Posted on 01/08/2014 12:30:34 PM PST by SeekAndFind
Windows 8/8.1 has topped 10% market share for the first time, apparently picking up a few users from among those who are finally leaving Windows XP behind.
According to Web analytics firm NetMarkeshare, users of all versions of Windows 8 amounted to 10.49% of Internet users for the month of December, up from 9.25% in December. This as users of Windows XP have dipped from 31.22% to 28.98%.
While the showing for Windows 8/8.1 is a milestone, it is also part of a gradual trend. Since last February, use of the operating system has risen 7.82 percentage points while XP has dropped 10.01. Windows 7 use has moved up 2.97 points over the same period, so it seems most of those abandoning XP have moved to Windows 7 or 8/8.1.
Over the same period, Windows Vista dipped 1.56 points.
NetMarketshare’s data is gathered from the browsers of visitors to its customers’ 40,000-plus Web sites worldwide. The firm breaks down the sites as 46% commercial, 18% corporate, 10% content and 29% other, including government, search engine marketers and .org groups. Seventy six percent participate in pay per click programs to drive traffic to their sites, the company says.
Surface Pro 2 upgrade
While it’s not an official hardware overhaul, customers who buy Microsoft Surface Pro 2 laptops now will get faster machines than those who bought them last month.
That’s because the Windows 8 devices are being built with a better CPU than the earlier versions, according to a report by WinBeta. The newer Surface Pro 2s have Intel i5 4300U (1.9Ghz) CPUs vs the older versions that had i5 4200U (1.6Ghz) processors.
Here’s how Microsoft explained the changes to WinBeta: “Microsoft routinely makes small changes to internal components over the lifetime of a product, based on numerous factors including supply chain partnerships, availability, and value for our customers. With any change to hardware or software, we work to ensure that the product experience remains excellent.”
Chromebooks rule on Amazon.com
Amazon.com reports disheartening holiday sales from a Windows 8 perspective: Chromebooks are outselling the best-selling Windows 8 laptops.
According to the site’s Best Sellers, two Chromebooks – Acer C720 and Samsung Chromebook - are ranked No. 1 and 2 with two Windows 8 devices – Asus Transformer Book T100TA-C1-G and Asus X200CA-HCL1104G – coming in third and fourth. Price seems to be a factor. The Chromebooks sell for $199 and $179, respectively, while the Windows devices go for $448 and $298. Another blow to Windows 8: Toshiba’s Satellite C55-A5245 came in fifth - equipped with Windows 7.
Surface 2 BitLocker woes
Microsoft is promising a Jan. 14 solution to a Surface 2 software problem that has the device demanding the BitLocker recovery key when it boots up.
Microsoft acknowledges it shouldn’t do that and is working on a fix.
Uh oh, another thread where Win 8 fanboys will fly to the flame.
Does Vista run an a PS2?
When you open a Windows Explorer window there is a search field just like a web browser uses. It’s different and takes some getting used to to become proficient but you can search.
Another one of those “features” microsquish gave us that we didn’t want...
The company I work for is still working on migration plans....to Win 7.
They do these articles almost without ever mentioning that a lot of people have little choice but to leave XP since support is ending.
XP is still the top OS on the planet though. Have to wonder how many foreigners can afford to switch over?
Surface 2 comes with bitlocker installed?
Just bought my boy (15) a new computer and the only thing he insisted on was Windows 7 rather than 8.
Guess he knows more about it than me.
The new Apple Pro (starting around $3000) looks like a coffee pot or a small trash can.
“When I need a computer, if there isn’t something a hellova lot better than windows 8, I will be an Apple user.”
FWIW, I replaced my 10 year old XP laptop last year (Dec 2012, actually).
ONLY Windows 8 was available.
I purchased a Mac Mini, installed Parallels and bought a Windows 7 ‘system builder’ operating system on Amazon.
I am extremely happy with my choice. I actually DO have to deal with clients with documents in Pages and Keynote - now it’s no problem.
Windows 7 programs open in a window (I have two monitors) and I can copy/paste from Pages to Word and vica-versa.
It’s fantastic.
I really hate Windows 8 but am very happy with Windows 7.
The bonus is now I have my text messages (iMessages, actually) popup on the Mac Dock. I’ve never been as productive.
Thought you might like to know there are options...
It would be interesting to see the total list of operating systems in use.
About a year and a half ago we had Hughes Satellite internet installed. I had a discussion with the guy doing the install about operating systems. To my surprise he said there are many out there still using Win98 and Win2K for internet use.
Windows 95/98 Pass
Windows ME: Fail
Windows XP: Pass
Windows Vista: Fail
Windows 7 Pass
Windows 8 Fail
Windows 9 ?
Is anyone else seeing a pattern here?
I did not use HTML. darn it
Bragging about their inability to learn Windows 8, or something about it being shoved down their throats????
I like to compare computers to other common goodies we all buy like cars. We still own and drive a 1999 Geo Metro. The steering wheel is on the left side, the gas pedal is on the right side of the floor board. The windshield is in front of us, the shifter is on the floor in the center.
Last year we bought a 2013 Subaru Legacy. And to our surprise the controls layout is identical to our Geo. The steering wheel, shifter, gas pedal, etc are all in the same locations and we do not have to learn how to drive it.
My point is just why should Microsoft change the way something is operated or controlled? Yes, I can see new features that make an operating system either more secure or more efficient. Just like our new Subaru, a far superior vehicle compared to the Geo, but we just got in the Subaru and safely drove it off at highway speeds.
There is no practical reason to change how something is operated or controlled.
Now for things being shoved down our throats. By making XP obsolete, they are indeed attempting to get people to move on to something else. Many people, such as the elderly living on a fixed income cannot afford this switcherroo BS.
We are one of the ones moving to Win7. Our install discs will be here in a few days.
Win 3.1 should run pretty fast on a newer computer
OK.. it won’t run at all because it is limited to certain size hdd’s and RAM or something
Win 7 is the new XP.
That's my attitude with computers as well.
“I bet many XP computers these days are kept offline for one reason or another. “
I’m upgrading our Win XP computer to Win 7. We will be one of those keeping Win XP. My intent is to have a dual operating system. One with XP for older software, and just in case we do not like 7.
I remember having games I loved back when I had XP, most still worked on Win98 thank goodness
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