Most Popular Computer Operating Systems 1985 - 2024

YT ^ | March, 2024 | Captain Gizmo

[Signalman]

These are the most popular computer operating systems from 1985 to 2024, based on market share. The latest numbers from 2003 on are readily available from Wikipedia and Statcounter. The first half of the video required a bit more research, which entailed finding and converting sales figures into market share. These numbers may be different based on what OSes are included in the stats, this is why different videos have slightly different numbers.

[Gideon7]

IBM wanted to license CP/M from Gary Kildall as the OS for their new IBM PC. Gary blew off the IBM meeting because he wanted to fly his private plane that day (weather was great). So IBM instead approached Bill Gates and the rest is history.

[Salamander]

I still have the discs and if it’ll still boot up, an old desktop tower I built back in the days of pc expos.

:D

[Fresh Wind]

I have desktop computers running Win 98, XP, Win 7, and Win 11, also laptops running Win 98 and XP.

I need 98 to run some late 90s software which won’t run on anything after XP. Some XP systems will run it, most will not.

Win 7 is my favorite for most things, and XP is a close second.

[MayflowerMadam]

I have the key that came on the original packaging ...

BUT once when I was looking in the Explore file manager, I THINK I noticed that the key was the serial number. So if you have it loaded on another system maybe you can find the serial number and try that.

[dennisw]

As of March 2024, the global operating system market share is distributed as follows¹:

• Android: 43.44%
• Windows: 27.48%
• iOS: 18.19%
• macOS (OS X): 5.56%
• Unknown: 2.56%
• Linux: 1.55%

In the United States, as of February 2023, the desktop OS market share is as follows²:

• Windows: 57.37%
• macOS: 29.62%
• Chrome OS: 7.47%
• Linux: 2.55%
• Other miscellaneous desktop operating systems: 2.97%

[daniel1212]

With customization enabled by tweaking software (see below) and regedits, Windows 11 is the best overall I have used (W/3.1. 9x, 7XP, 7, 8, 8,1. 10), but not the best in all ways. XP had the best color customization, while I think even 9x was the fastest in opening up a folder even from a HD. Thank God for them all.

Composite

And thank God for freeshare as LibreOffice, to be used for what is good in the sight of God (may it only be by me and all), like,

I am the type of person who wants compact yet expansive menus and quick access and having the ability to quickly customize certain aspects of the OS, from enabling quick access to programs and places and improve layout without needing to learn much coding (though I have edited the Windows registry a few times, and I have been the sole user), nor often run a terminal to accomplish such. herefore I like the the over 200 tweaks available in Ultimate Windows Tweaker 5 (quicker download here from Major Geeks) for Windows 11 from the Windows club (Windows 10 users should use Ultimate Windows Tweaker 4.8).

Add to this Right-Click Extender (add items to many right click menus),

Also, there are the many Winaero features of the Winaero Tweaker (but best to leave those dealing with color alone).

Plus Open Shell (click on Releases>Latest on middle right side) to replace the Windows 11 start menu (though in W/11 22H2 right clicking for properties in the start menu stopped working for me), and Explorer Patcher (look for Releases on the right here) that restores the Windows 11 taskbar to be exactly like Windows 10, and with it I use the Windows 7+ Taskbar Tweaker which provides more customization.

Resulting in these expansive quickly accessible layouts (composite image of desktop view in Windows 11: Start and Right-Click menus, default Device manager; task bar via Explorer Patcher.

[markman46]

WOW I have done the same..

[ducttape45]

I'm afraid that's an impossibility. I haven't had XP loaded on anything for a number of years. It was on the system I'm using right now, and I did save the original H/D for a while but I eventually formatted over it then removed the partition. And I don't even remember what H/D I used so it's gone.

I've been toying with the idea of combining my leisure PC and work PC into one unit, and if I do that then the system I used for XP will become available allowing me to have some fun. We'll see.

[desertsolitaire]

Ha.
It WAS a very long drive.

[rellic]

No I don’t, those hideous creatures all live in Honolulu.

[Poser]

Windows XP, 7, 10 and 11 have been very good. Mac iPad OSs are also quite good. Linux is much better than it used to be.

[wastedyears]

I’m using Nobara because it’s gamer-friendly.

[Jamestown1630]

Since I beat my solitaire addiction, FR is the only game I play.