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Windows Microsoft Operating Systems

Windows 10 Continues To Close in On Windows 7 (betanews.com) 210

Posted by msmash from the aggressive-expansion dept.
An anonymous reader writes: NetMarketShare reports on the state of the desktop operating system market on the first day of each month. [...] In July, [the market share of] Windows 10 went from 35.71 percent to 36.58 percent, an increase of 0.87 percentage points. That's down from the 0.97 percentage points it grew in June, but shows that the OS is still packing on share at a steady rate. In July, Windows 7 lost 0.51 percentage points and now sits on 41.23 percent, just 4.65 percentage points ahead of the newer OS.
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Windows 10 Continues To Close in On Windows 7 More

Windows 10 Continues To Close in On Windows 7

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  • Spyware... (Score:5, Insightful)

    by b0s0z0ku ( 752509 ) on Wednesday August 01, 2018 @04:04PM (#57051412)
    Spyware continues to be forced on users ... news at 11.
    • Don't worry, Windows 7 has been slowly upgraded to spyware, too.

      • Re:Spyware... (Score:5, Informative)

        by Anonymous Brave Guy ( 457657 ) on Wednesday August 01, 2018 @04:34PM (#57051662)

        Mine hasn't. You see, in Windows 7, you can choose which updates you install...

        • Comment removed based on user account deletion

        • Indeed.

          Is there a full descriptive list of recommended KB updates to install since MS can't actually provide a 1-line summary of each KB ?

        • Re:Spyware... (Score:4, Insightful)

          by Kjella ( 173770 ) on Wednesday August 01, 2018 @07:52PM (#57053088) Homepage

          Mine hasn't. You see, in Windows 7, you can choose which updates you install...

          Only if you've stopped installing updates entirely or been exceptionally diligent. If you've installed any of the rollup patches available through Windows Update since October 2016 you got it all. Even the one that says security is actually security for this month plus both security and non-security patches from previous months if you read the fine print, you're just one month behind on the spyware. The only way to get security-only patches on a home version version of Windows is to download them from WSUS via a third-party tool and install them manually, one per month. Note that these are not cumulative so if you need to reinstall you need all of them.

          • Only if you've stopped installing updates entirely or been exceptionally diligent.

            It's true that Microsoft make it unnecessarily difficult to install just the security patches on 7 for non-enterprise users, but at least it is possible via an official channel. That's more than you can say of 10.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by antdude ( 79039 )

          Not really. In the past, WU used to have every single updates separated. Recently, they put them together as commulatives. :(

          • That is true, but you can get monthly cumulative updates that only include the security fixes. They don't make it easy (those updates aren't distributed via the normal Windows Update mechanism) but at least the possibility exists.

        • Mine hasn't. You see, in Windows 7, you can choose which updates you install...

          Cool story. The reality however is that 99.99% of non-corporate Windows 7 installs out there are either malware infested cesspools thanks to updates being completely disabled, or have the telemetry installed.

          I've never met a normal user who scrutinises updates on a per KB number level.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by gweihir ( 88907 )

          Indeed. Even if I had to remove the recently upgraded spyware (damn MS creeps) manually, it is possible to do so.

          When I move to Win 10, I will treat it as inherently untrusted and compromised by design. That means all my email, web-surfing, etc. will be on Linux, the Win10 machine will essentially be a game console.

          • Yes. For home use, I'm already wary of devices like Chromecasts that want network access but have uncertain internal behaviour. I'm not a big believer in IoT hype, as I think a lot of these devices are solutions in search of problems, but some of them are actually useful. However, I'm coming around to the idea that we should isolate most home devices the same way we would isolate untrusted equipment at the office, with nothing but themselves and an Internet connection.

      • Re: (Score:2, Interesting)

        by Anonymous Coward

        Run Tronscript after updates. It removes Windows 7 telemetry updates automagically.

      • Is there a PC on sale with Windows 7 on it?

        If there was then these numbers might not happen.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by Luckyo ( 1726890 )

        Only if you're a complete muppet and cannot type "remove windows 7 telemetry" into google, in case you don't read what updates actually do. Because if you do, the first result will be this page:

        https://gist.github.com/xvital... [github.com]

        You're welcome.

    • Re:Spyware... (Score:5, Funny)

      by Kenja ( 541830 ) on Wednesday August 01, 2018 @04:12PM (#57051460)
      You're comments have been noted, and are being added to your permanent record.
    • plebs keep using windows. report at 8

    • That is truly a breach of privacy! I need warn someone. > "Okay Google, post the following on Facebook: ..."

  • ORLY? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Artem S. Tashkinov ( 764309 ) on Wednesday August 01, 2018 @04:12PM (#57051462) Homepage

    And Windows 10 continues to be the only Windows OS being offered by OEMs and Microsoft itself. With older computers dying or being utilized, you have to wonder which OS is going to become more widespread. Except you don't.

    Oh, and Windows 7 will cease to be supported in 2020 while Windows 8 expiry date is set to 2023.

    • Unsupported doesn't mean non-functional. Also, Windows 7 is quite easy to re-install on new hardware, even given an existing OEM key...

    • And Windows 10 continues to be the only Windows OS being offered by OEMs and Microsoft itself. With older computers dying or being utilized, you have to wonder which OS is going to become more widespread. Except you don't.

      Oh, and Windows 7 will cease to be supported in 2020 while Windows 8 expiry date is set to 2023.

      This all sounds so familiar...

    • Re:ORLY? (Score:5, Insightful)

      by GerryGilmore ( 663905 ) on Wednesday August 01, 2018 @04:18PM (#57051524)
      And that is just another reason that I am *SO* glad that I switched to Linux years ago.
      Anyone whining about Windows today has only themselves to blame.
    • system 76 linux machines. enjoy.

  • Well... (Score:5, Insightful)

    by erp_consultant ( 2614861 ) on Wednesday August 01, 2018 @04:17PM (#57051502)

    It's not like people are "adopting" anything. If you buy a new PC it's going to come pre-installed with Windows 10, unless it's a MAC. A better indicator would be how many people are buying a Windows 10 disc and voluntarily replacing their current OS with it. I suspect that number is very very low.

  • Upgrades. (Score:5, Interesting)

    by jellomizer ( 103300 ) on Wednesday August 01, 2018 @04:17PM (#57051504)

    Being that PC's are being sold at a higher rate for the first time in a while, We can expect to see Windows 10 market share to go up.

    As much as we want to Hate on Windows 10... Microsoft Windows Sales have been tied to General PC Sales. The length of Windows 7 in the market is mostly due to the fact that Windows 7 PC's have been the primary computers for people for many years, and now these systems are start to show their age and become out of date. Back before Windows 7 the Average Live Span for a PC was 4-6 years now it is 6-10 years. Thanks mostly in part to Mobile devices that forced OS makers and software designers to focus more on lower end systems. So That 2008 Windows 7 PC, for most people would be finally really showing its age. 4Gigs of Ram is getting tight, and that Duel Core is quite quaint. So people get a new computer and they Get Windows 10 on it.

    Previous to Windows 7 That 2002 PC in 2008 would be really showing its age. and that 1998 vs 2002 PC would show age too.

    The Slow increase of Windows 10, is just because PC Sales have been slow too.

    • Re:Upgrades. (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Anonymous Brave Guy ( 457657 ) on Wednesday August 01, 2018 @04:43PM (#57051712)

      As much as we want to Hate on Windows 10... Microsoft Windows Sales have been tied to General PC Sales.

      Maybe PC sales were lower in part because of waiting for and then disappointment with Windows 10. From the correlation alone, we can't tell.

      Your fundamental point is valid, but it's pretty embarrassing for Microsoft that its shiny new flagship product still hasn't overtaken its tried-and-tested legacy product after all this time, even though they literally gave it away to any home user who wanted to upgrade (and apparently a few who didn't...) and stopped offering the alternatives so anyone buying those new computers can't choose the older version even if they'd prefer it.

      • it's pretty embarrassing for Microsoft that its shiny new flagship product still hasn't overtaken its tried-and-tested legacy product after all this time, even though they literally gave it away to any home user who wanted to upgrade (and apparently a few who didn't...)

        "gave it away to any ... who wanted" is an understatement - more like "forced upon even those who did not want" *. Given that, I am amazed that the Win7 share remains as high as it is. I understand that the "upgrade" happened to the user unless he made some effort to avoid it - in my case I disabled upgrades in Win7.

        * I know, I know, MS apologists will deny it was a forced upgrade because it was possible to avoid it, even though the average Joe would not have known how, or even been aware of the upgrade s

      • Comment removed based on user account deletion

      • Maybe PC sales were lower in part because of waiting for and then disappointment with Windows 10.

        Unlikely. PC sales have been on an almost linear decline since the iPad was released, or since Intel Core series processors and that horrible "Netbook" craze died. Pick your poison. Either way everyone who needed a computer had a computer and stopped upgrading computers at fast rates. This isn't anything due to Windows, it's been a long time since Windows was a driver of PC upgrades. It's more of a reflection that we are approaching a replacement / maintenance phase of the industry.

        • I can't speak for anyone else, but my small businesses were holding off on new PCs as much as possible during the Windows 8 era in the hope that 10 would fix the much-criticised UI issues. When 10 turned out to actually be worse because of all the privacy and update nonsense, and Microsoft appeared to be doubling down on that strategy, we started spending real money on trying out various alternative platforms.

          I don't know how many other people or smaller businesses did something similar, but anecdotally the

          • but my small businesses were holding off on new PCs as much as possible

            My point was the opposite. There's no doubt in the Windows 8 era there were holdouts. That was a spectacular turd. However... why did they need new PCs? My point exactly was that windows comes on PCs as part of replacement programs.

            The trend is correlated perfectly, aside from the forced update issue 3 years ago.

    • So That 2008 Windows 7 PC

      A Sandy Bridge desktop or laptop from 2011 or 2012 can still be a formidable gaming box or a developer rig. Likewise, Windows 8 PCs from before 2015 can be even more capable. I actually bought a brand new Dell XPS workstation running Windows 7 as recently as 2016.

    • i know people still sporting pentum 4. only gamers give a crap about there hardware.of course i have to brake it to them that 32 bit is going away and they have to replace that machine.

  • Oh well (Score:5, Interesting)

    by oldgraybeard ( 2939809 ) on Wednesday August 01, 2018 @04:17PM (#57051516)
    This is as expected. Microsoft per their marketing plan will force as many as they can on to Windows 10. Up to this point I have resisted and still run Windows 7 Pro on my Windows workstations. Not sure I will ever go for Windows 10. Or just phase Windows workstations out and stick to my Linux and Mac workstations. I stopped doing Windows development work over 10 years ago anyway. And just keep 1 Windows 7 Pro workstation at my office and one in my home office now.

    One thing I do know "I will never use a DaaS workstation for any of my development work or to run my business". Heck, I don't even use any cloud based apps for any real work.

    Just my 2 cents ;)
    • Yep - imagine wanting privacy/control, and not giving a bunch of meddlers in Redmond access to your confidential data.

    • Re: (Score:3)

      by deKernel ( 65640 )

      Make a suggestion, virtualize the environment and call it a day. Personally, I have been using VMWare for years now, and I doubt I will go back. I have several VM's depending on customers requirements so I just spool up the VM and off I go. If your host hardware dies, just reinstall (I use Linux) the OS, install VMWare and bring over backups of the VMs and you are ready.

    • Microsoft per their marketing plan will force as many as they can on to Windows 10.

      Err no. Windows 10 sales are now being almost exclusively driven by PC sales. What are MS going to do? Provide a formally EOL OS to users? There's not marketing plan about it, Windows 7 is not provided for new installs, and no sane person would expect it to be.

  • Businesses are finally comfortable with upgrading.

    • Re:Businesses are finally converting (Score:5, Insightful)

      by b0s0z0ku ( 752509 ) on Wednesday August 01, 2018 @04:24PM (#57051586)
      Mugging victims are finally comfortable with handing over their jewelry... in this case, the "gun" is the 2020 support expiry data on Windows 7.

      • I find the outrage on behalf of the poor users hilarious. The actual reality is that people couldn't give a shit what logo comes up when they start their computers. They have never gone out of their way to upgrade, and that won't change in 2020 either. When a computer melts into a small puddle, they'll buy a new one. That one will come with whatever is currently on offer. Nothing more.

        No muggings, no gun, just a hamster plodding along on his wheel.

    • Businesses are finally comfortable with upgrading.

      You read that into a 0.87% increase? No, it is just the natural wasteage of worn-out PCs being replaced by new ones, pre-loaded with Win10.

  • If you look at TFA at Betanews, the image they used is pretty creepy if you think about it...

  • I wish I had bought a bunch of their stock at $ 35.00. They have managed to keep things going nicely.

    Just my 2 cents ;)
  • I just had server 2012 forced on me (again) at work. I wanted to shove hot pokers into my eyes to relieve the pain of the default theme that we get with that terrible excuse for an operating system. Then I changed that and the mouse cursor no longer worked correctly (switching to being the vertical cursor that we usually see in a word processor, all the time). Why on earth is this acceptable? The colors are hideous and the sharp edges make it look like it belongs in Windows 2.0, for display on an EGA mo

    • Microsoft hasn't put out a good-looking version of Windows since Windows 2000, although 7 was the least worst since then. The sad thing is that with Windows 7 you could still use the Windows 2000 "Classic" skin, but now you can't. Windows is so sophisticated it can't use a desktop theme from 18 years ago.

  • I even still dual boot XP. Microsoft's "support" for 7 is so pathetic that it dosen't matter when it is "officially unsupported".

  • Comment removed (Score:5, Insightful)

    by account_deleted ( 4530225 ) on Wednesday August 01, 2018 @05:12PM (#57051996)
    Comment removed based on user account deletion

    • Microsoft has not been pushing 10 hard. If they were, then they would allow XP and Vista users to upgrade. They're so embarrassed by 10 that they're not allowing us to upgrade. My personal desktop at work is an i7 with 64 GB running Vista that is blocked from upgrading to 10.

      • If they were, then they would allow XP and Vista users to upgrade.

        This would be a waste of support time for Microsoft because most of XP rigs are _really_ old and are not sufficiently fast or lack the RAM to run Windows Vista/7/8/10 comfortably.

        However, if you have a PC that runs Windows Vista comfortably, then it is very likely to do well under Windows 10. There actually used to be a loophole to upgrade Windows Vista PCs to 10 for free a couple of years ago, and it worked well on friend's ancient Core 2

    • very hard indeed as the only option for 3 years now.

      Errr what is the alternative again? A 10 year old OS that has ended mainstream support? Or do you expect MS to provide OEMs a copy of Linux?

      MS hasn't pushed anything hard since the initial Windows 7 > 10 upgrade, and that was pretty much all over a few years back. Now they are just sitting back and letting the stragglers catch up as their computer die.

      Pretty much says everything there is to say about Windows 10.

      Nope, it says everything there is to say about OSes in general. People don't care. I like most users have never actually bought a Windows license. There is

  • Exact opposite interpretation (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Tough Love ( 215404 ) on Wednesday August 01, 2018 @05:15PM (#57052028)

    My interpretation is: Windows 10 is taking an incredibly long time to ramp up in spite of being rammed down everybody's throats as hard as Microsoft can do it by means fair or foul. I conclude that Windows 10 must really suck, that users don't want it, and that they will accept it only by force. I look forward to a new wave of refugees arriving on the Linux beach.

    • It's a silly conclusion. MS rammed initially. got all the people who submitted and then that was it. There's nothing being rammed now and hasn't been for a long time now.

      The reality is that Windows sales have always followed OEM PC sales and very few users ever purchased a license outright. With the PC sales market the way it is, there's no surprise at the figures. You can see the trend lines line up nicely in their 2017 financial report, aside from a blip on release dates of Windows the sales volume follow

  • And that third only runs Windows 10 because it's a Surface Pro and doesn't support 7.
    I have no intention of upgrading the other systems and normally I've almost always upgraded to the next version of Windows within a year or two of release from as far back as Windows 95! (skipping only Vista) That stopped with Windows 8 which I thought would be another skip one like Vista - but with all the spyware/auto-updating and just downright oddness of Windows 10 where I'm a spectator to my own computer -Nah, I'll s

  • Steam survey (Score:5, Interesting)

    by OrangeTide ( 124937 ) on Wednesday August 01, 2018 @07:24PM (#57052904) Homepage Journal

    Steam Hardware & Software Survey [steampowered.com]:


    Windows 10 64 bit .... 57.03%
    Windows 7 64 bit ..... 32.38%
    Windows 8.1 64 bit ... 4.05%
    Windows 7 ............ 1.93%

    all other version of Windows are <1% (8 64-bit, 10 32-bit, 8.1 32-bit, XP)
    all versions of Linux combined are <1%
    all versions of MacOS X combined is 2.93%

    Conclusion: Windows 10 has been a big deal for quite some time, at least in gaming.

    This is all unfortunate news for me because long ago (~5 years) I had decided that Win7 is the last version I will use in my home. So convinced of this I bought a 5-pack of builder licenses to cover any future systems I build. It seemed reasonable because for creative work Linux happens to meet my needs. For gaming I had high hopes that Steam OS or Android TV or something would have taken hold. I'm not really a consoles guy, so I may have to adapt to running Spyware-from-Redmond, or limit myself to 10 year old games.

    • Re:Steam survey (Score:4, Interesting)

      by UnknownSoldier ( 67820 ) on Wednesday August 01, 2018 @08:07PM (#57053142)

      Some of the *sole* reasons gamers are running Windows 10:

      * Typical MS bullshit about not supporting DirectX 12 on Windows 7, They did the same shit when they tried to force gamers to migrate from XP to Vista via DirectX 10.
      * MS artificially not supporting newer CPUs even though AMD officially has drivers for Threadripper [linustechtips.com]

      Ask gamers to tell you ANY _new_ features that are DirectX 12 only and not available in DirectX 10? You'll get *crickets.* Gamers don't fucking care. They just want to play the latest shiny.

      They obviously don't care about Windows Spyware [microsoft.com]

      How many of those running Windows 10 were forced upgrades?

      ---
      Only children censor.
      Adults discuss, and even laugh about "taboo" subjects.

    • steam is mostly gamer there not going to be running old hardware or a old os.

  • Be a shame if something upgraded it . . .

  • I tire of the stupidity of 10 (Score:3)

    by AbRASiON ( 589899 ) * on Wednesday August 01, 2018 @08:24PM (#57053218) Journal

    The new 're-install over the top of yourself' patching system is terrible. If it fails it can render a machine unable to boot and despite (presumably... .. .. .?) their best efforts, several settings you've configured WILL be reset to default.

    I am a silent PC user, when sound comes out, it's because I want it to. Why do notification audio keep getting turned on?

    There's a heap of odd little things which re-enable themselves when these updates occur, worst thing is you had to google to find out how to disable them months ago and not since, so you've forgotten.

    • bing someone sent you spam. bing the app we forced you to download is ready to start. bing updates have installed rebooting now. bing a dickhead friend is calling you on skype at 4 am.

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