Windows 7 powering 21% of corporate desktops; XP still at 60%

A Guy · Jun 18, 2011

By the end of March 2011, Windows 7 was powering 20.9 percent of corporate PCs, according to a new Forrester Research report, while Windows XP was on 60 percent of business PCs — down from 69 percent a year ago.

Forrester’s report, “Corporate Desktop Operating System And Browser Trends, Q2 2010 To Q2 2011″ included results from Forrester’s analysis of more than 400,000 client PCs at 2,500 companies. The June 16 report includes 12 months of data collected between the start of the second calendar quarter of 2010 through the end of the first calendar quarter of 2011.

Source

A Guy

Buddahfan · Jun 18, 2011

What are the odds that the Windows 7 share passes or doesn't pass XP's share at the time that Windows 8 is RTW?

Zen00 · Jun 18, 2011

Maccman · Jun 19, 2011

I was always happy with XP but when I went to Vista I didn't know how it worked and the same with 7. If I download things I can't find them. Bring back XP.

alphanumeric · Jun 19, 2011

I only just retired my last XP PC here at home, and I only did it because that PC finally kicked the bucket.

My guess is a lot of companies will likely wait for a technology refresh, new equipment purchase, before moving on. XP was a reliable OS for me. I can count the blue screens I got on all my PC's together on one hand. Its a great OS for an older PC. Windows 7 runs great on older PCs too, but if the PC is already stickered/licensed for XP I can't see spending extra cash for Windows 7. Just my 2 cents.

Buddahfan · Jun 19, 2011

alphanumeric said:
I only just retired my last XP PC here at home, and I only did it because that PC finally kicked the bucket. My guess is a lot of companies will likely wait for a technology refresh, new equipment purchase, before moving on. XP was a reliable OS for me. I can count the blue screens I got on all my PC's together on one hand. Its a great OS for an older PC. Windows 7 runs great on older PCs too, but if the PC is already stickered/licensed for XP I can't see spending extra cash for Windows 7. Just my 2 cents.

I liked XP a lot too, but the fact is that it along with IE8, you can't run IE9 on XP, are lot less secure than Windows 7 especially the x64 version of Window 7. Windows 7 IMO also does a lot better job at multi-computer sharing than XP.

I also loved Windows 98 SE which I thought was a lot more stable than XP for a long time.

However, computers being what they are time moves on and significant enhancements continue to be made.

The two biggest problems in upgrading from XP to Windows 7 as I see it are.

1. The hardware cost. A lot of XP based computers just can't handle Windows 7 without some serious compromises in being able to fully utilize its features. For example I was running XP on a Dell Dimension 2400. However the hardware just wouldn't cut if for Windows 7 and the cost to upgrade it assuming that I could find the hardware to do it would have been as much if not more than buying a new Dell computer with Windows 7 x64.

2. The learning curve since Windows 7 is significantly different from XP.

seekermeister · Jun 19, 2011

When you consider that a corporation's concern with computers is quite different than a typical home user, and don't care about gaming or other uses where XP might fall short, it is understandable that they don't find sufficient motivation to go to the cost and hassle of upgrading. For some things, XP equals W7.

IntelCoreI3 · Jun 19, 2011

after 8 6 yeras i use XP i can say: XP IS SUCKS!
i use windows 7 and enjoy every day.

KazeNoKoe23 · Jun 19, 2011

Maccman said:
I was always happy with XP but when I went to Vista I didn't know how it worked and the same with 7. If I download things I can't find them. Bring back XP.

Lol no.

Everything moves on. Using a 2001 operating system on modern hardware is plain backwards. XP belongs either in a virtual machine or on legacy hardware.

PwnFrnzy · Jun 20, 2011

Whats wrong with running Windows XP on today's hardware? People have different preferences, I might just put Windows XP on a 4-core sytem just for the speed and to run old programs without having to go through the "Run in compatibility mode" stuff.
Just because it is old does not mean it shouldn't be used on today's hardware.

Devux · Jun 20, 2011

PwnFrnzy said:
Whats wrong with running Windows XP on today's hardware? People have different preferences, I might just put Windows XP on a 4-core sytem just for the speed and to run old programs without having to go through the "Run in compatibility mode" stuff.
Just because it is old does not mean it shouldn't be used on today's hardware.

Well if you're talking "today's hardware" that means 64-Bit hardware, likely loaded with XP 32-Bit, you're not using your hardware to it's fullest. You can't even really make an argument for XP 64-bit because finding drivers can be a pain, and some software just doesn't work. XP is only going to be supported for three more years. Honestly its best to just get used to a new OS, and if folks are that hesitant about Windows 7, just make it look like XP.

carwiz · Jun 20, 2011

Keep in mind that those figures are for "corporate PCs". It's what drove Microsoft to offer the VM-XP free of charge. Windows 7 has already surpassed XP, in the US, for overall usage. The numbers are 32% and 30% respectively. World wide, XP still dominates and is "thought to be" about 54%. Some place the World-wide number at 31% for Windows 7 and 46% for XP. That's primarily because the numbers out of China, the largest number of PC users in the World, can't be verified with any accuracy. If you're waiting for a bandwagon, it's already here in the US.

pparks1 · Jun 20, 2011

Seems about right, Windows 7 by far is the minority at the company where I work. It's mostly Vista, as that is what OS was out when our machines were purchased. Of course, according to Microsoft we run Windows 7 on all of our desktops because we "had" an enterprise agreement allowing us to do that...but the reality is that we pretty much leave the machines alone unless they crash or have to be reloaded...and then we move them to Windows 7.

Coke Robot · Jun 21, 2011

I have a feeling about Windows 7 becoming the Xp of this decade, not because of the crappy operating system that preceded it, but more that it just satisfies consumer needs. Which honestly might not turn out great for Microsoft's future profits...

Stratos · Jun 21, 2011

You'll start to see the numbers change rapidly when official XP support has ceased, the same thing happened when Microsoft announced termination of support for Windows 2000.

Win 7 is one heck of an OS, I wouldn't be surprised to see a lot of Win 7 users when in 2018.

zEric7x · Jun 25, 2011

I dont know about business PC users but as a personal windows user I'm done with XP. its been over for me. I like alot of the features in windows 7.

Darician · Jun 25, 2011

I use Windows 7 at home and at work. Although I was given the choice of XP if I wanted, I chose 7 as XP is outdated by this point and is only going to go downhill from this point on. There are some holdouts but whenever we issues new machines, unless there is some piece of software that does not have a Windows 7 compatible version, we give them Windows 7.

johnwillyums · Jun 25, 2011

The thought that a lot of Local Government agencies, taxation offices, health organisations,vehicle licencing offices etc, are still running XP and an ancient version of IE gives me cause for concern.
These people hold confidential information on me on antiquated software.
Am I right to be concerned?

A Guy · Jun 25, 2011

Couple that with all the employees surfing dodgy sites on those PCs, and picking up who knows what. Yeah, I think businesses security is cause for concern. Look at all the big corporations, who you'd expect to have better security, who have had breaches. A Guy

carwiz · Jun 25, 2011

johnwillyums said:
The thought that a lot of Local Government agencies, taxation offices, health organisations,vehicle licencing offices etc, are still running XP and an ancient version of IE gives me cause for concern.
These people hold confidential information on me on antiquated software.
Am I right to be concerned?

LOL... A bit late to be concerned. Most every state and county in the US makes public records available online. Been that way years.

I like to Google and Bing my name about three or four times a year just to see what pops up. You'd be surprised at the info just hanging around out there.

Windows 7 powering 21% of corporate desktops; XP still at 60%

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