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.
See also here:
http://www.networkworld.com/community/blog/end-windows-xp-has-beg
TITLE: The end of Windows XP has begun: It’s all over for Windows XP soon, and the rush to migrate appears to be on.
In 7 you can’t search like you could in XP. Does 8 allow you to search like you could with XP or do they still deny that for anti-virus reasons?
Had 8 for a year now and wish to switch to 7.
When I need a computer, if there isn’t something a hellova lot better than windows 8, I will be an Apple user.
Windows 8 is a lot like Obamacare. A useless piece of crap that they think they can BS people into liking.
The wife and I have Windows, Apple, and Unix machines networked. They all play well with each other.
When we want to do real work, we use the Apples or Unix machines.
When we want to....uh....er...battle Outlook or twaddle, we (reluctantly) engage the Windows units.
Oh, forgot, Microsoft’s Solitaire still rules.
I want my XP back.
I like 8.
8.1 is a fairly decent upgrade from 8.0 over all.
I only had the new computer and Windows 8 for about 3 days before the 8.1 upgrade appeared.
Personally I think people just like to whine for no apparent reason. (Vista users had a good reason to complain in my opinion)
Did I make it in before the usual guys extolling the virtues of XP, and bragging about their inability of learning how to use Windows 8?
I’m sure there will be some guy claiming that it’s unusable without a touch screen, or something about it being “shoved down their throats” within the next hour.
Why to avoid Windows 8:
https://www.fsf.org/windows8
I’ll keep my Windows XP computers until they crumble. For current/supported operating systems I have Win 7 and Linux.
7 is the end of the Windows line for me.
I like 7 and my current PC just fine. By the time I upgrade, they’ll be up to 10 or 11.
The search in 7 is significantly better than the search in XP.
I’m going to upgrade from XP to Vista. I hear Vista is really awesome. You know, Windows Vista. What do you mean you’ve never heard of it? It’s going to be the biggest thing since ....... Windows Me? Never heard of that one either?
Linux. There is no substitute.
I know the feeling, I hate my 7 so bad I’m thinking of looking for a used/rebuilt XP. I got an Ipad just to eliminate 80 percent of my 7 needs.
I’ll NEVER run Win 8 and most businesses will not. I am migrating to WIN 7 and I like it... to me... 8 sucks. YMMV.
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