Windows Gains Market Share After Six Months

The second half of December was really slow for Windows but it ended on a positive note. While Windows XP continued to be persistent throughout the year, it finally dropped below 40% to 39.08%. Windows 7 rose from 44.71% to 45.11% and Windows 8 from 1.11% to 1.77%.

While there is still a mixed and somewhat hostile user response for Windows 8, the increase in market share is very encouraging for Microsoft. Although Windows 8 has been in the market for more than two months now, Windows 7 still continues to grow, and Windows XP is still holding its own.

Many have predicted a drop in PC growth and an overall drop in Microsoft’s stock value in 2013 based on the negative response to Windows 8. An increase in market share from 1.11% to 1.77% is not a mammoth increase, but it is better than no increase whatsoever.

While the growth seems slow for Windows 8, we have to consider that people have PCs running perfectly on XP and Windows 7, and switching to Windows 8 will be an avoidable expense. Considering some of the bad reviews Windows 8 has inspired, an average user would definitely think twice before switching to this new operating system.

These signs of recovery for Windows allow Microsoft to start 2013 on a positive note. It can be predicted that Windows 8 will gain a greater market share, but it seems the rate of growth will be extremely low. Microsoft is stopping support for Windows XP on April 8^th 2014, and most users will be switching from XP to either Windows 7 or 8 as a result.

In light of current trends it can be predicted that most of them will be choosing Windows 7, but many things can happen during this year to put Windows 8 on top. For now, things are looking up for Windows and we shall wait and see what happens on the Windows 8 front.

[Images via thenextweb & computerwoche]