Posted on 08/02/2011 8:13:00 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
After a healthy 10-year run, Windows XP may finally be losing its overwhelming grip on computer users. Though it's still the most heavily used version of the Windows operating system, XP's market share among all operating systems finally dipped just below the 50 percent mark last month, according to stats out today from Net Applications.
The aging OS has gradually been shedding market share a bit each month over the past few years, touching 62 percent a year ago and 51 percent in June before its latest dip in July, according to Net Applications. At the same time, Windows 7--the current version of the OS--has just under 28 percent share among all operating systems, including Apple's Mac OS X and iOS. But Windows 7 has steadily grabbed more customers since its official release in October 2009. Meanwhile, Vista's grip on the market has steadily fallen each month and now rests at just over 9 percent for July. Altogether, Windows controls about 87 percent of the overall OS market.
With Microsoft due to cut off extended support for Windows XP in another three years, the company has been pushing both individuals and businesses to make the leap to Windows 7. To further motivate customers, Microsoft has released studies that bolster Windows 7, such as one from May that highlighted Windows 7 as five times more secure than XP.
However, Redmond offers no direct migration path from Windows XP to Windows 7, so moving to the latest OS typically requires either a total reinstall or an upgrade to a new PC. Tools such as Microsoft's Windows Easy Transfer may help ease the pain, but the migration is still time-consuming, especially for larger companies. A survey of IT professionals last November found that half of them were planning to continue to use XP even after the support tap is turned off in 2014.
95 was horribly unstable
True. Only because Vista was such a failure.
I like my recent install of Xubuntu 11.04 I seldom fire up one of my Windows machines. It is fast, efficient and was the easiest install I ever did. Had to add quite a few apps, but it was an easy nobrainer.
I’ve become a big Windows 7 fan.
The best bet is to buy a Microsoft Technet subscription and get several Win7 keys and two Office 2010 keys for about $150.
>>95 was horribly unstable<<
It was rock solid compared to ME.
I’m still working on the W2k migration to XP (and happy - Apple is likely the future around here)).
I have been using Windows 7 for over a year ... no problems here.
Cause it sucks A$$............
ME was the Vista of the day!
Wowsers, this is just a major, super stunning shock. After cramming Windows 7 down our throats and, essentially, refusing to provide any ongoing support for their older OS’, folks are abandoning XP!!
Who saw THIS coming???
Anyone!!???
Win 2000 is problematic.
I still have that on some machines at work.
I have a $300 notebook I bought for travel which I may migrate to. My kids think I'm nuts, but I have no desire to live online...heck, I don't even have a TV except as a monitor for watching DVDs. I'd rather go for a run or work with our horses than spend time locked to the computer.
Why not report that DOS 5.0 has lost market share? It’d be just as relevant.
Windows XP is what...8? 9? years old? Windows 7 has been out for a while now and is very stable. Of course Windows XP is losing market share.
Personally I find Windows 7 to be a big Pain in the Backside... and I have been a computer tech guy for 25 years... I cannot play Youtube videos reliably - but on my XP computers on the same ISP Router - I can... I don’t like the way Windows 7 ‘way of doing things much at all’ WAY too much over protection of things I want to do... The logic behind Windows 7 is NERD-GEEK on steroids and just not worth the trouble... In short Windows 7 is a very confining operating system... it needs to be OPENED UP... I don’t need the OVER PROTECTION...
I did like XP
Watch not, DO!
Well, I got a $300 laptop that has win7 and it is rock solid.
I got no complaints.
Plenty of command line stuff still there with Linux. I built my first PC in 1982, ran NewDos80 on it. I later ran every version of Windows except ME and Vista. Some time in 1998 I installed my first version of Linux. It was a command line only UMSDOS version of Slackware. I actually liked it, no delays when you gave a command. Later I ran Mandrake and Redhat. Only recently trying Xubunu, it does not boot to command line but is very smooth and fast. I love XFCE GUI, have been using it since Redhat 8.0 came out.
I think the bigger headline is that Windows 7 only has 28% after two years!
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