I like Windows 10. There, I said it. But unfortunately for Microsoft, millions of others have no interest in it.
Despite being free for almost a year, the company’s latest upgrade hasn’t been able to put any significant dent in Windows 7’s user base. It has only just overtaken the universally despised Windows 8.1 release.
You might think Microsoft made Windows 10 free just to copy Apple, which has been offering free OS X upgrades for years. There may be a bit of that, but the real reason is a desperate attempt to convince users to finally upgrade.
You see, Microsoft has a habit of biting Windows users in the backside, so many have become weary about upgrading to its latest releases. Even if they get good reviews, there’s always a fear something will be missing, things will break, or performance will take a hit.
Microsoft delivered something pretty special in Windows XP — which still boasts millions of users today — but it followed that up with the disaster that was Windows Vista. Windows 7 was almost XP reborn, and then along came Windows 8 and 8.1 to ruin everything again.
Now Windows 10 is here, and it’s actually very good — but many aren’t ready to leave the reliability and comfort of Windows 7 behind.
The chart below from Statista shows that although Windows 10 managed to overtake Windows 8/8.1 back in February, it still hasn’t grabbed a 20 percent share of the market yet. Meanwhile, Windows XP still holds onto more than 40 percent.
Graph: Statista/Business Insider
In comparison, Apple’s latest release, El Capitan, was installed on almost 45 percent of compatible Macs four months after making its debut — and believe it or not, that’s slow growth compared to previous OS X upgrades.
Mavericks, which was rolled out in 2013, was installed on 45.3 percent of Macs after just four months, while 2014’s Yosemite upgrade reached 51.4 percent over the same amount of time.
On July 29, Microsoft free upgrade to Windows 10 will end, and it’ll cost $119. At which point, users are even less likely to upgrade, and adoption will become even slower.
Via: Business Insider
Killian Bell is a freelance writer based in the U.K. He has an interest in all things tech and also covers Android over at CultofAndroid.com. You can follow him on Twitter via @killianbell.
58 responses to “Microsoft can’t even give away Windows 10”
Windows 10 is not good. It’s a disaster. The core OS is good, but the whole package is just laughable. It’s been 2 years since they released those ‘modern’ apps and they still lack basic functionalities. It took them over 2 years to release a beta preview of Skype or Messenger… I mean honestly, W10 app support is pathetic. That’s how you recognize a dead platform – no developer is making apps for it anymore, and thise that you can find in Windows Store are usually of such poor quality they verge on being unusable. Guess legacy apps and professional apps are the only thing available going forward…
The thing is, you don’t need those “modern apps.” I’ve been using Windows 10 almost every day since its release, and I don’t think I’ve used one modern app regularly. I just stick to traditional Windows apps, and it has been great for me. So much better than Windows 8.1.
I know you don’t. But on the other hand, if a software giant like that can’t stitch up a few decent apps to show and promote their Universal Windows Platform, how can we expect developers to do that ? Also, how long can we keep on using legacy apps ? I mean, Windows has to go forward as a platform – and I don’t see that happening at all…
I think it’s got to go forward too, but I really don’t think “apps” are the solution…
Maybe for some they’re great… Maybe they need a new focus…
I think the biggest problem when it comes to Microsoft brining their own apps to Windows is their new focus on making everyone happy. Apple has been nearly completely focused on only their own ecosystem. Microsoft wants to be there for you no matter where you are and they is both nice but also a curse. They are spread thin.
” Also, how long can we keep on using legacy apps ?”
forever. “legacy” apps arent in any way limited in any way other than the hardware. its not like SDK`s have been at a standstill since the 90`s
I bought a tablet when Windows 8 came out… eventually upgraded to Windows 8.1
now it’s on Windows 10… I haven’t used a modern app yet… Just boot to the desktop and run the programs I also run on my desktops with Windows 7
I haven’t looked at the Windows store since the day I got the thing…
The thing is, YOU don’t need modern apps. Network Speed Test, Wi-Fi Analyzer and Wi-Fi commander, LanScan, PayPal Here, Drawboard PDF and iFax are core apps I use in day to day business operations. The legacy software and services I use are great too but the apps are 100% an asset. I have never seen a classic desktop Wi-Fi analyzer that comes close in function or speed to either of the apps I mentioned above.
My company uses a few more as well but the point is its pretty arrogant for people to project their usage scenarios on others. The apps can be a great tool and that’s all that should matter.
So you’re saying there’s no REAL reason for me to embrace 10, since they don’t come on my perfectly functioning 7 machine.
And let’s not forget the ‘cross stiched’ old and new GUIs. I’m no OSX fan, but Microsoft have taken us back to the 80’s with it’s monochrome interface. I’m still of the view Windows 10 is a work-in-progress. Who here has even purchased a single app from their app store? Windows users are not apple shepple. Not looking forward to modernUI Windows Explorer which remind us all of xtree gold.
I have actually many
The core OS is NT/Win2000 with the same security holes.
By that logic then MacOS is dead. They have been trying the app model for years and have faired worse than Windows. Even in games the apps for MacOS are horrible the App Store is junk. Even already have a very successful iOS app store they have struggled to get developers to support MacOS.
Microsoft might be doing better on the app situation if they hadn’t missed their core user group with Windows 8 and scared developers. Right now developers are still on the fence about their direction which if they want to get more support they are going to have to show they are fully dedicated to their current direction.
Tried to get free copy of Windows 10 for my Mac running below Parallels but Microsoft said forget it, so I leave it at 8.1 and Microsoft can suck the hint tit of a dead boar.
Sounds like the driver issue for Parallels. At first it said I could upgrade because of Parallels 10. Eventually Parallels released a driver update for 10 and now it works but they nag me to upgrade to 11. A lot of the blame with the upgrade can be centered on Parallels and their insistence that nothing will work right, even if it did before, unless you buy their latest version.
I always hear the diehard MS fans say that “It’s better than win8” lol….that always gets a good chuckle from me since DOS is probably better than win8 lol
Fanboys and haters on both sides should FOAD. Windows and OSX are both just OSs. One is blue the other is grey. They do the same things, just differently.
As an Old “Mac”, I agree with Killian. Windows 10 is actually very good. I use it under VMWare Fusion for apps like OneNote that are better than the Mac versions. You don’t need to be absolute. Use what works best for you and stop trashing those who aren’t like you. Grow up already. Get over yourself.
Right. That’s why it runs on 90% of all computers. Ignorance is bliss. Stay blissful.
Funny….windows is declining, OS X rising. 90% running windows and over 40% still CLUTCHING to a version from 2001. TWO THOUSAND AND ONE. LMAO. Them windows users right there on the cutting edge! Plug in your ZUNE and rock on baby!
Intolerance and immaturity. Best characteristics of fanboys and haters. Thanks for the example.
Yep, i’m a fanboy, I love os x. I suffered with winblows for far too many years.
And I am a huge hater for sure, i hated the years of bugs, crashes, viruses, patches, hardware failures etc, when I had windows machines. When I switched to mac back in 2009 I haven’t looked back.
Windows is seriously god awful. So bad, programs have been created to block microsoft’s forced updates they have been pushing out at everyone to push them into windows 10.
lmao…..smh
Not so fast. OSX runs on Macs, Apple don’t give it away to PC-builders.
All others use Windows, because they have no choice really.
On the other hand, the only brand that is making any money out of selling computers is Apple…For all the others, all numbers are downhill….
Everybody says F**k windows, I say I wouldn’t F**k win, not even with another mans d**k stuck to a broomhandle…
Grow up already? What does getting over myself have anything to do with my preference over an OS? I can love what I love and bash what I think is trash all I want. Put your internet muscles away.
Ya know….a kia and a mercedes are both just cars. One is silver and one is white. They do the same things, just differently. lol….great argument right? SMH
I think it’s better than Windows 8. But not worth ditching Windows 7 over.
Windows 10 user privacy is worse than Windows 8 !
I would love to upgrade my wife’s Windows 8 computer to Windows 10. But for the second time in a row, Microsoft made a fundamental change in how the UI works. My wife is the type of person who just wants to get stuff done, and I don’t want to stick her with a new UI she would have to relearn.
In comparison, OS X has worked pretty much the same way from when I got my MacBook Pro with OS X Lion four years ago to El Capitan today. There have been changes, but they have been evolutionary instead of revolutionary. If I had to relearn OS X each upgrade, I probably would have skipped an upgrade or not upgraded at all, even if it were free. Making gradual changes over time instead of forcing users to relearn the basics of the UI is how you get a 45-50% adoption rate.
Yeah, Apple’s method of OS development has been different than Microsoft’s. Part of the upgrading from one OS to newer release is whether or not it will work with your existing hardware and software, but another factor that large enterprise customers worry about is training costs. The more drastic changes in the UI, the longer and more expensive training becomes. People get used to the OS and too many drastic changes is not welcomed.
I used a friend’s Lenovo laptop/tablet that came with Windows 10 and I thought it sucked. But then again, the device only had a Pentium chip and for the life of me, I don’t understand why they would ship something that was that horrifically slow. As far as using it with my fingers? Horrible. I would use an iPad instead. Everything seemed so tiny. I was using it in both laptop and tablet mode and I just thought both sucked. I tried to change the track pad so it would track faster and I spent 10 minutes trying to figure out how to change the setting and couldn’t find something that should be EASY to do.
I know some people prefer Windows to OS X and some the opposite. For me, every time I get my hands on a Windows computer, and spend more than 1 minute on it, I end up getting frustrated, pissed off and end up not getting what I need to get done. Then when I get on a Mac, I get things done so quickly and effortlessly, it’s almost like not having to work to do something that should be simple in the first place.
I don’t know if it’s true, but I have been told that there wasn’t going to be a Windows 11, per se and that all Microsoft is going to do is release free updates to Windows 10 to fix bugs and add functionality. If that’s the case and they can’t get a lot of people adopting Windows 10, then Microsoft might be in big trouble since EVENTUALLY people are going to need a new computer, and they might start looking more carefully at Apple or even Linux.
From looking at different markets, Linux, OS X and IOS are or have been gaining. Look at IBM, they’ve been adopting both IOS and OS X, and their Android and Windows user base has been shrinking since IBM started allowing their employees having a choice in what they use. IBM is sometimes seen as a bell weather company in terms of what’s going on in the Enterprise world and they certainly have a lot of influence on other large corporations changing their IT choices.
Already moved onto Linux…
RHEL, Xubuntu, & Android
And you talk about security?
Do show me better security on Microsoft than RHEL, if you can.
What’s going to be a make or break indication is after the PC mfg release the next KabyLake processors and they start to discontinue selling what they are currently selling. The reason is that KabyLake processors won’t support previous versions of Windows, so if they buy a new computer, they won’t have any choice in the matter, so if they don’t have a spectacular year after the KabyLake processors start shipping, then Microsoft is in deep trouble.
i doubt its true, it makes no sense for newer intel processors to not support older versions of Windows. it would be a death sentence for Intel if virtualisation software would be unable to run any older version of Windows than 10, both the enterprise and the consumer would refuse to upgrade. especially the enterprise depending on older versions of Windows server for instance as windows server adoption tends to be slower than consumer versions. im pretty sure its just some new processor features that wont be supported in older versions of Windows and not complete incompatibility.
Killian forgot to mention that 1) W10 adoption rate has been faster than W7 by a big margin, in fact it is record breaking as far as Windows is concerned, 2) a big part of the reason why W7 (not WXP as you mentioned on your article) is still hovering around 40% is because a vast majority of them are enterprise/business PCs.
Anyone suggesting that the W10 adoption should be faster than it is now does not understand the complex Windows user base and how slow it shifts.
Its also good to note that only around 5% of the world’s PCs currently run OS X. It’s possible for 15% of Windows users (current world share for W10) to be larger than 40-50% of OS X users when comparing pure numbers. The fact that 40-50% of OS X users accept free upgrades is impressive in Apple’s realm, but when compared to the rest of the world its not that great of an achievement. I would like to see the numbers for growth of the OS X platform relative to the world rather than growth inside the Apple community.
It is also important to note that Windows market share has lost year to year, while OS X on the other hand, is keep increasing year to year.
Not really relevant to my first statement, since (let’s face it) Windows is still by far the dominant OS market share wise.
What I was trying to say was that there are more Windows 10 users alone (almost 3 times as many) than Mac users. Killian trying to compare OS X upgrades to Windows 10 upgrade shouldn’t be a valid argument, because even if 100% of Mac users upgraded, the numbers would still be under those who have migrated to Windows 10.
“I would like to see the numbers for growth of the OS X platform relative to the world rather than growth inside the Apple community.”
Great statement.
All of my home PCs are running windows 10 with no glitches. Love it!
I wonder how quickly Windows 7 would have been adopted if it had been free as well… I knew when XP came out that I liked it and within a week it was running on my systems… Vista didn’t end up on my systems as I had no need to upgrade at the time… Windows 7 was an immediate hit. I installed it within 24 hours of testing it. I liked it right away. But many friends were reluctant to pay for it at first. Especially as people feared a repeat of Vista. Windows 7 was also hampered in comparison to Windows 10 as internet speeds and bandwidths were a lot lower back then so people were often unable to download it many areas and had to wait to purchase a physical disk.
I think if it had been free and bandwidth had been higher back then, Windows 7’s adoption would have been amazingly huge right off the bat…
Great points!
It is not a fair comparison to compare Windows 10 which is a FREE UPGRADE with Windows 7 which people had to PAY FOR. Oranges and Apples.
The hovering around 40% is actually 47.82% and considering the tactics that Microsoft has used to push and trick Windows 10 onto a significant number of users, this is definitely not a good relection on Windows 10.
Most of the users that I know don’t use Windows 10 and they are not enterprise/business people. They are just ordinary people who don’t want Windows 10.
The complex Windows user base is quite simple, if ordinary users want to use it, they would have. Businesses don’t want to use it because it will cause them major grief in the short term.
Microsoft is going to loose a significant portion of its customer base which it will never get back.
Of course it’s not a fair comparison when it goes against your argument, right? Yet here you are making assumptions that W10 adoption looks back.
But maybe you are right because back when W7 was released, the PC upgrade cycle were much shorter, there was a robust PC growth, and primary users on desktop are keen to tinker and upgrade their systems. So if you think about it, lots of factors against W10.
But who cares, the trajectory of W10 adoption is record breaking, customer feedback is very positive. With 300 million (+ ~ 1 million a day) users, your anecdotal based argument bears no significance.
He also forgot to mention that within just 10 months it has more users than all versions of Mac OS put together.
And those OS are also free, no?
performance wise windows 10 is better but … this is about looks these figures , windows 10 isnt as pretty.
I wouldn’t be talking Appl website….every new computer, device, xbox whatever will ship with 10. It really does not matter that there are a few holdouts and yes July 29 is still 81 days away..we all know of procrastinators.
Appl on the other hand has a serious problem…iphone
So why not discuss that rather than worrying about a unified core OS that will run all sorts of devices for the next 12 years. My $29 Lumia 640 runs Windows 10 so does my SP4m3 so does my Desktop and may other older Vaio. Windows 10 is the future..its WAAS “Windows as a service” ya all know cloud ready stuff.
Where is Appl with the cloud? Hmm white bout that. Take care of your side of the street.
The way I see it…Appl is stuck with old outdated tech. They are not ready for the CLOUD FIRST world.
Microsoft Windows is copying stuff from Linux, and trying to market it like Apple, with inbuilt user-telemetry feedbacks:
How you type, how you speak, what you watch, what you listen to, etc., is all getting sent back to Microsoft !
Wrong but thanks for writing useless bits
Everything I stated are facts based on evidence from Windows 10.
If you have evidence to the contrary, please provide them.
And you ate wrong because everyone’s life is going cloud based
As per your statement, “everyone’s life is going cloud based”, except Microsoft.
Android is doing better than the most popular Microsoft OS, Windows 7.
Apple iOS is doing better than OSX.
Only Microsoft’s Windows Phone/Windows RT is doing worse than any of it’s desktop OS.
Apple cloud services are atleast holding up better than Microsoft !
Hint: “Azure downtime”
Calm down there.
There is no need to throw apples here.
“But unfortunately for Microsoft, millions of others have no interest in it.” ?
Make it Billion of others.
Pretty much the entire planet uses Microsoft daily…not the same for Appl
For me, aside from the departure from an early promise of backward compatibility, the abandonment of XP was the final straw. I no longer trust MS. OH…I trust that MS likes to make more money. But if I buy a product, I expect to get full use as owner. When I RENT a product, I want to damn well know it’s temporary. So…MS is now, in my mind, temporary. Bad business decisions, bad karma, and if you read the comments, bad public opinion. I hope the bucks were worth it.
Correction, Windows 10 is NOT actually very good. It is blatant SPYWARE. It sends everything you type and click back to M$ servers, over 15,000 times a day. SOME options can be turned off but it is IMPOSSIBLE to stop W10 from phoning home at least 15,000 times every single day. Nightmare.
“Microsoft can’t even give away Windows 10”
Yep, it’s hard to give junk away.
the whole article is kinda stupid. Sure Apple users upgrade faster but bare in mind that most of them take into account only the compatible macs (because apple forces people to constantly upgrade), while windows 10 in theory works even on a 15 year old PC. 2 the install base is kinda small like 9-10 % while windows has the rest.3 Each upgrade was slow on windows. Apple used to mock them in their keynotes, remember that?