.1 and the release of the Windows 10 Technical Preview.
There were some that were hoping for a change in charts when Microsoft pulled the plug off of Windows XP back in April 2014.
At the time of the retirement of this vintage operating system, Windows 7 was found to be powering no less than 49.27% of the PCs the world over. This figure crossed the mark of 50.06% the very next month, and has not looked back since.
It peaked at 56.26% in December 2014.
Windows 8.1 right now is installed on 10.49% of computers worldwide, and as most users are moving to that version of the OS, Windows 8 share of the pie has dipped to only 3.55% right now.
Long story short, this much seems certain that Windows 8 and 8.1 combined will not catch up to the worldwide market share Windows 7 now enjoys.
Windows 10 remains the only hope for this, and seeing how the platform is shaping up, Windows 7 might finally have a real competitor for the top spot later this year.
All Comments
What’s really sad and telling is how slow people are moving from Windows 8 to 8.1. It’s really nothing more than a expansion pack, a good one at that, to Windows 8 and Microsoft has all but stopped support for it except what they are mandated to do because the way they sold it.
I mean its been a year now lol.
Couldn’t agree more, man! The last thing the Windows platform needs now is fragmentation, with Windows 10 coming and all that.
I agree
Microsoft is doing it to themselves
This is the same thing that’s happening in phone. Of course we expected some growth in 7. Too many clients are still in the process of their Windows 7 transitions, but this is mostly the fault of Microsoft. It’s the same reason Windows Phone’s share is not where it should be. It should be at at least 6 or 7% by now. The problem is ever since Microsoft realized a new product was coming out at the end of this year and they were going to be saving features for Windows 9/10, they basically abandon their current products. They could have released a Windows Phone that outdid everyone as far as specs and looks. Whether it was a big seller really would not have been the point. Then they basically haven’t pushed or market Windows or Phone 8.1 in over a year. This strategy of distancing yourself from an old product because they want the buzz to be about the new one is stupid. Get out there and make 1 or 2 big pushes of your OS and your partners’ devices.