Windows 8 outpaces Vista, takes third on OS popularity podium

Tech Radar ^ | Tuesday, July 2, 2013 | Matt Swider

[SmokingJoe]

On the heels of Windows 8.1 announcements, the Windows 8 operating system is just starting to make moves as the new third most popular operating system. Windows 8 had 5.1 percent of all desktop OS web traffic in June, beating Vista for the first time, according to web analytics firm Net Applications. Windows Vista saw a smaller 4.62 percent of traffic that same month. The OS' positions were switched in May when the W8 numbers sat at 4.27 percent, edged out by Vista's 4.51 percent of web traffic. Interestingly, both operating systems gained market share between the months of May and June. A further feather in the cap of Windows 8 is the fact that Microsoft today revealed its Windows Store has now passed 100,000 apps, a feat the company said it was close to last week during Build 2013.

[SmokingJoe]

Another few months and Windows 8 will overtake the combined web market footprint of all OS X versions. Meanwhile, Windows still accounts for a massive 91.51% share of the world's desktops.

[Delphster]

beating Vista for the first time

not exactly a real high bar to meet

[ArrogantBustard]

I just built a new computer ... It's running Windows 7 Professional 64 bit.

Sorry, Microsoft. Your shiny new toy has a lot to prove before I spend any money on it.

[MeganC]

Someone is still using Vista? Why?

[Gay State Conservative]

No mention of 7...at least at first.

[ArrogantBustard]

Yes. I have a Vista machine.

It works. Upgrading it to Win7 would cost $$.

Not worth it.

[Gay State Conservative]

I was happy with 98...skipped ME...happy with XP...skipped Vista...and am happy with 7 (laptop and desktop)...and will be skipping 8.

[Hot Tabasco]

I don’t know who they are polling but every person I’ve met with a new computer running Win 8 says it’s absolutely awful!

[ArrogantBustard]

Usage statistics as of June, 2013 ...

Win 7 == 44.37%
WinXP == 37.17%
OSX == 7.18%
Windows 8 == 5.10%
Windows Vista == 4.62%
Linux == 1.28%
Other == 2.11%

Wow ... XP is still hanging on in a strong second place. I wonder if the folks in Redmond can read the hand writing on the wall ...

[Sir Napsalot]

... thought nobody liked Vista.

Just got my first tablet to play with. Comes with Windows 8, supposedly I (the consumer) should love it more than the normal desktop thing-ie.

So far I am not too impressed, we’ll see.

[Hot Tabasco]

Windows 8 had 5.1 percent of all desktop OS web traffic in June

Any mention of how many were stuck with Win 8 that came bundled with the new desktops they purchased? In other words, Win 8 by default or by choice?

[Gene Eric]

Would be interesting to see usage data from 2005 comparing XP to its predecessors.

[ArrogantBustard]

Yes, it would. I wonder how many people were using Windows 3.11 for Workgroups in 2005.

[Gay State Conservative]

Wow ... XP is still hanging on in a strong second place. I wonder if the folks in Redmond can read the hand writing on the wall ...

I've got 4 machines.A "modern" laptop,a "modern" desktop and two old clunkers (that still work).I run 7 on the two modern machines and XP Pro on both clunkers.

[Gene Eric]

Was thinking NT, 95, and 2000, but no doubt you’d see 3.11.

[Gene Eric]

BTW, its necessary to keep XP for cases where driver support on Win7 is problematic. This issue spans industries and medical.

[circlecity]

"Someone is still using Vista? Why?"

By the time service pack 3 came out for Vista it was pretty solid. In fact many people referred to Win 7 as Vista service pack 4.

[ArrogantBustard]

Yes ... and MS got the service packs right. I had not trouble installing them.

[NewHampshireDuo]

I was happy with 98...skipped ME...happy with XP...skipped Vista...and am happy with 7 (laptop and desktop)...and will be skipping 8.

I went from 3.1 to 98 to XP and I now am phasing in Win 7. Besides Linux of course.