14 DAY TRIAL // Windows 10 has been received with mixed feelings, but despite the criticism that’s more or less well founded, Microsoft’s new operating system continues to grow, and statistics show that it keeps getting more users with every new month.
StatCounter data, for example, shows that Windows 10 managed to reach the 10 percent market share for the very first time since launch last month, thus becoming the third most-used desktop operating system in the world.
That might not impress many given the fact that it’s still at 10 percent, but this is actually an important achievement given the fact that it’s been around for only four months.
Windows 7 still king
Windows 10 managed to overtake Windows XP and Mac OS X in these four months, but the biggest challenge is actually to get closer to Windows 7, which continues to be the clear leader in the desktop OS world.
In fact, lowering Windows 7’s market share is Microsoft’s number one priority ahead of the 2020 end of support date, as the company wants and needs to avoid a new Windows XP moment when users refuse to upgrade despite the obvious security risks.
Windows 7 remains the number one desktop OS with a share of 49.31 percent while Windows 8.1 is the runner-up with 13.05 percent. Windows 10 is third and way behind with 10.17 percent.
Again, while these numbers might show that Windows 10 has no chance against Windows 7, this is the first time when the latter actually drops below the 50 percent market share, which is a sign that the arrival of the new OS does have an impact on its market performance.
Whether Windows 10 has a chance against Windows 7 is only up to users to decide, but Microsoft’s also playing a key role here. The next updates are critical for the future of Windows 10, so Redmond really needs to play its card right this time.