Want to read Slashdot from your mobile device? Point it at m.slashdot.org and keep reading!

 


Forgot your password?
Close
typodupeerror
×
Windows Microsoft Operating Systems

Windows 8 and 8.1 Pass 15% Market Share, Windows XP Drops Below 20% Mark 192

Posted by timothy from the trading-places dept.
An anonymous reader writes Everyone is well-aware by now that Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 have not seen the impressive adoption rate of their predecessor. Yet the duo had a particularly good run last month, finally passing 15 percent market share together. Together, they owned 16.80 percent of the market at the end of October, up from 12.26 percent at the end of September. Windows XP meanwhile dropped a whopping 6.69 points to 17.18 percent. The biggest catalyst for these changes was most likely back to school sales in September, which are better reflected in the data after students use their new machines for a full month.
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.

Windows 8 and 8.1 Pass 15% Market Share, Windows XP Drops Below 20% Mark More

Windows 8 and 8.1 Pass 15% Market Share, Windows XP Drops Below 20% Mark

Comments Filter:

  • Time To Change That Windows Icon (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 02, 2014 @05:00PM (#48295859)

    Come on, it's 2014, and slashdot is still using that broken windows avatar for Windows stories.
    Not only it that "joke" not funny anymore, it's not even true. Windows might not be great, but its hardly broken like in the days of 95 or 98.

    It is long past time you grow up and use the correct logo.

    • Re: Time To Change That Windows Icon (Score:5, Informative)

      by Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 02, 2014 @05:02PM (#48295869)

      It's not supposed to be funny. Windows 8 is broken, and consumers have been very vocal about that.

    • I like it. feature of the ghetto. (Score:4, Informative)

      by swschrad ( 312009 ) on Sunday November 02, 2014 @05:14PM (#48295953) Homepage Journal

      and I swore a lot less at Win98 than I did at 8.0. Win8.1 is useable, but still bites at your fingers now and again.

    • Re:Time To Change That Windows Icon (Score:5, Funny)

      by ganjadude ( 952775 ) on Sunday November 02, 2014 @05:20PM (#48295987) Homepage
      bring back borg gates

    • Its slashdot not backslash .

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by antdude ( 79039 )

      Does /. still use Borg Bill Gates icon too? I turned off most of the images on /. in my account for speed and infor(mation).

    • Come on, it's 2014, and slashdot is still using that broken windows avatar for Windows stories.
      Not only it that "joke" not funny anymore, it's not even true. Windows might not be great, but its hardly broken like in the days of 95 or 98.

      It is long past time you grow up and use the correct logo.

      Hey I like the /. windows logo looks neat.

      Much nicer looking than ultra-spartan metro-ized CGA cyan version passing as a logo these days.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by mwvdlee ( 775178 )

      There's a very large road between "Broken like in the days of 95 or 98" and "Not broken".
      They're meandering closer every other version, but not nearly there yet.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by epyT-R ( 613989 )

      Why? is the site not giving your favorite OS a favorable image? Go post at neowin or something..

  • Windows 7 (Score:5, Interesting)

    by uolamer ( 957159 ) on Sunday November 02, 2014 @05:00PM (#48295863)

    FTA: "These gains did not come at the expense of Windows 7, which still managed to grow 0.34 points to 53.05 percent."

    • Re: (Score:3)

      by vux984 ( 928602 )

      FTA: "These gains did not come at the expense of Windows 7, which still managed to grow 0.34 points to 53.05 percent."

      Its not surprising really, if you have 7 there's really no compelling reason to upgrade to 8.1. Note that I like 8.1 just fine, its not worth the trouble of upgrading from 7. Especially not at the prices Microsoft is charging for it. I've got 3 Win7 laptop/PCs and even 2 older laptops the kids now use that still have Vista... I'd put 8.1 on all of them... but not at $120 for 8.1 or $200 fo

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Kjella ( 173770 )

      Well, if it's an old Windows 7 machine it's probably a non-touch, non-convertible regular laptop/desktop. Any 2009+ hardware is still good for most people so you won't throw it out and why on earth would you upgrade it to Windows 8? While we might argue the finer points of whether it's ever a good idea, it certainly doesn't make sense without hardware to support the most essential new features. It still has 5-6 years of support left, no hurry to avoid end of support either.

  • Wondering about those numbers. (Score:3)

    by __aatgod8309 ( 598427 ) on Sunday November 02, 2014 @05:03PM (#48295877)
    It's interesting that while 8.1 is around 10%-ish, 8 is still about 5%. Considering 8.1 is a free update for registered copies of 8, how many of the un-updated copies of 8 are pirated versions?

    • Re:Wondering about those numbers. (Score:5, Funny)

      by roc97007 ( 608802 ) on Sunday November 02, 2014 @05:06PM (#48295903) Journal

      It's interesting that while 8.1 is around 10%-ish, 8 is still about 5%. Considering 8.1 is a free update for registered copies of 8, how many of the un-updated copies of 8 are pirated versions?

      What would be the point of pirating Windows 8?

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Mitreya ( 579078 )

      It's interesting that while 8.1 is around 10%-ish, 8 is still about 5%.

      Perhaps 8.1 is the one that comes with downgrade to Windows7 option. I wonder if they counted how many licenses are downgraded after purchase.

      • Re: (Score:2, Informative)

        by Anonymous Coward

        It's interesting that while 8.1 is around 10%-ish, 8 is still about 5%.

        Perhaps 8.1 is the one that comes with downgrade to Windows7 option. I wonder if they counted how many licenses are downgraded after purchase.

        This is measuring actual usage, not what people bought.

    • Re:Wondering about those numbers. (Score:5, Interesting)

      by Que_Ball ( 44131 ) on Sunday November 02, 2014 @05:18PM (#48295975)
      8.1 is not an automatic update.  It requires launching the store, accepting the update and waiting for the lengthy download and install process to finish.  I have seen plenty of Windows 8 PC's that nobody bothered to upgrade.  Not a single person I have talked to still running 8.0 was even aware of the upgrade.  It's not like they made a conscious choice to stick with 8.0, they simply didn't bother to even find out.  Microsoft would have to make a greater effort to force them to upgrade through automatic update and continuous prompts that keep requesting permission to download and upgrade when they boot up to get this to change.

      That's pretty much the one and only reason why most of these users have not upgraded on their own.  95% of those windows 8.0 users are simply not clued in to the fact an upgrade should be done.  4% likely had problems getting the upgrade to install or download so just stick with 8.0 rather than troubleshoot the issue.  Lets peg 1% or less are those choosing to stick with 8.0 (good enough for them, corporate standard, too much trouble, not enough bandwidth to download, etc etc)

      • I disagree with the numbers. Most computers and nearly all tablets are much more of an appliance. People may have been told about an upgrade, but didn't care enough to even remember it.

        The conscious choice was to ignore all information. If it didn't work adequately, they would not have made the same choice.

        Specifically, I disagree here: " they simply didn't bother to even find out."

        To most people, that's not even a thing. Not bothering means they are aware an option exists. I don't know what prompts a user

      • Not a single person I have talked to still running 8.0 was even aware of the upgrade. It's not like they made a conscious choice to stick with 8.0, they simply didn't bother to even find out.

        Guess you don't actually run 8.0 anymore (or you are domain joined) because on my 8.0 system a pop-up asking me to upgrade to 8.1 shows up every 2 hours after an Windows update a couple months ago.

        • Guess you don't actually run 8.0 anymore (or you are domain joined) because on my 8.0 system a pop-up asking me to upgrade to 8.1 shows up every 2 hours after an Windows update a couple months ago.

          People are probably so pissed off with Windows 8 that this is just another annoyance to them that they ignore.

    • It's interesting that while 8.1 is around 10%-ish, 8 is still about 5%. Considering 8.1 is a free update for registered copies of 8, how many of the un-updated copies of 8 are pirated versions?

      I wonder about the Windows 8 being so high, too, especially considering the many issues (and complaints) there were fixed or improved with 8.1 and Update 1. I doubt it has anything to do with piracy, though, certainly not with those numbers. Are there some Surface and other tablet devices that are either difficult to update or will not accept 8.1?

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by Luckyo ( 1726890 )

        Most likely those people who just bought the computer and were utterly clueless that they can update.

        I'm surprised it's not more really. Essentially anyone with meaningful know how got 7 instead of 8.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Luckyo ( 1726890 )

      Probably none of them. 8's hack is key server emulation which gets all the updates, and if you pirate it, you probably have the know-how to upgrade to 8.1.

      Average user who was shoved 8 down his threat because he just didn't know any better would not on the other hand, and the poor bastards have to suffer.

      That is of course, if anyone was stupid enough to pirate 8 when 7 is freely available

      • Retail Windows 8 is allowed to be upgraded to 8.1 for free - it slips in as a Windows Update. Volume License installs of Windows 8 need to be re-installed to upgrade to Windows 8.1 - they do not have an automatic upgrade path.

        Bought Win8 retail? The Win8.1 update is free.
        Bought a computer with Win8 pre-installed? The Win8. update is free.
        Have a corporate/school-issued (volume license) computer with Win8 installed? Your IT folks will have to re-image it for Win8.1.

        • Re: (Score:3)

          by Luckyo ( 1726890 )

          Except that it doesn't "slip in as Windows Update" but requires significant user interaction to install. Which means ignorant user trained to say "no" to every prompt he didn't click something to create says "no" and doesn't install it.

        • Have a corporate/school-issued (volume license) computer with Win8 installed? Your IT folks will have to re-image it for Win8.1.

          You don't have to go as far as re-imaging you can upgrade in place but it isn't automatic, you will need the media and activation related steps will also need to be taken (AIUI if you are using KMS the KMS server needs to be updated, if using MAK you will need to install a new key on the individual machine)

          And yes I do think producing something that was support/updates wise (and I think but i'm not positive licensing wise) treated as a service pack but activation wise treated as a new version was a mean thi

        • Comment removed based on user account deletion

  • What would be more interesting would be (Score:3)

    by Crashmarik ( 635988 ) on Sunday November 02, 2014 @05:05PM (#48295891)

    What percentage windows has captured of the overall device market, instead of just the desktop market.

    • I dont know the answer right now but it sounds like the future could be quite strong as more people drop their current tablets for something a bit more productive like surface 3 or similar from other oems, especially in the corporate world. Laptop sales are still heavily weighted to Microsoft, regardless of what the iFanboys tell you and Chromebooks are soon to be dead now that windows based alternatives are available at the same price point running a real OS on comparatively decent hardware.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by 0123456 ( 636235 )

        Chromebooks are soon to be dead now that windows based alternatives are available at the same price point running a real OS on comparatively decent hardware.

        You know what we used to call cheap, small laptops with limited storage running Windows or Linux? Netbooks.

        They were great, until everyone started shouting that tablets were The New Shiny, and suddenly they disappeared. Now, cheap, small laptops are supposed to be The New Shiny, except we're not allowed to call them netbooks any more.

        Which is good, because we need to replace our old netbook, so now I'll be able to buy a new one and install a real OS on it instead of that Windows crap.

  • how many sales are forced? (Score:3)

    by roc97007 ( 608802 ) on Sunday November 02, 2014 @05:09PM (#48295921) Journal

    I wonder how many of Windows 8.X's sales are "forced", IE, preinstalled on a PC that a consumer bought because they needed a PC, not because they wanted Windows 8? Stipulating that the consumer is not a geek, and not aware that they might be able to ask for Windows 7 preinstalled instead?

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Animats ( 122034 )

      Most of them. Windows 7 is no longer offered for retail sale, but big companies with bulk deals can get a downgrade option.

      Little squares. That's the future of computing.

      • Little squares. That's the future of computing.

        Now that's a pretty dystopian world. Worse than Blade Runner.

      • Windows 7 is still available, just not the Home, Starter, or Ultimate versions - Windows 7 Pro is still available for sale.

        • Machines with windows 7 (usually 7 pro installed as a downgrade from 8 pro) are still available at the moment if you plan ahead know what to look for.

          OTOH if you don't plan ahead and just go to the shops and buy a computer then things are far less rosy. The non-pro editions (what you will likely get retail) don't come with downgrade rights and AIUI neither do the retail/retail upgrade versions of the pro editions.

          So if you get a machine with non-pro windows 8 and want to downgrade then AIUI your only option

    • I wonder how many of Windows 8.X's sales are "forced", IE, preinstalled on a PC that a consumer bought because they needed a PC, not because the

      Pretty much any purchase that isn't a Mac or a chromebook. Yeah there are few linux folks out there but they are pretty much a rounding error in the pre-install desktop market which accounts for the vast majority of machines sold.

      • There is Windows 8.1 with Bing, a completely free full OEM version of Windows 8.1, with the only requirement that the system builder may not reset the default browser to anything other then IE or the default serch engine to anything other than Bing - the consumer is free to change either at will with no repurcussions...

        Putting a MS OS on the system allows the vendo to collect MS advertising revenue AND pre-install all that bloatware with their install fee for putting them on the machines. Choosing to instal

  • Comment removed (Score:5, Interesting)

    by account_deleted ( 4530225 ) on Sunday November 02, 2014 @05:21PM (#48296003)
    Comment removed based on user account deletion

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by uolamer ( 957159 )

      Speaking for workstations/desktops: Every business I know or dealt with has no plans to go to Windows 8.x, ever. They all buy desktops that might come with Windows 8 but they just get imaged to Windows 7. Most of them lagged getting away from XP and they just now got to 7. My best guess is Windows 10 will be the successor after it comes out and proves to be stable and usable as a desktop OS.

      I heard one tech recently say something about how we should upgrade to Window 8 and it pretty much made me laugh. Why

    • I think because Windows 10 defaults to the Desktop UI on laptop and desktop computers, it is the true successor to Windows 7 in the corporate world. Indeed, I expect Windows 10 to cause a major uptick in PC sales because people familiar with Windows 7 and earlier could pick up Windows 10 a lot faster.

  • Windows 8.1 is an improvement over 8.0 (Score:3)

    by FlyHelicopters ( 1540845 ) on Sunday November 02, 2014 @07:17PM (#48296779)

    I have to say... I have three Windows 8.0 Pro licences that I purchased at launch when they were cheap... I've tried it several times, never could stand it, just wasn't finished...

    Recently I bought a new Dell laptop that came with Windows 8.1 and was pleasantly surprised at the improvements.

    While my main machine will probably run Windows 7 until Windows 10 comes out, I've upgraded several other machines from 7 to 8.1 now using my existing licenses.

    I have to say, had Windows 8 launched as 8.1 stands today, I think most of the hate would have been gone, it is "cleaned up" and an improvement in many ways over 8.0.

    Looking forward to 10...

    • I have also switched from Win 7 to 8.1 and it really is better. Many things are better streamlined and faster. And small features here and there that just make life easier. Like native iso mounting. Start screen does not bother me much because I used to use search anyway in Win 7 also. I just press the Win button and start searching. Startup and sleep times are way better, and in-built Skydrive and skype are good. I also like some Metro apps like calculator because I can fix it in the side and it's nice to

      • I will say that if I didn't already own Win8 licenses, I sure wouldn't pay to upgrade from 7 to 8. :)

        Windows 10? Will I pay for that? Yea, I'm sure I will, but to move all the computers to Windows 10 will require a good price.

        $30 strikes me as the right upgrade price.

  • and other sub $150 windows 8.1 tablets.

  • XP is better (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Lehk228 ( 705449 ) on Monday November 03, 2014 @12:52AM (#48298689) Journal
    i would rather deal with unsupported XP with viruses than the steaming dog turd called windows 8. it was the most infuriating UI I have ever had the displeasure of using, and I lived through the rise and fall of macromedia flash websites

  • Not sure where those numbers come from (Score:3, Insightful)

    by jsndgrss ( 3898573 ) on Monday November 03, 2014 @01:18AM (#48298791)
    I would posit that new sales (where the consumer doesn't have a choice) is responsible for the Win8 numbers rising. From the feedback I get from my friends and acquaintances it doesn't seem to be from consumers making a "choice" that they want Win8. And I really have to question XP dropping below 20%, at least in a business environment. I generally see about 50/50 between Win7 and XP among our customers and the businesses we come in contact with. And everywhere I go XP still appears to be the dominant OS behind retailer's POS systems. We have upgraded a fair number of our customers to Win7 Pro (as many as we could convince) but there is still more than 20% of them on XP. Not sure who "venturebeat" is, but look around, the numbers just don't seem quite accurate.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by pr100 ( 653298 )

      The venturebeat article links to netmarketshare as the source of the statistics. The numbers are apparently world-wide. Your own experience is unlikely to be a reliable barometer of what's happening in Munich, Shanghai or Addis Ababa ...

      • Your own experience is unlikely to be a reliable barometer of what's happening in Munich, Shanghai or Addis Ababa ...

        True but I wouldn't take their numbers as reliable either. The honest truth is that noone has a real picture of usage share.

        From their FAQ (emphasis mine)

        "Net Market Share data is an aggregation the traffic of all of our HitsLink clients, but instead of counting pageviews we count daily unique visitors. A daily unique visitor is counted only once per day per website we track"

        So it seems machines that are used to view a wide range of different websites get counted many times. Machines that are only used to v

Slashdot Top Deals

Beware of Programmers who carry screwdrivers. -- Leonard Brandwein

Close