Numbers Show Windows XP Still Rules The World
Windows 8 is slowly gaining on Windows Vista's current market share.
The February numbers are in for the desktop operating system market share fight, and they show that Windows 7 still rules the desktop world with a meaty 44.55-percent. While that should seemingly be good news, what trails behind the popular OS is not: Windows XP. This decrepit, ancient platform is still loved by many, as it still claims 38.99-percent of the market.
As shown here, Microsoft is warning users that support for both Windows XP SP3 and Office 2003 will end on April 8, 2014. If you thought the current malware situation was bad, wait until businesses and consumers begin to ignore this warning so that hackers can initiate their full-scale assault on Windows XP-based systems. If you think Microsoft will make an exception for your business and keep the support flowing (and I hear this a lot), think again.
"After April 8, 2014, there will be no new security updates, non-security hotfixes, free or paid assisted support options or online technical content updates," the company points out. "Running Windows XP SP3 and Office 2003 in your environment after their end of support date may expose your company to potential risks."
The good news about the current numbers is that Windows XP usage looks to be on a downfall. In April 2012, usage was at 46.08-percent, and then by October, the platform only controlled 40.66-percent of the market. Market share has been somewhat steady since December with 39.08-percent during Christmas, 39.51-percent in January, and 38.99-percent in February.
On the Windows 8 front, market share is slowly rising. In November, the Modern UI OS controlled a whopping 1.09-percent, not a pretty number for a company placing all bets on the biggest OS overhaul since Windows 95. In December, Windows 8 climbed up to 1.72-percent, 2.26-percent in January, and finally 2.67-percent in February. Sales isn't exactly exploding, but there's speculation that the slow growth is due to the enormous backlog of Windows 7 stock that needed to be weeded out before Windows 8 could fully bloom
On a humorous note, Windows 8 is slowly gearing up to surpass Windows Vista's current market share of 5.17-percent. Mac OS X v10.8 is currently claiming 2.61-percent, v10.6 at 1.97-percent, and v10.7 at 1.93-percent. Microsoft's current zombie OS Windows 98 still isn't going down without a fight, eating a highly impressive 0.01-percent chunk out of the desktop OS carcass… talk about the living dead!
See, numbers can be fun.
Our company is still primarily on Windows XP. Vista had problems with UAC hosing up software, We have maybe 1/4 on windows 7, but now we can't get our users to use Windows 8 because they have work to do and don't want to memorize hotkeys and find hidden secret pop out menus.
Yeah, I'm sure that was the reason. lol
I know I'll be downvoted for this, but sticking with an ancient operating system isn't good for business or the home. The only people it helps are hackers.
well they officially ended the support for xp a long time ago so 10 more years and you will not get them fixed from ms.
Yeah, I'm sure that was the reason. lol
Our company is still primarily on Windows XP. Vista had problems with UAC hosing up software, We have maybe 1/4 on windows 7, but now we can't get our users to use Windows 8 because they have work to do and don't want to memorize hotkeys and find hidden secret pop out menus.
The problem is that Windows 7 is still less friendly than XP. Well, it is not that unfriendly, but still more unfriendly. Functionally, it has a lot going for it. But most users just want a more friendly computer. The customization options of ME was the best (but functionally it was crap), then I would say XP. 7, ho hum to bad and 8, forget it. I am not touching 8!
I think the best is Windows XP Pro 64-bit. It really is not an option for a new machine though because it is not easy to find drivers. I was basically forced to use 7. The new machine does not get much love. Sad too as it is a massively overclocked 8-core duel screen monster. It just plays chess by itself in the corner.
Funny thing is, nobody is complaining about this "fragmentation"... which is fine, because there is nothing to complain about.
What happens on that particular date? For you, I mean? Likely your PC is not going to bite the dust exactly on that day.
Because businesses don't upgrade, or need to upgrade....
Businesses are not interested in the lasted and greatest EYE CANDY...
They are interested in what WORKS...
And usually, once they get a setup that works, they don't upgrade it unless they absolutely have to, updates be damned, because not getting updates doesn't break the system....
So, in other words, it will be a very long time till xp goes away...
Shortcuts added to the bar quick launch for: task manager and show desktop. And change to "Classic Start Menu"
And just put 60 of the most used programs and folders in the Quick Launch Start Bar. You quickly memorize where the icons you are looking for are and poof it is open.
Yes, those particular things are possible with 7. There are others though. ME used to allow you to make backgrounds in folders sort of like a desktop with your icons on top. If you copy one of those to XP 64-bit it will retain that background. 7? Nope.
The second reason is because updating is hard. Vista is a no go, and there's no way to easily upgrade to 7.
The third reason is there's no real reason to change. Almost all software works (windows 7 can't get very old software to run, and counting out games, there's no software that doesn't run on Windows XP) and almost all hardware too. If something works fine, why change it? The only reason is getting a newer hardware, but most people keep their computer in use until it breaks.
And the fourth reason is corporate. Most business prefer windows xp because they know it well, and most of their software tools are certificated for XP. Certificating them for 7 takes time and money. Most companies i know they're slowly replacing their machines with Windows 7, but it takes time.