Windows 8.1 overtakes Windows 8 in desktop OS arena

C/NET ^ | 06/03/2014 | Lance Whitney

[SeekAndFind]

Friendlier to PC users than its prececessor, Windows 8.1 continues to eke out a higher share while Windows 8 slips downward.

Net Applications

Windows 8.1 is now more dominant than its predecessor, at least based on all desktop OS traffic seen by Net Applications.

For the month of May, Windows 8.1's share inched up to 6.35 percent from 5.88 percent in April. That gave it just enough of a nudge to steal third place from Windows 8, which earned a 6.3 percent share, down from 6.36 percent the prior month.

Windows 8.1's gradual ascension over its predecessor in the desktop market should hardly come as a surprise. Launched last October as a free update, Windows 8.1 added several features missing in action from the touch-driven Windows 8, notably a Start button, a boot-to-desktop option, and a way to sync the same background for both the Start screen and desktop. An update released this past April added more items to appeal to traditional mouse and keyboard users. Microsoft will try to further placate PC users with the return of a full Start menu, though that may not arrive until sometime next year.

In first place, Windows 7 took home more than half of all desktop OS Web traffic for the first time ever in Net Applications' stats, rising to 50.06 percent from 49.3 percent in April. On the flip side, Windows XP continued to lose share a little bit at a time, slipping to 25.3 percent in May from 26.3 percent the previous month.

The slow but steady rise of Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 at the expense of the now unsupported XP is a promising sign, certainly in the eyes of Microsoft. For the past couple of years, the software giant has been urging users to upgrade from XP to a more modern operating system, either Windows 7 or 8. In early April, Microsoft finally ended support for XP, meaning that users will no longer receive bug fixes or security updates, putting them at greater risk to security threats.

Still, Windows XP remains firmly in second place in the desktop OS market. Responsible for a quarter of all desktop OS traffic, the now almost 13-year-old operating system won't be going away completely anytime soon.

[Mr Rogers]

I prefer 7 to 8.1. I see no improvement with 8.1, just annoying features I have to download software to hide. I’d gladly go back to XP over 7, too. I use my computer to surf FR and read news and check weather, not games. XP did all of that fine.

[Mr Rogers]

“If you want Windows 7 desktop, Windows 8 has it...”

Not really. I keep getting crap turning up at the sides or corners, even though I supposedly turned that off.

[ansel12]

You didn’t turn it off.

[353FMG]

FedEx just delivered my brand new Windows7 Home Edition computer.

It will probably outlast me and I am happy with it.

[Mr Rogers]

The computer says I did, but it obviously is lying to me.

[adorno]

Those are actually nice features. I don’t mind having the hot corner or hot edges. They’re very useful when you need them. Other than that, you must’ve seen the “old” desktop, and it works just like Windows 7 did.

But, there will always be those that get used to doing things a certain way, and anything that even remotely appear foreign to them, must be bad.

[ShadowAce]

[ansel12]

Like most OS complainers, you seem determined to remain ignorant of how to make the tweaks you pretend to want.

I doubt that your computer is lying to you, it is more reasonable to assume you didn’t follow the simple directions.

[TexasGator]

“Those who have done this upgrade have any input for us doubters? “

Have update to 8.1 and 8.1 disk. Boots to desktop. Nice to have some of the apps available. You can easily pin to tool bar and apps windows for your common tasks.

Need to download Adobe reader (non-app) and configure it to use as default on .pdf’s. pdf app is ok but not as versatile as non-app.

Get used to doing split screens so you can use apps and desktop at same time.

[TexasGator]

“What is hurting Windows 8.1—even with Update 1—is the fact you have to deal with that tiled user interface,”

Boot to desktop and you can work with never seeing the tiled interface if you desire.

[TheOldLady]

I did the upgrade to Windows 8.1 and am very happy with it. It does everything 8 did and more. It’s quite efficient and clean.
The add-ons are great as well. I really like that it boots to the desktop. And for me, the more arcane stuff is more intuitive.

[TexasGator]

“But, there will always be those that get used to doing things a certain way, and anything that even remotely appear foreign to them, must be bad.”

Where did they put the autoexec.bat file?

[Squawk 8888]

8.1 is a HUGE improvement over 8. My update was quick & painless.

[Squawk 8888]

The upgrade process is painless and the experience is almost as good as Windows 7.

[mountainlion]

This new stuff is like they redesigned a car and put the starter switch in the glove compartment, accelerator in the trunk and break pedal under the hood.

[gigster]

I miss my XP.

[TheOldLady]

Yes, there is a bit of that going on, but once you know where everything is, settling into it is easier.

Bryan (hubby) did the upgrade on his computer as well, and I showed him a couple of things. He caught on right away.

Don’t get frustrated. Just keep at it, and it will all fall into place. I disliked 8, and worried about 8.1, but for nothing.

[ansel12]

Anything that you want to tweak, just google it, for instance skipping sign in and booting directly to desktop, or turning off corners.

[Mr Rogers]

OS complainers? Go find some geek who gives a rat’s rear about OS. Most of us just want results. After all these years, and I started using computers with FORTRAN and punchcards, getting performance equivalent to XP without having a bunch of tablet crap shoved down my throat shouldn’t be a PITA.

[ansel12]

So far all you do is rant and whine, no wonder you are determined to live with corners, we see that all the time from the OS complainers, it is more about their personality than the OS.

How long have you had 8.1?