Windows 7 is Finally More Popular Than Vista

According to web analytics firm Net Applications, share for Windows 7 was at 14.46, while Windows Vista was at 14.34. This marks the firs time that Windows 7 usage had been greater than that of Windows Vista, perhaps a sign of those on the older OS upgrading or getting new machines.

Windows XP, however, remained the dominant Microsoft OS with 61.9 percent of the share – more than all other Windows operating systems combined.

Microsoft still has a stranglehold on the operating system market, though, with 91.3 percent.

Apple, despite its huge success on mobile devices, experienced another slide in Mac OS X for the fourth month straight, which now sits at 5 percent.

Amongst hardcore gamers who use Steam, however, Windows 7 64-bit is the most popular OS. For July it captured 30.32 percent of the market, just squeaking by Windows XP 32-bit at 30.17 percent.

The distant third and fourth on Steam went to Windows Vista 32-bit at 13.92 percent and Windows 7 32-bit at 11.54 percent.

(Sources: Computerworld, Tech Report.)

Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam served as Tom's Hardware News Director during 2008-2014. He entered tech media in the late 90s and fondly remembers the days when an overclocked Celeron 300A and Voodoo2 SLI comprised a gaming rig with the ultimate street cred.
  • eklipz330
    i may sound crazy, but i am completely fine with this chokehold microsoft has on the OS market. I love win7, and as long as they keep up with the goodies, they can keep that chokehold.
    Reply
  • JOSHSKORN
    Windows 7 is the greatest OS, ever. Unlike anything from Apple, it actually runs the programs you want. No, I don't work for Microsoft. :)
    Reply
  • Gandalf
    Whoopee.
    Reply
  • amnotanoobie
    As much as we want to cast out XP, it still does the job for most people who do not know how to reformat their PC. Though the current adoption rate seems to be going faster than XP (though I don't have a source for that).
    Reply
  • agnickolov
    Then I'm in deep Steam minority with Vista 64 Ultimate. I'd upgrade if only Microsoft had provided a fair upgrade path for Vista Ultimate users...
    Reply
  • Azriel4444
    Ehhh... I'll wait little longer to upgrade. Vista Ultimate 64 bit works fine for me at the moment. Not that I am in denial over 7 being better. Just can't justify the price to upgrade.
    Reply
  • xtc28
    Hmmmmm .... Well I for one will cry the day XP croaks!!!
    Reply
  • xtc28
    Maybe not ;)
    Reply
  • ag2twins
    WOW!!! I'm so glad you wrote this article it is overflowing with inovation and definitely shows how Microsoft has not lost it's edge. I mean the way you captured how their horrible OS has lost users to their less horrible OS, that is the epitome of inovation.
    Reply
  • ag2twins
    WOW!!! I'm so glad you wrote this article it is overflowing with inovation and definitely shows how Microsoft has not lost it's edge. I mean the way you captured how their horrible OS has lost users to their less horrible OS, that is the epitome of inovation.
    Reply