Wait until January before you cast judgment on Windows 8, they said. That's when the big boost from holiday sales will--or won't--show up, and you'll be able to get a better idea of how the operating system is doing. Well, Net Application's January desktop usage data is in. What do the numbers show? Is Windows 8's usage rate lagging?
It depends on how you look at it.
Let's get the bleak news out of the way first. Three months after its release, Microsoft's new-look operating system was found on 2.26 percent of all the traditional PCs tracked by Net Applications, whose web measurement network is comprised of 40,000 websites that receive roughly 160 million unique visits each month. By comparison, Windows 7 claimed a 7.57 percent browser share at its three-month mark, while Windows Vista was sitting slightly less pretty with a 3.3 percent share three months in.
The monthly gulf between Windows Vista's uptake and Windows 8's uptake is only widening, in other words. People still consider Windows Vista to be a stinker, rightly or wrongly, and that reputation no doubt helped to fuel Windows 7's lightning-fast adoption. Conversely, Windows 7's all-around excellence is likely holding back Windows 8--there simply isn't a compelling reason to leap to Windows 8 and its redesigned modern UI if you're a happy Windows 7 user.
Don't be hasty to blame Windows 8's slow uptake on declining PC sales, either. While the computer industry did suffer a contraction in 2012, digging through data from Gartner--a research analytics firm--reveals that just over 90 million PCs were sold in fourth quarters of both 2009 and 2012 (the launch windows for Windows 7 and 8, respectively). In fact, about 300,000 more PCs sold in the fourth quarter of 2012 than in 2009. The appearance of Windows 7 gave PC sales a tremendous shot in the arm, however, while Windows 8's launch has not.
A silver lining appears!
The news isn't all bad for Microsoft, though. The various Windows iterations still account for nearly 92 percent of all desktop visitors to Net Application's websites. Windows as a family is doing fine, even if Windows 8 is struggling to make an impact.
Plus, while Windows 8 might not be living up to the usage standards established by its forebears, it's almost caught up to Apple. Mac OS X 10.8--you may know it better as "Mountain Lion"--has been available since all the way back in July, and it still only claims a 2.44 percent usage share in Net Application's report, despite the appearance of new iMacs and Retina Display-packing MacBook Pro laptops. Expect Windows 8's usage share to sneak past Mountain Lion's this month.
Comments
Digger11 said: Win 8 is only at the start of its commercial life it is a very fine OS and its potential is in the development of touch screen devices at fair prices this is in a fast track process at this timebut there is a great reluctance to market these devices until the existing stockpiles of laptops monitors are exhausted As to the constant whining about the start button this is easily restored using free thirdparty plug ins should you wish It is certainly not an infantile type OS as android it is a real working adult OS I have usedWin 8for over a year now and I am more than impressed with itI also have several android devices which I am very happy with but they are limited in what they can do for my purpose and unfortunatelythe majorityof the Apps available are of very poor qualitybut for what I use the android OSfor its fine
gareth2w said: Windows 8 unlike the iOS updates was a big change in UIPersonally for me its more of the fact that Windows 7 does work very well and I tend to tie my hardware and software updates together I believe itsbest to upgrade the software if the hardware came out after it was released although Id like to get the Windows 8 interface somepointSo I think the adoption rate here is going to be much slower anyway since there is no sucky Vista to replace as the article mentions its more like going from Windows 95 to 98One thing I have noticed though is that everywhere I look they have the Windows 8 interface proudly displayed its definitely very appealing and looks good fresh and newSince its all new and the tablets are only just appearing its going to take time for the UI to be fully adopted But the windows phones are increasing their marketshare at around 300 sustained with the number now starting to get noticable the unified eco-system will start to really have a big benefit over the seperate one off solutions we have now
Mark_Simpson said: I think Microsofts problem here is trying to keep the same OS for a variety of devices From the reviews Ive read Windows 8 sounds clunky with having to switch between desktop and Tile Screen fka Metro modes With desktops and laptops the keyboard and mousetrackpad paradigm is so entrenched its going to take time for touchscreens to get any real tractionSo Windows 7 is good enough for those usersAnd most people are used to iOS or Android for tablets by now So are used to doing without the Microsoft ecosystemAlso Apple recognised touchscreen tabletsphones were different beasts to PCs and laptops hence them wiping the slate clean pun intended with iOS rather than trying to kludge OS XIf Microsoft hadnt rested on its laurels with Windows Phone it would have had a potential killer OS already in its armouryNow its difficult to see how theyre going to be anything other than a niche provider Although they might be able to mop-up some corporate business if Blackberrys BB10 tanks