Windows 10 surpasses 50% share in Steam's Hardware Survey

It was posted on New Years day. Everybody was partying.

But I thought that Windows 10 share was dropping in favor of Windows 7 ???

I would really like to know who is going from 10 back to 7.

I know of absolutely nobody doing this AND, at least where I work, we are actively moving to Windows 10 corporate wide and have been for a while now.
 
Only one bite? This thread is down for the count.

Positive Windows 10 news doesn't get the same kind of draw. The subject was getting a lot of chatter on PC Gamer. In any case, 7 as a gaming OS is pretty much done. Of course it's not going away any more than XP did, but as 7 machines get older, a good chuck of those 7 machines are 32 bit, 7 users will simply not by as many newer higher end games anyway.

It was posted on New Years day. Everybody was partying.

But I thought that Windows 10 share was dropping in favor of Windows 7 ???

I would really like to know who is going from 10 back to 7.

I know of absolutely nobody doing this AND, at least where I work, we are actively moving to Windows 10 corporate wide and have been for a while now.

10 is going to be the next mainstream business OS, it's going to take time, like it did with XP but some places, like a big bank where I am, we can't fool around with hanging on to 7. As for people moving back, you here this a lot from anti-Windows 10 folks and I'm sure it's happened but I've not see it personally. All the friends of family I've updated to 10 haven't had any issues. But for gaming, yeah, I wasn't going to put a 7 year old OS on my sig rig this summer. And I think that's how most people see it, newer stuff with newer stuff.
 
10 is going to be the next mainstream business OS, it's going to take time, like it did with XP but some places, like a big bank where I am, we can't fool around with hanging on to 7. As for people moving back, you here this a lot from anti-Windows 10 folks and I'm sure it's happened but I've not see it personally. All the friends of family I've updated to 10 haven't had any issues. But for gaming, yeah, I wasn't going to put a 7 year old OS on my sig rig this summer. And I think that's how most people see it, newer stuff with newer stuff.

Wouldn't it be smarter and cheaper for businesses to switch to Linux instead? Oh, right, they all need Microsoft Office crap.
 
I'm one of those people who still have 7 on their desktop. Don't plan to switch until the next major hardware change. I have 10 on my laptop and as usual MS has added almost nothing that makes me want to switch.
 
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Wouldn't it be smarter and cheaper for businesses to switch to Linux instead? Oh, right, they all need Microsoft Office crap.

Plenty of businesses have looked into Linux over the years. There's a lot issues depending on needs and yeah, Office is a big deal. I don't think some Linux folks realize how much effort has been put into looking into this. However, we have no problem with Linux servers, we use tons of those.
 
This thread is down for the count.

Like Windows 10. Windows 7 grew faster than 10 did in December. You can't even buy 7 directly any more. Imagine how Windows 10's numbers are going to look in the data after the holidays.

I've been a long-term Windows 7 holdout, but keeping all 6 computers around the house updated and working was becoming a chore. I ended up trying out Linux Mint on a whim and was completely blown away by how good Linux is now. All my hardware just works. All my favorite games and 1/3 of my entire Steam library are Linux native. I ended up switching the whole house over back around October. We have one box (well, a second SSD in one box...) that runs Windows 7 for streaming old games to the Linux boxes. If you haven't tried Linux in a while you may be pleasantly surprised. We actually have a viable alternative to Windows now.
 
Like Windows 10. Windows 7 grew faster than 10 did in December. You can't even buy 7 directly any more. Imagine how Windows 10's numbers are going to look in the data after the holidays.

I've been a long-term Windows 7 holdout, but keeping all 6 computers around the house updated and working was becoming a chore. I ended up trying out Linux Mint on a whim and was completely blown away by how good Linux is now. All my hardware just works. All my favorite games and 1/3 of my entire Steam library are Linux native. I ended up switching the whole house over back around October. We have one box (well, a second SSD in one box...) that runs Windows 7 for streaming old games to the Linux boxes. If you haven't tried Linux in a while you may be pleasantly surprised. We actually have a viable alternative to Windows now.
I've used w10pro since launch. I still have a few installs of 7 around.

My comment was directed at how few responses this thread had. I'm not surprised W10 has done so well.
 
We actually have a viable alternative to Windows now.

25% of Steam's catalog with most AAA releases missing isn't anywhere near viable and missing emerging tech like VR MIA on Linux right now. And it's interesting how you look at only two numbers in that one month and ignore that Linux overall dropped from 2.31% to 2.21%. So does that mean desktop Linux is dead? Of course not, no more than Windows 10.
 
Like Windows 10. Windows 7 grew faster than 10 did in December. You can't even buy 7 directly any more. Imagine how Windows 10's numbers are going to look in the data after the holidays.

I've been a long-term Windows 7 holdout, but keeping all 6 computers around the house updated and working was becoming a chore. I ended up trying out Linux Mint on a whim and was completely blown away by how good Linux is now. All my hardware just works. All my favorite games and 1/3 of my entire Steam library are Linux native. I ended up switching the whole house over back around October. We have one box (well, a second SSD in one box...) that runs Windows 7 for streaming old games to the Linux boxes. If you haven't tried Linux in a while you may be pleasantly surprised. We actually have a viable alternative to Windows now.
You keep repeating this in every Windows 10 thread so far. I'm beginning to think that you are trying to convince yourself of this.
I also have Linux Mint installed in a dual boot setup but very rarely use it. Yes it works fine and all but I get tired of having to reboot just to boot into Windows to play my games. What few games I do play anymore just do not work well on Linux for me.
I run Windows 10 on my main rig without any 3rd party start menu add-on. This is a computer originally build when Vista came out and guess what? Windows 10 worked with no problems at all, it just works. :D
 
You keep repeating this in every Windows 10 thread so far. I'm beginning to think that you are trying to convince yourself of this.
I also have Linux Mint installed in a dual boot setup but very rarely use it. Yes it works fine and all but I get tired of having to reboot just to boot into Windows to play my games. What few games I do play anymore just do not work well on Linux for me.
I run Windows 10 on my main rig without any 3rd party start menu add-on. This is a computer originally build when Vista came out and guess what? Windows 10 worked with no problems at all, it just works. :D

If Linux were as good as proponent say and Windows 10 as bad as critics say, we'd all be using Linux now.
 
25% of Steam's catalog with most AAA releases missing isn't anywhere near viable

I don't know what you consider 'AAA,' but Kerbal Space Program is the best video game ever made.

Lately I also spend a lot of time playing Doom, Stellaris, Europa Universalis IV, Cities: Skyines, Minecraft, Civ V, and Mount and Blade: Warband. Those few games can easily occupy all of my free time. One of these days I'm going to replay Kotor II. 1/3 of my Steam library is Linux native. I already have too many games to play.
 
If Linux were as good as proponent say and Windows 10 as bad as critics say, we'd all be using Linux now.
This is the truth.

I use Linux also for certain tasks, but I find myself going back to Windows for games.

Linux has its place. BUT not in the gaming world.
 
If Linux were as good as proponent say and Windows 10 as bad as critics say, we'd all be using Linux now.
That's exactly it. If I could have played my games on Mint I wouldn't need to duel boot. I tend to check out Linux every year or so just to see how things are going. For the average user that just surfs the web and plays Facebook games, or plays games that are native to Linux then it is a great OS to use. But for the rest of us it just isn't quite ready. I'm sure it will be ready for us at some point, that I have no doubts about, but not yet it isn't.
 
If Linux were as good as proponent say and Windows 10 as bad as critics say, we'd all be using Linux now.

I have no intention of participating in this thread, the Windows vs Linux flamewars have got to end, however this is an extremely simplistic way of looking at things Heatlesssun. Even you have to be capable of admitting that.

The main consensus around the [H]OCP forums is that I don't use Linux because I want to play games and Linux doesn't support my games. The issue with such a statement is that:

A. Linux now supports vastly more games than ever before, gaming support under Linux is growing and it's a trend that doesn't look like slowing any time soon - It took until ~2007 for Windows titles to really take off under Steam, these days AAA developers appear to be avoiding the Steam platform altogether for their own distribution platforms anyway.

B. Claiming that you have to run Windows to gain AAA gaming support because Linux doesn't support the games you want to play is fine. However, developers need to wake up and realise there's more to PC's than just Windows. The whole Linux movement is a great thing that can benefit everyone using a PC, if you solely stick to Windows Linux doesn't get the support it needs to grow and adoption will be a slow process - Only by supporting Linux will things change.

Linux is free, rather than say 'I need Windows to play the games I prefer', I can assure you there is at least one title available under Linux on Steam that you'd play - Dual boot or set up a spare machine, install Linux and play that game, the more people use Linux, the faster support for your AAA games will grow.

As consumers, we hold the power, not the developers.
 
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I don't know what you consider 'AAA,' but Kerbal Space Program is the best video game ever made.

Ok Kerbal Space Program is your favorite game, it didn't show up on Steams top 100 list last year. 43 other Linux compatible games did though. But 43% is still a good ways from 100%.

Lately I also spend a lot of time playing Doom, Stellaris, Europa Universalis IV, Cities: Skyines, Minecraft, Civ V, and Mount and Blade: Warband. Those few games can easily occupy all of my free time. One of these days I'm going to replay Kotor II. 1/3 of my Steam library is Linux native. I already have too many games to play.

And if this we're everyone's standard, that what's available for Linux is good enough for gaming, we'd all be gaming under Linux by now. Linux folks are always talking about lack of choice and options in Windows. Where it excels though is in application choices and options. Indeed more choice than most anyone could every being to come close to using all of.
 
I have no intention of participating in this thread, the Windows vs Linux flamewars have got to end, however this is an extremely simplistic way of looking at things Heatlesssun. Even you have to be capable of admitting that.

It's not about a flame war. But it really is that simple. People use Windows for the same reason people use Linux, it does the things they want and care about. If Linux supported enough of the things people do with Windows, then given all of the things that proponents like about it, cost, stability, privacy, etc. with all of those advantages and the application and hardware support of Windows, there'd be no reason not to use it. A true no brainer.

The main consensus around the [H]OCP forums is that I don't use Linux because I want to play games and Linux doesn't support my games. The issue with such a statement is that:

A. Linux now supports vastly more games than ever before, gaming support under Linux is growing and it's a trend that doesn't look like slowing any time soon.

And Windows supports more games than ever.

B. Claiming that you have to run Windows to gain AAA gaming support because Linux doesn't support the games you want to play is fine. However, developers need to wake up and realise there's more to PC's than just Windows.

They would if they figured it was profitable.

Linux is free, rather than say 'I need Windows to play the games I prefer', I can assure you there is at least one title available under Linux on Steam that you'd play - Dual boot or set up a spare machine, install Linux and play that game, the more people use Linux, the faster support for your AAA games will grow.

Running Linux just to support a fraction of something when people already have something that supports 100%, that's not a powerful argument. Sure there are good arguments for Linux, but again, gaming, it's just a big advantage for Windows and Linux would just have to way more to be compelling in this area.

As consumers, we hold the power, not the developers.

Sure. Again, I'm just not that attached to the OS, I'm attached to what it supports. The time and money in those things FAR AND AWAY exceed the cost of Windows. Swapping out the OS would be nothing to me personally if the support for those things were there. Again, it truly is that simple.
 
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Not replying to any of that, it'll just throw the thread way off topic. You're just regurgitating the same old crap.

Think what you want.
 
The topic was meant to highlight a point about Windows 10 doing well with Steam gamers, and everything else, including Windows 7, not so much. So anything that's not personal and on the topic of why we use OSes I think is reasonable. Much is said about 10's weaknesses, but it has strengths and yeah, gaming seems to be one of them.
 
Just checked the Steam survey and it looks like they've restated the numbers. Windows 10 still breaks 50% but Windows the percentages were pushed downward about 0.14%. Windows 7 x64 actually gained a bit, 0.2% versus 0.6% for Windows 10 x64. But with x64 and x86 combined Windows 10 was up 0.59% versus 0.03% for 7. Looks like macOS and Linux numbers were also pushed downward into bigger negatives.
 
It was posted on New Years day. Everybody was partying.

But I thought that Windows 10 share was dropping in favor of Windows 7 ???

I would really like to know who is going from 10 back to 7.

I know of absolutely nobody doing this AND, at least where I work, we are actively moving to Windows 10 corporate wide and have been for a while now.

I just moved from 10 -> 7 due to having unresolvable update issues with 10.

With that being said, Linux is my first choice for gaming. When a game isn't avilable, I'll fall back to my windows box.

Since I use my linux box for work it has better hardware:
i7-4770k, 2560x1440 monitor & gtx 1060
i5-4750, 1680x1050 monitor & r9-290 on windows.

I think outside of playing Lego Star Wars (I think circa 2007) via Steam Link with my 5-yo, pretty much all of my gaming has been on Linux.
 
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I use both Windows 10 x64 & Arch Linux for gaming, so I guess I see the benefit of using both. My personal hope is that Linux gains more games in the future. As of right now, 145 of 495 games support Linux in my Steam game library. I have yet to count through all of the other game libraries I have through the multitude of other gaming services.
 
I use both Windows 10 x64 & Arch Linux for gaming, so I guess I see the benefit of using both. My personal hope is that Linux gains more games in the future. As of right now, 145 of 495 games support Linux in my Steam game library. I have yet to count through all of the other game libraries I have through the multitude of other gaming services.

Good job CrimsonKnight13! At least someone understands that actually supporting Linux will enable it to grow faster and hopefully adopt more AAA titles, and it can be done while still using Windows. As opposed to ranting the same rhetoric about how the OS isn't important as long as certain individuals can do what they want while constantly missing the point entirely.
 
Good job CrimsonKnight13! At least someone understands that actually supporting Linux will enable it to grow faster and hopefully adopt more AAA titles, and it can be done while still using Windows. As opposed to ranting the same rhetoric about how the OS isn't important as long as certain individuals can do what they want while constantly missing the point entirely.
I try! I've been experimenting with games through PlayOnLinux (WINE frontend) as well, which works great for most.
 
I try! I've been experimenting with games through PlayOnLinux (WINE frontend) as well, which works great for most.

You can still use both operating systems just fine while supporting Linux. There is literally only advantages to this. ;)
 
Not replying to any of that, it'll just throw the thread way off topic. You're just regurgitating the same old crap.

He does that to bury other posts. Nobody wants to read a wall of text.

And he does it in every. single. thread. Even in the Linux subforum, he's in there pushing Windows 10.
 
He does that to bury other posts. Nobody wants to read a wall of text.

And he does it in every. single. thread. Even in the Linux subforum, he's in there pushing Windows 10.

I didn't read any of it, it'll just be the same rehotric rant, I've read it all before.

This whole Windows vs Linux thing just takes too much energy.
 
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I have no intention of participating in this thread, the Windows vs Linux flamewars have got to end, however this is an extremely simplistic way of looking at things Heatlesssun. Even you have to be capable of admitting that.

The main consensus around the [H]OCP forums is that I don't use Linux because I want to play games and Linux doesn't support my games. The issue with such a statement is that:

A. Linux now supports vastly more games than ever before, gaming support under Linux is growing and it's a trend that doesn't look like slowing any time soon - It took until ~2007 for Windows titles to really take off under Steam, these days AAA developers appear to be avoiding the Steam platform altogether for their own distribution platforms anyway.

B. Claiming that you have to run Windows to gain AAA gaming support because Linux doesn't support the games you want to play is fine. However, developers need to wake up and realise there's more to PC's than just Windows. The whole Linux movement is a great thing that can benefit everyone using a PC, if you solely stick to Windows Linux doesn't get the support it needs to grow and adoption will be a slow process - Only by supporting Linux will things change.

Linux is free, rather than say 'I need Windows to play the games I prefer', I can assure you there is at least one title available under Linux on Steam that you'd play - Dual boot or set up a spare machine, install Linux and play that game, the more people use Linux, the faster support for your AAA games will grow.

As consumers, we hold the power, not the developers.

Linux's problem is Linus's refusal to allow a working HAL to be adopted. That is the one reason why HW support is always lacking, and why new Kernels force both developers and users to go through the time consuming process of manually editing things to make programs work with the new kernel. If Linux had a working HAL, none of this would be an issue. Until Linux gets real about HW support, its going to be limited to servers that essentially never get updated once they get working.
 
Linux's problem is Linus's refusal to allow a working HAL to be adopted. That is the one reason why HW support is always lacking, and why new Kernels force both developers and users to go through the time consuming process of manually editing things to make programs work with the new kernel. If Linux had a working HAL, none of this would be an issue. Until Linux gets real about HW support, its going to be limited to servers that essentially never get updated once they get working.

I used to feel the same way. Hardware support has improved dramatically since I'd tried Linux last.

All my hardware in all my PC's 'just works.' Even my Highpoint RAID controller and Creative sound card. I was worried that I'd have to pick up an Nvidia card for any real gaming, but my 290x has actually been fine. I expect things to only get better now that people tend to sit on hardware a lot longer before upgrading.

This is why I keep posting about Linux. I thought Linux on the desktop was never going anywhere until a couple months ago. I'm now running it on every PC in the house. All my favorite games and 1/3 of my Steam library are Linux native. I haven't had any hardware issues with my 6 computers. If you've ever been curious or you haven't tried it in a while then load up your favorite distro and give it a spin. We finally have a viable alternative to Windows.
 
I was worried that I'd have to pick up an Nvidia card for any real gaming, but my 290x has actually been fine. I expect things to only get better now that people tend to sit on hardware a lot longer before upgrading.

I'm guessing a 290x would be more than enough for the Linux compatible games on Steam in Linux or Windows.

We finally have a viable alternative to Windows.

Desktop Linux has long been a viable alternative to Windows but that depends on needs and wants. When it comes to gaming however I don't think Linux is anywhere near generally viable because too many games aren't supported by Linux. If one doesn't really care about which games then ok, Linux can work in that kind of instance.
 
Like Windows 10. Windows 7 grew faster than 10 did in December. You can't even buy 7 directly any more. Imagine how Windows 10's numbers are going to look in the data after the holidays.

I've been a long-term Windows 7 holdout, but keeping all 6 computers around the house updated and working was becoming a chore. I ended up trying out Linux Mint on a whim and was completely blown away by how good Linux is now. All my hardware just works. All my favorite games and 1/3 of my entire Steam library are Linux native. I ended up switching the whole house over back around October. We have one box (well, a second SSD in one box...) that runs Windows 7 for streaming old games to the Linux boxes. If you haven't tried Linux in a while you may be pleasantly surprised. We actually have a viable alternative to Windows now.

That which can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence. - Christopher Hitchens
 
I didn't read any of it, it'll just be the same rehotric rant, I've read it all before.

This whole Windows vs Linux thing just takes too much energy.

Than WTF did you start that for then? Please start becoming more self aware or please stop pushing BS when you know you said you would not reply. This is a Windows 10 thread that you are trying to derail, as usual. Hey, WIndows 10 is higher on the steam survey than WIndows 7. Also, building 2 computers or dual booting is a waste of time now when Windows 10 does everything I need and beyond without screwing around with things. The only issue I have in games is one really old, original disc based Lego Star Wars game and that is a problem on 7 and up.

The stuff you are pushing is the same old, same old from the last 20 years. I was trying gaming on LInux over a decade ago on a subscription service that made games work with Linux. None of the games I enjoy worked on it then and none do now.
 
Than WTF did you start that for then? Please start becoming more self aware or please stop pushing BS when you know you said you would not reply. This is a Windows 10 thread that you are trying to derail, as usual. Hey, WIndows 10 is higher on the steam survey than WIndows 7. Also, building 2 computers or dual booting is a waste of time now when Windows 10 does everything I need and beyond without screwing around with things. The only issue I have in games is one really old, original disc based Lego Star Wars game and that is a problem on 7 and up.

The stuff you are pushing is the same old, same old from the last 20 years. I was trying gaming on LInux over a decade ago on a subscription service that made games work with Linux. None of the games I enjoy worked on it then and none do now.

Yeah none of this new. Linux users constantly state that they use Linux because of the headaches Windows causes them. Ok, fair enough. As though plenty of full time desktop Windows users have never looked into it and see that in many of their cases, Linux can cause just as many headaches. Dual booting most of the hardware I have would be pointless to play games. And it's not like I need another computer to play some of my games when what I have will play all of them. Linux simply doesn't serve a purpose for PC gaming for me and most.

So sure, one can go out of their way to use Linux but really, no one is going to do that for long. But if Linux provides something to someone, then sure they'll use it. And it could be argued that if more people tried Linux they may find it to suit their needs. But if is doesn't no one should have to go out of their way, adding complexity and time, to simply do the things they want.
 
Than WTF did you start that for then? Please start becoming more self aware or please stop pushing BS when you know you said you would not reply. This is a Windows 10 thread that you are trying to derail, as usual. Hey, WIndows 10 is higher on the steam survey than WIndows 7. Also, building 2 computers or dual booting is a waste of time now when Windows 10 does everything I need and beyond without screwing around with things. The only issue I have in games is one really old, original disc based Lego Star Wars game and that is a problem on 7 and up.

The stuff you are pushing is the same old, same old from the last 20 years. I was trying gaming on LInux over a decade ago on a subscription service that made games work with Linux. None of the games I enjoy worked on it then and none do now.

Not much point replying to this comment either, just the usual predictable posting.
 
Linux's problem is Linus's refusal to allow a working HAL to be adopted. That is the one reason why HW support is always lacking, and why new Kernels force both developers and users to go through the time consuming process of manually editing things to make programs work with the new kernel. If Linux had a working HAL, none of this would be an issue. Until Linux gets real about HW support, its going to be limited to servers that essentially never get updated once they get working.

So you believe that Linux doesn't have a hardware abstraction layer and drivers can only be added manually by literally editing the kernel?

That may have been the case when everyone was compiling Linux to suit their machines in the early 90's, with the advent of packaged distro's i don't believe that's the case anymore. I've added third party drivers to Linux no worries, using either the driver manager or a .deb file downloaded from the manufacturers website.

I do admit I had a hell time getting a DTV tuner card working though.
 
Not much point replying to this comment either, just the usual predictable posting.

I start saying something I claim I do not want started. I then blow off a person that points it out. Dude, you do not want to have it called like it is, you can stop participating in this thread, your choice. :D Sorry dude but, Linux Desktop is not all that and I have more important things to do with my life than go on some petty, trivial crusade.

Edit: Oh, and to stick with the real topic at hand, yes Virginia, Windows 10 did overtake Windows 7 in the Steam games survey.
 
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I start saying something I claim I do not want started. I then blow off a person that points it out. Dude, you do not want to have it called like it is, you can stop participating in this thread, your choice. :D Sorry dude but, Linux Desktop is not all that and I have more important things to do with my life than go on some petty, trivial crusade.

Edit: Oh, and to stick with the real topic at hand, yes Virginia, Windows 10 did overtake Windows 7 in the Steam games survey.

ManofGod, I didn't start it.

I post in an open fashion, I am not biased, I have a number of Windows machines here. But when an individual like Heatlesssun is completely incapable of listening to reason, I give up replying to him - It really is that simple. He regurgitates praises about Windows in general in every forum he frequents, his obvious bias is undesputable.

Furthermore, I suspect your fairly biased yourself. But, having said that Windows 10 isn't all bad and I'm glad you're happy with it.
 
I'm flip-flopping on going back to 7 for games. Not sure yet. I actually haven't had any real issues with 10 in games so there's no reason I need to go back. But, on other drives, like the one I'm on now, I just want to punch the monitor when I go to turn off and it makes me wait to install updates first. No real issues, but it can be annoying. Windows 10 just feels like having sex with a hooker; it can be done, but you really don't like it.
 
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