Windows 7 Market Share Finally Overtakes Windows XP

Windows 7 has finally surpassed Windows XP in terms of market share, according to data from Netmarketshare.

The most recent version of Microsoft’s desktop operating system leapfrogged its predecessor for the first time in August, while Mac OSX overtook the tiny share held by the unpopular Windows Vista.

Windows 7’s share increased to 42.76 percent from 42.21 percent the previous month, while Windows XP’s share decreased to 42.52 percent from 42.86 percent in July. Mac OSX 10.7 commands 2.45 percent of the market, while versions 10.6 and 10.8 hold 2.38 percent and 1.41 percent respectively.

Windows 7 market share

When combined, Mac OSX’s share is now greater than that of Windows Vista, which has 6.5 percent of the market.  Windows 7 overtake Vista in August 2010, but it has taken another two years for it to wrest top spot from XP.

Windows XP was released in 2001, but its user base has remained solid as users resist moving to newer versions of the operating system. Microsoft has been keen to encourage users to migrate to newer versions and last year announced that it was going to end its support for windows XP on 8 April 2014.

The company is also offering users of Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 the chance to upgrade to Windows 8 for £25 when the operating system is rolled out next month. Users of Windows 7 will be able to transfer their settings, files and applications however Vista users will only be able to transfer their settings and files while XP users can only bring over their files.

In addition, customers who purchase a Windows 7 computer between 2 June and 31 January next year will be eligible for a cheaper £15 upgrade, provided they do so before the 28 February.

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