Windows 7 Still Can't Beat Windows XP's Record Market Share

[rach]

We all know that Windows 7 is currently the top operating system in the world, as it's installed on more than 45 percent of computers on the planet, but overall, it still needs to improve its user base to reach the one of Windows XP four years ago.

A chart provided by Statista and analyzing the market share held by the leading operating systems in the United States from January 2009 to September 2013 reveals some pretty surprising figures.

Windows XP's record market share was reached in January 2009 when it was running on 68.55 percent, which is pretty impressive for an operating system that was fighting with several non-Windows platforms, including Mac OS X and Linux.

This means that Windows XP helped Microsoft dominate the OS market all by itself, despite the launch of Windows Vista (which by the way had a market share of approximately 5 percent).

Since January 2009, Windows XP adopted a declining trend, pretty much because it became an old platform and the arrival of Windows 7, one of the most successful products in Microsoft's history, convinced users to update.

The switch of places happened in May 2011 when Windows 7 took over the leading position with a 32.9 percent market share, while Windows XP dropped to 30.68 percent, according to the same figures provided by Statista.

It's interesting to note though that Windows 7's record market share was achieved in May this year, when 51.91 percent of the users worldwide still owning a desktop were running this particular OS version.

This means that Windows 7 still has a long way to go to break Windows XP's record, but let's not forget that the market trend has changed a lot in the last couple of years. Users are now migrating to mobile platforms such as iOS, Android, and Windows RT/Phone, so desktop Oses have slowly lost some users in the last couple of years.

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[AlienForce1]

We all know that Windows 7 is currently the top operating system in the world, as it's installed on more than 45 percent of computers on the planet, but overall, it still needs to improve its user base to reach the one of Windows XP four years ago.

Windows XP's record market share was reached in January 2009 when it was running on 68.55 percent, which is pretty impressive for an operating system that was fighting with several non-Windows platforms, including Mac OS X and Linux.

It's interesting to note though that Windows 7's record market share was achieved in May this year, when 51.91 percent of the users worldwide still owning a desktop were running this particular OS version.

This means that Windows 7 still has a long way to go to break Windows XP's record, but let's not forget that the market trend has changed a lot in the last couple of years. Users are now migrating to mobile platforms such as iOS, Android, and Windows RT/Phone, so desktop Oses have slowly lost some users in the last couple of years.

Windows 7 will not reach a greater marchet share - don`t forget , meanwhile emerged Windows 8 and 8.1 and next year is expected Windows 9 (or Threshold , if that`s gonna be it`s name - ugly name , by the way...)

[AlienForce1]

Usage share of operating systems http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usage_share_of_operating_systems

[Yorel]

I loved XP, until I found out 7. I think many people don't change because they are afraid of how to manage a new OS. As AlienForce1 said, maybe those XP users will jump to 8.1 or 9 directly.

[SPECTRUM]

because Windows XP still rocks, specially in older hardware ;)

8 & 8.1 doesn't exist for me, Windows 7 is perfect!

[jackieo]

You gotta remember the failure of Vista! The Xp community was hoping for a new operating system and was very hopeful for Vista,

we tried it, and went right back to XP...that kept the market share of XP huge until Win 7, and here we are

[AlienForce1]

because Windows XP still rocks, specially in older hardware ;)

8 & 8.1 doesn't exist for me, Windows 7 is perfect!

You should give it a try . In my case , an old PC (DELL Optiplex GX-280 , Pentium 4 , upgraded by me to 2GB RAM and 160GB HDD) works a lot better with Windows 8.1 than with XP-SP3 . Now , the only problem I have is lack of video driver - it works with generic VGA .

(well , .. if I remember well it worked a little better with Windows 8 ...)

Edited December 30, 2013 by AlienForce1

[calguyhunk]

XP was really the first mature, modern OS and it has aged tremendously well, in so far as you can still do just about everything with it that you can with Win7, say, whether as a consumer, or an enterprise. Win 95 and 98 doesn't give you that luxury. ;)

Also, XP was the first OS for a lot of enterprise PC's transitioning from the Win 3.1 days and also helped usher the developing world into the digital age. Those corporates are not about to change over in a hurry for no apparent reason. So long as XP keeps working with modern standards and newer versions of apps keep supporting it, a lot of people will not feel the need to shift and who can blame them? :unsure:

Especially the enterprise clientele of MS, because in order to make the transition, they not only have to invest in newer machines and OS, but their in-house applications also have to re-written to support Win7/8/9 - whatever. Not only that, with software typically licensed on a per PC basis, they'll have to re-purchase licenses of new versions of their software, which might have been working just fine. That not only adds to the immediate costs, but also, needs re-training of the entire staff! Not to mention the entire deployment process will take a huge amount of time, money and energy if they are to shift. :(

Some of them might have looked at shifting to Win8, but seeing as the disaster that it is perceived to be, they have stayed away for good. The only way they'll be convinced to upgrade is when XP stops working with newer web standards - and that too, only for the net-connected systems, not the entire fleet. They'll happily keep using their in-house programs on PC's running XP till as long as it's relevant to them, irrespective of what MS wants them to do, because device manufacturers (medical, scientific etc.) that target corporate enterprises and research facilities, will continue to provide XP compatibility for their own good. ;)

Edited January 3, 2014 by calguyhunk

[x3r0]

I agree with @calguyhunk, prior to XP, Windows 98SE, ME was an old OSes which actually DOS running an interactive UI. While there's Windows 2000, its stability wasn't sufficient. XP is tremendous boost which introduced first stable kind of Windows to desktop users (NT isn't "desktop" friendly). 7 is just a optimized and perfected version of Vista.

[sanjoa]

XP is XP. Its the OS and it'll be forever. You should wait to middle or end 2014 to see the Windows 7 marketshare.

[SPECTRUM]

because Windows XP still rocks, specially in older hardware ;)

8 & 8.1 doesn't exist for me, Windows 7 is perfect!

You should give it a try . In my case , an old PC (DELL Optiplex GX-280 , Pentium 4 , upgraded by me to 2GB RAM and 160GB HDD) works a lot better with Windows 8.1 than with XP-SP3 . Now , the only problem I have is lack of video driver - it works with generic VGA .

(well , .. if I remember well it worked a little better with Windows 8 ...)

I already gave a try, and for example in 8/8.1 my Geforce 7300 GT is not capable to play 720p videos properly with good speed, while same card in XP or 7 works perfect.

[edwardecl]

And I guess a hell of a lot of people will be migrating from XP straight to a tablet if all they want to do is send emails and browse the net and play a few crappy games.

Windows is still a major annoyance when it comes to maintenance and ease of use. The newer versions of Windows don't seem to be helping matters either. Windows 8 is a version most people will skip because it offers nothing new to people who just want a normal desktop (in fact it takes away) and the modern UI or whatever they decided on calling is just sucks and it hard to use for people who do not use computers often.

If you need to be shown how to use something or read a manual, you are doing it wrong.

[PrEzi]

In my opinion -- it is Microsoft own fault that Windows 7 won't reach XP Marketshare.

Simple example : a faced two or so weeks ago a new laptop that had 8 preinstalled...

Customer wanted to roll-back to 7 (even after I have shown him StartisBack,, ModernMix etc.).

He just hated the semi-Administrator access in Win8 (try running cmd.exe from Administrator account on Win7 and 8 and compare the differences).

Remember -- This was just one of the examples. He just wanted Win7. Period.

So... I've searched the manufacturer's site for drivers. Found 'officially' only for 8/8.1.

But I KNEW there were 7 drivers, so I did manual searches based on the Device Names, Hardware IDs and also looked at some earlier models from this manufacturer, and matched the devices with drivers.

A few hours later I have gathered all the device drivers for 7.

Sooo --- back from my example -- if a user is not so experienced as many of us are here.... he'd just give up or call for help, contacting manufacturer won't help - cause they officially support Win8 and up etc.

And ? He'd just roll back to 8 and be forced to use it. (One of the harder nuts to crack was an LAN card driver that was Windows 8/8.1 ONLY -- modified the inf adding support for Win7, and disabled driver signature enforcement)...... Later I found and old Win7 x64 driver... d'oh !

Of course similarities go also the other way, but you need really to be most unlucky owner of old hardware for which the windows 7 x64 drivers don't work with 8.

[AlienForce1]

And I guess a hell of a lot of people will be migrating from XP straight to a tablet if all they want to do is send emails and browse the net and play a few crappy games.

Windows is still a major annoyance when it comes to maintenance and ease of use. The newer versions of Windows don't seem to be helping matters either. Windows 8 is a version most people will skip because it offers nothing new to people who just want a normal desktop (in fact it takes away) and the modern UI or whatever they decided on calling is just sucks and it hard to use for people who do not use computers often.

If you need to be shown how to use something or read a manual, you are doing it wrong.

And what would be a simple OS in your oppinion ? Linux , or iOS ?

Compare them to Windows and you`ll see that Windows is much easier to use ...

Immagine that you recommend to your granny to use Linux `because is much safer and easier to use` ( :P) - do you think that she could remember all those commands to install and uninstall programs ?

INSTALLING SOFTWARE ON LINUX

[ffi]

And what would be a simple OS in your oppinion ? Linux , or iOS ?

Compare them to Windows and you`ll see that Windows is much easier to use ...

Immagine that you recommend to your granny to use Linux `because is much safer and easier to use` ( :P) - do you think that she could remember all those commands to install and uninstall programs ?

INSTALLING SOFTWARE ON LINUX

What an absolute load of crap, long before apple introduced its app store linux already had something similar although it doesn't look so fancy and is more awkwardly named repository from which you could find and install apps and kept them auto-updated or you could just download and installer and doubleclick it...

[Zapdude]

Happy new year everyone,

Well i think the problem from which every MS OS from vista and on will suffer is the so called "2 year upgrade" its tiring, you can't have a new OS every 2-3 years. Just stick to a version and support, update, upgrade it or add new features. XP dominated the market because it came to stay, people got used to it and it became a standard (remember 3 service packs..). If you change your OS every now and then without any significant reason you don;t let people get used to it.

Secondly, if you need 3rd party apps to give people back the functions - features they are used to (startisback etc). Please, retire and go home dude..

Edited January 1, 2014 by Zapdude