14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft finally pulled the plug on Windows 8 on January 12, delivering the last updates for the core platform and basically forcing users who want their computers to remain secure to move to Windows 8.1, which is a free update available for all devices.
A chart put together by Statista shows that Windows 8 has never been a hit, and it’s no wonder why: no matter how hard Microsoft tried, its adoption has always been below expectations, with many people calling it “the second Vista.”
It was generally referred to as the company’s modern flop, as adoption has remained low even after the debut of Windows 8.1 - an update that was specifically developed to address some of the annoyances of the core operating system. 8.1 brought back the Start button after Microsoft removed it in Windows 8 together with the Start menu, but it only took people to the more confusing Start screen.
Always below expectations
The chart you see here clearly proves that Windows 8’s market performance was disappointing to say the least, and Windows 7, which was its direct predecessor, continued growing even after its debut.
Moreover, Windows XP lost users at a rather slow pace despite the arrival of Windows 8, so most of the previous versions of the operating system didn’t seem to be impacted by the launch of a new and supposedly modern release.
Last year, however, Windows 8 started losing users again when Windows 10 got to see daylight, with the new operating system being available free of charge for those who upgrade from 7 or 8.1.
So while right now the general advice is to move from Windows 8 to 8.1, consumers should follow the full path and go straight to Windows 10, as the free upgrade can be performed until July 29 this year. Time is running out, so Windows 8 consumers should really start planning ahead.