Posted on 06/10/2014 1:32:18 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
May was the seventh full month of availability for Microsoft’s latest operating system version: Windows 8.1 continues to grow slowly while Windows 8 remains largely flat, allowing the former to finally pass the latter in market share. At the same time, Windows 7 has managed to climb back over the 50 percent mark, while Windows XP still has more than 25 percent of the pie, despite support for the ancient OS finally ending in April.
The latest market share data from Net Applications shows that Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 have gained a combined 0.40 percentage points (from 12.24 percent to 12.64 percent). More specifically, Windows 8 slipped 0.07 percentage points (from 6.36 percent to 6.29 percent), while Windows 8.1 grabbed an additional 0.47 percentage points (from 5.88 percent to 6.35 percent).
Windows 8, which saw its biggest gain in August at 2.01 percentage points and its biggest loss in November at 0.87 percentage points, continues to slip. There are still computers being sold with Windows 8, but Microsoft is encouraging the upgrade path to Windows 8.1 by making it just a free download away for Windows 8 users.
Meanwhile, Windows 7 managed to grab an additional 0.79 percentage points (from 49.27 percent to 50.06 percent). Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 usually do better combined than Windows 7 does, but some months the opposite happens, and May was one of those instances. It should surprise nobody if Microsoft ends up struggling to woo users off Windows 7 one day, just like the current headache it is experiencing with Windows XP.
Going back to earlier versions, Windows Vista managed to gain 0.01 percentage points (from 2.89 percent to 2.90 percent). Windows XP meanwhile dropped a solid 1.02 percentage points (from 26.29 percent to 25.27 percent). Unfortunately for Microsoft, that drop is nowhere near as large as it should be.
In 2013, Windows lost share every month except for March, July, and November. So far in 2014, Windows slipped in January and April, gained in February and March, and now gained 0.19 percentage points (from 90.80 percent to 90.99 percent) in May. OS X fell 0.23 percentage points (to 7.39 percent), while Linux gained 0.04 percentage points (to 1.62 percent).
Net Applications uses data captured from 160 million unique visitors each month by monitoring some 40,000 websites for its clients. StatCounter is another popular service for watching market share moves; the company looks at 15 billion page views. To us, it makes more sense to keep track of users than of page views, but if you prefer the latter, the corresponding data is available here (mobile and desktop operating systems are combined).
I need a new laptop, and am torn between an Asus and an Alienware, both are around $1000. Not much care between Windows 8 or 7, since I think Windows 8.1 (free update) fixes most of the problems (start menu anyone?)
Leaning towards Alienware, just based on how cool it looks, but the screen is a mere 14”. The Asus has an ideal 15.6”.
Tough decision.
I take it you don’t like the Surface Pro ( a combined laptap/tablet)?
This can’t be. I’ve been told that Microsoft is a thing of the past. For like 20 years. LOL.
No. I need something with a lot of memory (music), relatively powerful processing power, and I absolutely need a disc drive. I have an HP now, but its beast-size has led to it falling apart.
Windows 8 is horrible.
RE: Windows 8 is horrible.
You have to be thankful it’s going away. The next question is, is the updated version Windows 8.1 much better?
Windows 8 is horrible.
I have a Windows 8 computer in front of me and Windows 7 one to my right ,THERE IS VERY LITTLE DIFFERENCE !!!!!!!!!!
I’m trying to find a W7 upgrade from starter to home edition. All the ones I’ve read about the people who bought an upgrade disc get error messages saying it’s invalid (Amazon) - where can I get a home edition that is safe?
I had Windows 8.
I was given a choice, I could be dipped in hot tar and set on fire to get upgraded to Win 8.1 or just keep Win 8.
The blisters are healing quite nice.
The cognoscenti would have us believe that everyone (or at least everyone who really matters) uses a Mac.
Or everyone who doesn't matter keeps using Windows and bitching about it.
THE only reason Windows 8 has any share is it is forced onto the OEM computers.
Maybe I'm Old Skool, but I have yet to find a windows 'upgrade' that was stable. I would recommend finding a wrecked win7 box and snabbing the numbers of of it - then borrow or copy a Win 7 OEM disk, rub off your box and start over using the new number... You will have a clean installation.
You want to avoid the Klingons Alienware software. It is buggy and their tech support agents are very mean.
The cloud people use Macs.
Yeah, I have heard as much. Any idea what MSI is like?
Wow!
A rousing 7.39%??!!??
And the delusional Mac users keep mumbling their absurd "get a mac!," to every complaint about MS Windows 7 or 8.1...
Bwa ha haaaa!
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