One of the most critical figures for any new OS is adoption rate. If a new OS fails to be taken up, developers will shun it, leading to a vicious cycle. After experiencing that with Windows 8, Microsoft has taken great pains to ensure Windows 10 won’t suffer the same fate. Unfortunately, after a brilliant start, it seems that the adoption rate has ground to a near standstill.
After a strong launch last year, Windows 10 has picked up about 14.35% of all computers and 270 million devices. That is a pretty good number for any OS but the rate of adoption is the key concern. After reporting well above 1% growth every month since launch, the rate has dropped to just 0.2%. Users are by no means not choosing Windows 10, but it looks like the OS is reaching close to saturation.
The main competition comes from Windows 7 which still holds a massive 2x lead with around 30% of marketshare. Of course, this is a general trend as the more focused Steam survey reports Windows 10 as the most used OS. With the free upgrade ending in just under 3 months, Microsoft may have to resort to new strategies to ensure Windows 10 continues to be picked up by legacy Windows users.
How about giving free upgrades to XP users too- I love XP it works and does what i need it to. I have alternative security on my computer so the “insecure” frightener does not work on me. If i am to upgrade to an OS i know nothing about except that many do not actually like it, then i need an incentive to move from an OS i actually love, like and use to one that i am still dubious about and has received criticism from people who have upgraded.
If you’re using xp then you’re probably using hardware that’s ~15 years old. W10 may not work so well, there’s only so far back they’ll go with compatibility, drivers etc.. Most of those who ‘don’t like it’ are people who have been scared by amateur tech websites with scary stories, who just want clicks. Oh, and conspiracy nutters who think the NSA are watching them through W10..
I’ve been using W10 since the early betas, and while there was some issues in the beginning, MS have really been listening to feedback.. it’s pretty flawless now.
Not necessarily, I know lots of businesses that paid for extended support and supply of XP including on new PCs…
Yea agreed, but businesses are different to home users. With a business any changes cost time and money, and things are mostly static, people sending emails etc, or else it’s an essential system like air-traffic-control and they don’t want to risk changing anything until they have to. Whereas home users nowadays are playing games, watching movies uploading their pictures etc and will either upgrade when ‘my computer is so slow’… or something breaks… or it’s christmas. Not many home users are going to replace their shiny new os with XP..