StatCounter: Windows 10 Still Hasn’t Overtaken Windows 7

Megalith

Megalith

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Despite StatCounter’s optimism for Microsoft’s latest OS, Windows 10 still can’t manage to bump Windows 7 from its top spot. Assuming the analyst firm’s data is even accurate, W10 should finally pass W7 next month, but rival NetMarketShare’s numbers suggest that the battle will continue for a bit longer.

The difference between the two operating systems is now truly minuscule. In the final month of 2017, Windows 10 grew by 0.33 percentage points, to give it 41.69 percent share. In the same month, Windows 7 fell 0.62 percentage points, putting it a whisker ahead on 41.89 percent. It seems very, very likely the new OS will finally come out on top next month, unless Windows 7 suddenly gains some unexpected share from somewhere.
 
Every generation suffers a different paradigm. Windows 10 is over 2.5 years old now. It will reach a point where a generation of people will come along who have not known anything else. By that very nature, it has to take over the number one spot.

Although businesses are a different breed and are going to cling to Windows 7, for many different reasons. I am a lead protagonist on keeping Windows 7 where I work, and in my business (I do both). I do it for several reasons.

I know one day, when I completely retire, there will be some kid who will wonder why Windows 7 is still being used and it will go away. He/She will think they know better, as they will, no doubt, have many letters after there name they paid Microsoft and/or Cisco for. Maybe they will, maybe they won't. It will not matter because they will do it for several of their own reasons.

Thus the circle of crap will be complete.

What the hell was that? And,..why? Oh,...get off my lawn you damn kids!
 
When you put the start menu side by side like that, you really see how functional Win7's start menu was. Things have proper labels, and appear organized. The "My Documents, My Pictures .. " links were condensed to icons on the far left with Win10.

I like enough of the changes in Win10 to keep it. But for those on the fence, I don't see them jumping without being forced.
 
Is it a pita to remove all the useless crap off the 10 start menu? Sure.
Is it easy enough to add PC and other folders that will be helpful to the start menu? Yep
Does anyone actually scroll through the start menu anymore? Search all the way
Does it take some time to get use to? Sure, maybe 2 or 3 days.

It'd be hard for me to go back to 7 at this point.
 
2018 will be the year that big enterprises start their migrations from 7 in earnest, we started with optional pilots last year after app certification process and as those issues are resolved we'll start to push 10 out to more groups.
 
We have a WIndows 10 test box in the lab. It went into a constant reboot cycle last week. Formatted and re-installed Windows 10. We'll see what happens.

No one has used it. It has been sitting there for a few weeks.

We are in no hurry to migrate. Everything we have works and is stable. Windows 10 does not bring us anything, for right now. It is giving us time to take a long look at Linux.
 
BSmith said:
We have a WIndows 10 test box in the lab. It went into a constant reboot cycle last week. Formatted and re-installed Windows 10. We'll see what happens.

No one has used it. It has been sitting there for a few weeks.

We are in no hurry to migrate. Everything we have works and is stable. Windows 10 does not bring us anything, for right now. It is giving us time to take a long look at Linux.
Click to expand...

Windows 10 is what got me to seriously look at Linux, and I found the switch to be rather trivial (this was for my home machines). The majority of the applications I used under Windows are available under Linux (Libre Office, jEdit, Octave, Firefox, Thunderbird, g++, etc) so I've really not had to change my workflow. The only reason I keep around a Windows partition is for games.
 
I have just one thing to say about this particular news bit:

Callouts_Internet_Yay.png


:D
 
sadsteve said:
Windows 10 is what got me to seriously look at Linux, and I found the switch to be rather trivial (this was for my home machines). The majority of the applications I used under Windows are available under Linux (Libre Office, jEdit, Octave, Firefox, Thunderbird, g++, etc) so I've really not had to change my workflow. The only reason I keep around a Windows partition is for games.
Click to expand...

You're not the only one. Media Player Classic has been discontinued. Classic Shell has been discontinued. Microsoft is slowly depreciating basic desktop functionality by removing features, not just things like Media Center, basic things like the desktop Windows Media Player and legacy support for DirectX 9.

Pro users are migrating off of Windows. It's really gotten to the point that Linux is simply a better OS for desktop workflow. It's not bad for gaming now, either.
 
DeathFromBelow said:
Media Player Classic has been discontinued
Click to expand...

It hasn't been discontinued, just had development stopped by the "original" team that created it, sooner or later someone else will pick it up, that's a damned certainty. As for it even mattering, the last release works just fine and will continue to do so for a very long time to come. "Upgraditis" or the incessant need so many people have to constantly want new updates, new this, new that, when the old reliable rock solid stable stuff - even if it's not being continually developed for any length of time - works just fine. :D

I won't disagree on other aspects you mentioned, and as for Windows 10 I'm all for people dumping it at every opportunity and never using it for anything at all ever, of course. :)

<as a sidenote, I swear, no kidding, I just shared that Christopher Hitchens quote in your sig with my wife earlier and she liked it, then I had to grab her a bunch of Hitchens eBooks so she could become more enlightened...>
 
Spidey329 said:
When you put the start menu side by side like that, you really see how functional Win7's start menu was. Things have proper labels, and appear organized. The "My Documents, My Pictures .. " links were condensed to icons on the far left with Win10.

I like enough of the changes in Win10 to keep it. But for those on the fence, I don't see them jumping without being forced.
Click to expand...
The change is likely due to businesses migrating to 10. Myself and others (mostly Heatless) have said for years that businesses would start in 2017 and accelerate in 2018 and 2019 (pretty sure 7 support ends in January of 2020). If Statcounter is the more accurate one, then migration is happening faster than I expected. OTOH, if netmarketshare is right, then it's about where I expected it to be. To some degree it depends on whether a business is going to migrate everyone to 10 at one time or do it as they replace machines (alternatively are they going to hold off upgrades until they're ready to move everyone to 10). Doesn't matter, because Businesses will move to 10 over the next 2 years.
 
Reading this on a Win 7 system at home now.
At work, most of us are on either Win 7 or Win 8.
I have one Win 10 laptop in the shop for my techs. This is only because our oldest diagnostic laptop hardware died. It happens, they are dragged in and out of vehicles all day.
Until I can not run the programs for my business, or there is a hardware failure, I have no reason to spend the money to upgrade.
These are tools. If they work and get the job done, I will continue to use them.
 
DeathFromBelow said:
You're not the only one. Media Player Classic has been discontinued. Classic Shell has been discontinued. Microsoft is slowly depreciating basic desktop functionality by removing features, not just things like Media Center, basic things like the desktop Windows Media Player and legacy support for DirectX 9.

Pro users are migrating off of Windows. It's really gotten to the point that Linux is simply a better OS for desktop workflow. It's not bad for gaming now, either.
Click to expand...
I promise you that 10 will dominate the desktop 2 year from now. Businesses are not going to move non-technical users to Linux. In the US, Statcounter already gives 10 a sizeable lead. I don't see an option to filter net market share by country.
 
Setting up a family member's Acer laptop for Christmas and seeing an OEM installation of Windows 10... someone kill me... it's a huge billboard.
 
....my only concern with a mass upgrade to a new Os is that it always seems that every complaint of the previous version gets "included" in the new version. Exaggeration, yes. But why upgrade to keep needing to fix something. Its why many are slow to get the new Os. New problems and breaks things that were fixed in the upgrade cycle of the old version. Like others said, "Now stable, why change"?

Probably why if you want to 4K stream, you 'must' run win 10 and microbrowser Edge. Along with new Cpus makes win 10 adoption much more likely for the [H] crowd. There is a new MB that will run XP though. Not gonna go back that far unless a new machine specifically built to run old programs and games that I havent seen in a loooong time. To reminisce and nostalgia.
 
"Why Change?"

End of Life support ends January 14, 2020. No fixes, updates or technical help. Which is 2 years away, yes. But that's going to fly quick when you've got a hundred of other things to worry about.
 
The writing is on the wall at this point. I can only see an arguement for legacy support perhaps for older hardware that cannot be replaced i.e special diagnostic or other tools etc
 
Spidey329 said:
When you put the start menu side by side like that, you really see how functional Win7's start menu was. Things have proper labels, and appear organized. The "My Documents, My Pictures .. " links were condensed to icons on the far left with Win10.
Click to expand...


xd5szF0.jpg
 
I kinda went all in on 10 after skipping 8.x unless it came on a laptop (then I used classic shell, which I think is gone by now). Got sick of dealing with different versions of windows at home. I was fixated on getting in on the free upgrade path (5+ devices) but this was before I discovered the secrets (good and bad) about the Win 10 keys.

It's fine, everyone needs to calm down. You can turn off all the "listening" whatever during install or after easily enough.

90% of it is fine, the other 10% leaves me wanting Win 7 back, until I google and find a shortcut/workaround.

Anyone bitching about 10 should go spend some quality time on Win 8 and get back to us. (spoiler = 8 with metro sucked)
 
I love my win7 x64 OS. I

I won't use win10, linux or ios.

Little bit customized to my liking.
oPwgBdr.jpg
 
heatlesssun said:
2018 will be the year that big enterprises start their migrations from 7 in earnest, we started with optional pilots last year after app certification process and as those issues are resolved we'll start to push 10 out to more groups.
Click to expand...

2015 will be the year that big enterprises start their migrations from 7
2016 will be the year that big enterprises start their migrations from 7
2017 will be the year that big enterprises start their migrations from 7
2018 will be the year that big enterprises start their migrations from 7

Ahh, finally. The year of the big enterprise migration. By the way welcome back, heatless! Happy new year.
 
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nilepez said:
I promise you that 10 will dominate the desktop 2 year from now. Businesses are not going to move non-technical users to Linux.
Click to expand...

I'll take that bet. BTW, its not that businesses aren't going to move non-technical users to Linux. They just aren't going to move.

Windows 10 apologists seem to labor under this delusion that people and businesses actually care about January 2020 and Microsoft cutting off support - "Once support ends, people will HAVE to upgrade!" No.

Alas, January 2020 is going to come and go, and no fucks will be given as people continue computing happily on Windows 7 and 8.1. If Microsoft ever pulls their heads out and provides a telemetry off switch and proper control over updates, then the story might change. I suspect however that the die is already cast because of the vast amount of shenanigans Microsoft has pulled with 10 - GWX & upgrade-gate, telemetry, forced updates and reboots, a tile infested start menu, the creeping erosion of features with every major update.

People are dug in and will stay put on 7 until Microsoft rebrands again - probably removing the version number altogether and just calling it "Windows" - and god forbid provide a compelling reason to upgrade - like a few actual new features and not just more phone app bloatware or tiles.
 
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I don't doubt that Windows 10 will overtake Windows 7 in the near future, but unless Microsoft significantly changes course, there will be a large minority of people that just refuse to get off of Windows 7 - large enough that software devs won't be able to ignore Windows 7 support.

Killing Windows XP was (and to some degree still is) a nightmare for Microsoft, and that was when the replacement OS was actually well-liked and not very controversial. Every reason that kept people on XP (just works, compatibility, relearning new interface, etc.) will also be keeping people on 7, except now the replacement OS is controversial at best, and malware at worst. Now, not only will people want to stay on the old OS because they like it, but they will also deliberately avoid the new OS because of the many legitimate issues it has. The main reason that Microsoft gives to "upgrade" is for security updates, but as others have said, many people simply don't care about those and might have disabled updates already (especially as Microsoft has already poisoned the updates well with malware). Also, the security-conscious people who do care about those updates are also the most wary about the security issues inherent in an OS that qualifies as spyware.

Regardless of whether staying on Windows 7 is a good idea, many people are going to do it (and not just out of laziness this time), and it will make killing XP look like a walk in the park. It's my hope that in 2025 or so, despite Microsoft's efforts, 25% of people are still running Windows 7, new software continues to support it, and all that gets Microsoft to finally pull its head of its ass and make a product that people actually want, instead of trying to scare, trick, or force people into installing garbage.

Or Linux could take over - that would be a much cleaner way of waking Microsoft up, but I'm not holding my breath.
 
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DPI said:
2015 will be the year that big enterprises start their migrations from 7
2016 will be the year that big enterprises start their migrations from 7
2017 will be the year that big enterprises start their migrations from 7
2018 will be the year that big enterprises start their migrations from 7

Ahh, finally. The year of the big enterprise migration. By the way welcome back, heatless! Happy new year.
Click to expand...
I don't know what Heatless said, but I believe I've been consistent in saying it'd start 2017 and really kick in in 2018 and esp 2019. FYI, DPI, most companies stuck with XP until support was ending. The move to XP from 2000 was sometime after SP2, which is at least 3 years AFTER XP was released, which if you go back to messages when 7 came out, you'd swear was the ultimate OS and MS was fucking up by forcing people to go to 7. Then again, I distinctly recall Tech boards filled with people who hated XP and said we should stick with 98.

And if MS decides to make a Windows 11, the usual suspects will be here on [H] bitching about the stupidity of leaving 10, the greatest windows ever, for this Windows 11 abomination. The more things change....

DPI said:
I'll take that bet. BTW, its not that businesses aren't going to move non-technical users to Linux. They just aren't going to move.

Windows 10 apologists seem to labor under this delusion that people and businesses actually care about January 2020 and Microsoft cutting off support - "Once support ends, people will HAVE to upgrade!" No.

Alas, January 2020 is going to come and go, and no fucks will be given as people continue computing happily on Windows 7 and 8.1. If Microsoft ever pulls their heads out and provides a telemetry off switch and proper control over updates, then the story might change. I suspect however that the die is already cast because of the vast amount of shenanigans Microsoft has pulled with 10 - GWX & upgrade-gate, telemetry, forced updates and reboots, a tile infested start menu, the creeping erosion of features with every major update.

People are dug in and will stay put on 7 until Microsoft rebrands again - probably removing the version number altogether and just calling it "Windows" - and god forbid provide a compelling reason to upgrade - like a few actual new features and not just more phone app bloatware or tiles.
Click to expand...
OK, you clearly don't work for any major company. I can fucking promise you that unless it's a device that cannot be migrated, they will not continue on windows 7. No company that's worth a damn would run desktops on unsupported software and most aren't going to pay the high cost of support for windows 7 so that John can use Excel on 7.

As for telemetry, no worries, because it doesn't apply to Enterprise.
 
upgraded from pirated win7 to legit win10 haha. that was like 2 years ago i made the switch..
 
I'm still on Win7. Windows 10 isn't as snappy as 7, smoother gaming on 7 as well. (y) Everything else is on Linux Lite, I'll change to Peppermint as I feel it is a better step in what I like in an OS.
 
Tiberian said:
I have just one thing to say about this particular news bit:

Callouts_Internet_Yay.png


:D
Click to expand...
Well, you say yay, but this isn't a great situation in my eyes. Windows 10 has fundamental design problems for people who want control over system, and support for Windows 7 is going to dwindle more and more over time. Depending on your usage needs, the landscape looks like being caught between a rock and a hard place.
 
Windows 7 is a much better experience.
And it isnt fugly.
The Third Reich dont get to dictate what I can run on it or do with it either.
 
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heatlesssun said:
2018 will be the year that big enterprises start their migrations from 7 in earnest, we started with optional pilots last year after app certification process and as those issues are resolved we'll start to push 10 out to more groups.
Click to expand...

Funny I seem to remember someone telling me there would be no issues with going to Win10...And now I'm hearing that there applications in certification processes for more than a year with their issues not resolved yet. And who's we? Did you really think you'd make it through a win10 thread without every last word you say put under scrutiny? Silly Silly Guy. ;)

nilepez said:
OK, you clearly don't work for any major company. I can fucking promise you that unless it's a device that cannot be migrated, they will not continue on windows 7. No company that's worth a damn would run desktops on unsupported software and most aren't going to pay the high cost of support for windows 7 so that John can use Excel on 7.
As for telemetry, no worries, because it doesn't apply to Enterprise.
Click to expand...

Hospitals and the healthcare industry say "Hi"
 
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lilbabycat said:
Funny I seem to remember someone telling me there would be no issues with going to Win10...And now I'm hearing that there applications in certification processes for more than a year with their issues not resolved yet. And who's we? Did you really think you'd make it through a win10 thread without every last word you say put under scrutiny? Silly Silly Guy. ;)



Hospitals and the healthcare industry say "Hi"
Click to expand...

Add people who use ERPs from Infor to that list. Moving to W10 requires an in-place upgrade of the software, costing _almost_ as much as an implementation. As such, we will be upgrading long past 2020. Same thing happened with W7.
 
I ran with windows 10 for a little more than a year.
tried classic shell and other ways to mcostumzie it to my feeling.
In the end, when it was finally time for a reformat I went back to windows 7 and it was glory.

If it still after a year of usage are not feeling right... it just aint right for you.
it took more click to do certain task.
Constantly fighting the OS to get things done that was a breeze in windows 7
Lossing control of your system is a no go for me.
 
lilbabycat said:
Funny I seem to remember someone telling me there would be no issues with going to Win10...And now I'm hearing that there applications in certification processes for more than a year with their issues not resolved yet. And who's we? Did you really think you'd make it through a win10 thread without every last word you say put under scrutiny? Silly Silly Guy. ;)
Click to expand...

We had some app issues when moving from XP to 7 and the effort took similar time and effort.
 
nilepez said:
I promise you that 10 will dominate the desktop 2 year from now. Businesses are not going to move non-technical users to Linux. In the US, Statcounter already gives 10 a sizeable lead. I don't see an option to filter net market share by country.
Click to expand...

It probably will dominate, but not at this business. I already setup a Linux test system, for the biggest neophyte in the company, and she has been doing very well with it. Matter of fact, she is having fewer troubles than she did with Windows. A little bit of an eye opener. To be fair, she is in document control, so her applications are pretty well developed on Linux.

The challenge will be the engineers and their applications. Still sussing that one out.

What I like about Linux is, when it is done right, it is easier to support than Windows is. I'll have far fewer problems to deal with. Damn shame I am retiring about the time we get the switch done.

Management has been surprised how well she is dealing with it. They certainly are going to enjoy the reduced costs to support it. My performance bonus is looking like it will be the best ever. WOOHOO!
 
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