Windows 8.x goes into reverse gear -- loses market share as both Windows 7 and XP show growth

[anuseems]

Ill be honest, although Windows 8.x losing market share is a shocking state of affairs -- and a new low for an operating system which has struggled since launch -- its something thats been coming for a while. Windows 8 has been dropping share since Windows 8.1 arrived, and Windows 8.1 has been growing at such a glacial pace it was only a matter of time before the losses outweighed the gains, and thats exactly what happened in June according to NetMarketShare.http://www.netmarketshare.com/

In a month where Windows 7 and Windows XP -- the OS that refuses to die -- both gained market share, "new Windows" shifted into reverse gear and began shedding users.

The loss is minimal -- Windows 8 dropped 0.36 percent and Windows 8.1 gained 0.26 percent, so the aggregate is a drop of just 0.1 percent, but even so. Windows 8.x is the only easily obtainable Windows operating system, and it comes pre-installed on pretty much every new PC. Microsoft has made wholesale changes to try and get people interested in the tiled OS, and its just not happening.

Lets not pretend otherwise, a drop in market share of any size -- any amount -- is a disaster for Microsofts new OS. You can blame the better weather (for those in the northern hemisphere), you can blame the World Cup (both have an impact on tech sales and use) but that argument doesnt really hold water as 8.x is the only OS to drop share in June. That said, there is age to take into account. Windows 8.x users are likely to be slightly younger than users of older operating systems (less averse to change), and therefore more likely to switch from a PC to a non-Windows tablet at this time of year.

But even so.

Elsewhere Windows 7 managed to gain just under half a percentage point (0.49 percent) going from 50.06 percent in May to 50.55 percent in June, cementing its position as the fastest growing operating system. Imagine how well it would be doing if it was more readily available.

Windows XP went from 25.27 percent in May to 25.31 percent in June, for a 0.04 percent gain. Yes, its a minuscule amount, but again even so. This is a 13 year old discontinued operating system -- folks should be jumping from it like rats leaving a sinking ship, but despite the huge unmissable Windows 8.x lifeboats everywhere, users would appear to be happier to take their chances than leap aboard the new OS, which is crazy.

And while Windows 8.x is lying bleeding on the floor Im afraid I have to deliver one last kick to the head. In June, Windows Vista -- yes, bloody Vista -- gained 0.5 percent market share. Twice as much as Windows 8.1. Oh dear.

It will be interesting to see how the tiled OS fares next month. Statistical anomaly or downward trend? Place your bets

http://betanews.com/2014/07/01/windows-8-x-goes-into-reverse-gear-loses-market-share-as-both-windows-7-and-xp-show-growth/

Edited July 1, 2014 by anuseems

[banned]

This is a 13 year old discontinued operating system -- folks should be jumping from it like rats leaving a sinking ship

I'd rather stay on a sinking ship than jump to one that's on fire. XP is not really discontinued, thanks to point-of-sale systems, we're still able to receive security updates (possibly even 5 more years).

Also, the fact that there's been no doomsday event proves how solid the XP operating system is. No wonder its share is growing once again. Some businesses are likely even moving back to XP from 7, after they figured out "upgrading" was a dumb idea.

Edited July 2, 2014 by banned

[Son-of-Sam]

I spent an honest year on windows 8 and it was ok cant realy bash it ,But ,, then thent back to win-7 and now i like it evan more! :lol:

dont realy know Why..it just seemed right to me.

[mjall]

every week these analytics keeps changing, I am not sure how much we can rely on them, however as an example, the company I work with has more than 10,000 employees and imagine that just now we migrated from XP to windows 7; its not that my company prefers windows 7 over 8 however they have to migrate everything in the backbone in the IT department and that takes a lot of time so as much as numbers speak, it does not always has to be about which OS is better but depends on situations like this, so imagine how many companies around the world facing similar challenges, this is why it's tough and too early still to judge windows 8 in my estimation

[dcs18]

. . . . . . . folks should be jumping from it like rats leaving a sinking ship . . . . . . .

Hey - how can Users of XP be compared to rats? :lol:

[player]

Hey - how can Users of XP be compared to rats? :lol:

to me, no problem at all. remember Tom & Jerry?

[rudrax]

That's no surprise to be if you look at M$'s crazy sequence of releasing OSes. What most of the people want? They want a instal and forget type OS which is easy and conventional. What windows 8.x carries is complicated releases of upgrades. 8 then 8.1 then 8.1 update 1. People do not have sh!t-load of time to go through all these and understand them. So as long as M$ won't release straight forward thing that people can easily understand, none of their upcoming OSes will be successful.

[dcs18]

Some businesses are likely even moving back to XP from 7, after they figured out "upgrading" was a dumb idea.

:rofl: :lmao:

[rudrax]

Some businesses are likely even moving back to XP from 7, after they figured out "upgrading" was a dumb idea.

:rofl: :lmao:

Double :rofl: Oh one more :rofl:

[steven36]

Only reason I use windows 8.1.1 is because I bought this computer and windows 8 came on it and the rest was a free upgrade . What I read the reason for this is With speculation already ramping up that Windows 9 -- codenamed "Threshold" -- could be available in early 2015, I think Windows 8 has had enough negative press (whether warranted or not) that most of the potential Windows customers are committed to sitting out until the next version. But Windows 8 is not really that bad it just takes a little know how to set it up to your likening . :lol:

I had more trouble with updating my drivers than with windows 8 . ADM had a driver uninstaller that would mess up windows 8 installs so i fry my windows install like 2 times tell i figured out just uninstall them with add or remove programs . I just done some reading online and fixed it were runs almost like windows 7 I even have cracked Aero glass now. I use classic shell start menu . Almost just like windows 7 .

Edited July 5, 2014 by steven36