Windows 7 overtakes XP - finally

[cluberti]

What do you mean "XP dies on April 8, 2014"? Is Microsoft going to make all Windows XP computers spontaneously combust then? Or are they going to steal every single one out of the homes of millions?

No, he means businesses and organizations that rely on Microsoft support and patches will either have to pay (quite handsomely) for the privilege of continuing to receive security updates, or they'll have to upgrade to continue receiving support and patches for their client OSes. Smaller orgs might be OK running XP for awhile after that, but the larger the business the more risk that is - businesses are risk-averse, and they can't do it all themselves. Running a supported OS version is actually important. Home users in general will mostly be on Vista or Win7 (or even Win8) at that point anyway, and the diehard stragglers will become a lot like the Win98 and Win2K crowds are right now - small, vocal, but ultimately unimportant to the computing world at large.

And, you might not want to hear this, but it's true: XP is the best selling Microsoft os. 7 doesn't even come close.

Really? Windows 7 was the fastest selling Microsoft OS of all time, and in 2 years has likely sold almost more than half as many XP licenses as XP has sold in 12 years, and that trend goes upwards. Taking into account there was virtually no sales competition from Vista from 2006 - 2009, you're comparing 2 years to almost 12 - Windows 7 is, in fact, the best selling Microsoft OS if we look at reality. Also, excluding China and parts of the far east of Asia (where piracy is rampant), Win7 is now in use on more internet-connected PCs than XP (or will overtake by years' end). By all measurable accounts, 7 *is* selling and being used more than XP, in far shorter timeframes. Really that is no slap against XP either, as (as of service pack 2, anyway) it was a great OS, but Windows 7 does have more features, runs better on today's hardware, and will be supported by the vendor longer into the future (until 2019, to be exact). It's more secure, better to develop for, and has far more options for manageability by IT departments to boot - it actually does help pay for itself when purchased and used en masse in corporate settings (which is where the real long-term money is, something Apple will find out soon enough); that means that, long term, the OS to beat is Windows 7, not XP.

Microsoft is now the number 2 computer company. Steve Zuckerburg called Microsoft "the underdog". Apple beat them, which means the apocalypse Failure de Grande.

If you're going by market cap, yes - Apple is bigger than Microsoft. If you're going by installed base, actual cash on hand, research and development spending, or projected sales, that's still Microsoft and will be for quite some time. "Windows 8" may still be a commercial success (hard to tell from a developer preview, let's be honest), and Microsoft *must* get into the portable device market with a full-blown OS. Even if they don't corner the market until "Windows 9", they will still do so. Without i-devices, Apple's profits are quite small; the lion's share of Apple's cash flow and mindshare are iPhones, iPads, and to a (much) lesser extent, iPods. Microsoft wants to compete there, and it's highly likely they will (which software vendor can get hardware vendors to bend to it's desires? Hint, it's not Apple).

Windows 8 is the child of Windows Phone 7 and Windows Vista. Here's a fact for you: Microsoft is repeating itself. Here's how: Windows Longhorn -> Windows Vista -> Windows Server 2008 -> Windows 7 -> Windows 8. These systems ALL use the same code.

Windows 8 is the child of a design mantra at Microsoft (Metro), which the XBox360, Windows Phone, and now the client OS are following. WinPhone is still based on WinCE, and the 360 is a custom OS that resembles Windows in that it uses DirectX and can be designed for using Visual Studio, but not much more. So while they all have similar design mantras, they're not even really siblings at this point - more distant cousins released by the same family tree. As to the same code, Vista is built from 2003, not XP, and Longhorn was rebooted at least once (to switch from XP to the 2003 codebase, and rewrite the driver model). The code is pretty vastly different between all 3, especially with the minwin design goals - just because the Win32 API doesn't change much between Vista and 7 doesn't mean they're the same code - that's the beauty behind Win32 in the first place .

 

[KazeNoKoe23]

What do you mean "XP dies on April 8, 2014"? Is Microsoft going to make all Windows XP computers spontaneously combust then? Or are they going to steal every single one out of the homes of millions?

XP will no longer be supported in any capacity after that date. That's what I mean by XP dies. If someone wants to use what will at that time be a 12 1/2 year old, unsupported operating system, then that's the risk they have to take, although to do so would be downright asinine. It would be the equivalent of using Windows 98 today.

And, you might not want to hear this, but it's true: XP is the best selling Microsoft os. 7 doesn't even come close.

And? XP has been out since 2001. Of course it will be the best selling Microsoft OS. It was also commercially available a lot longer than any Microsoft OS prior to or following it, although total sales are now irrelevant as Windows 7 has taken XP's crown in worldwide market share in only 2 years.

Microsoft is now the number 2 computer company.

Microsoft is much, much more than a computer company.

Steve Zuckerburg called Microsoft "the underdog". Apple beat them, which means the apocalypse Failure de Grande.

Beat them in what, having more money? Cool.

Let me know when Mac OS X is installed on 90% of the world's computers though.

Windows 8 is the child of Windows Phone 7 and Windows Vista.

Windows 8 is a progression of Windows 7. If you're saying it's the child of Windows Phone 7 because of Metro, it's an unfinished product that hasn't even entered the beta cycle yet. Windows Vista was 2 generations prior. That's like saying Windows XP is the child of Windows NT4. :sarc:

Here's a fact for you: Microsoft is repeating itself. Here's how: Windows Longhorn -> Windows Vista -> Windows Server 2008 -> Windows 7 -> Windows 8. These systems ALL use the same code.

Microsoft is repeating itself? Well if Windows 8 is anywhere near as successful as Windows 7, then that's a good thing.

Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 share the same kernel. It's not a progression. Same with Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2.

Oh, and Windows Longhorn was based off Windows XP SP2 (beta), which is why it flopped. Vista was born from Windows Server 2003's codebase.

 

[Maguscreed]

The likelihood of MAC OS ever surpassing windows is almost non existent. I would expect linux distros to do so first.

I have no doubt apple makes tons of money they drastically overcharge for their products.

 

[galaxys]

Windows 7 is definately on top!

 

[echrada]

Windows 7 is definately on top!

I agree!

 

[msongs]

apple makes its money selling phones, not computers

computers are just a side line these days.

 

[Maguscreed]

computers are just a side line these days.

If you are refering to all those devices with the tiny little screens that are supposedly going to replace computers... no thanks, I like my galaxy but I would never for a heartbeat use it over my computer. It's just a convenience when I'm on the move.

 

[Layback Bear]

Correct Apple is in the phone business. I think they still do the computer is because Microsoft dropped a few million in their stock a while back to keep them in the computer/operating system business just trying to stop a monopoly law suite.
Here is a good little chart I found.

Usage share of operating systems - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[serpentracer]

computers are just a side line these days.

If you are refering to all those devices with the tiny little screens that are supposedly going to replace computers... no thanks, I like my galaxy but I would never for a heartbeat use it over my computer. It's just a convenience when I'm on the move.

no kidding. even a laptop is a stretch for a real computer for the most part still. make them smaller all you want, I'm not interested in something so tiny.

 

[cluberti]

That's your position, and I'm ok with it - but as someone who travels and works on a laptop for a living, I am *loving* my recent change to using a tablet with a dock instead. It's a laptop in specs (11.6" screen size is perfectly fine), but runs full blown Windows and does dock with a keyboard/mouse if needed. I went from about 12-14lbs in my bag regularly to 4... All hail our new mobile device overlords!

 

[Maguscreed]

That's fine as well. I personally prefer to have a keyboard at hand, and still carry a laptop with me when events require it of me.
I guess my overall point is, all the devices have their use and their market.
I honestly don't see any of them ever actually replacing any other.

 

[cluberti]

I do agree with that for sure. I wouldn't necessarily want to develop on the tablet, or even a laptop for that matter (I might test on it if I ever write any metro apps for Win8, of course). Desktops are far better for that, although for most other things I'm not sure a desktop is really all that preferable anymore. I'm sure I'm just oblivious to certain uses (CAD, high-end graphic design, etc, of course), but for most computing uses a smaller, less-powerful portable device is just as good as a desktop.

 

[MadSupra354]

I'm quite surprised this has happened. I thought no one would care. Seems like peoples computers just burnt out and needed a new one
I'm still happy to see people finally up-to-date.

 

[EarlGrayHot]

NO it isn't like saying I won't buy a car because I don't want to set up the radio. I mispoke in that there are other ways to sort files but none will do what I want and could do previously with Vista. I want to sort files according to what I work on the most and not any other way and that is not the same as most recently used. Our tech department tells me a lot of other people don't like this restriction.

 

[CreepinJesus]

The likelihood of MAC OS ever surpassing windows is almost non existent. I would expect linux distros to do so first.

Really...?

 

[Max Peck]

I'm simple so I will keep it simple; 2 and 2 = 4. Linux can't give away as many operating system as Microsoft sells for big bucks to me tells it all.

Personally my view is the same with software as with anything else. Generally speaking you get what you pay for. I don't feel like any installation of Windows I've owned was a bad value for the money (and I pay for ALL my licenses).

I've been developing software for over 35 years. A novice I am not.

I've played with several Linux distros. They are laughable. Pure crap when compared with a professional system like Windows. I've looked at 2 or 3 recently and it's like going back 20 years in time. Let the Linux users flame away - you know it's true. (Incidentally, my comment doesn't refer to Linux servers - I have little knowledge of that. I'm referring to desktop Linux).

I don't generally participate in these Linux vs. Windows arguments because they get so "high school". However that's my opinion of it. Commercial software will NEVER be upstaged by "free" software because no one can make a living developing it.

My 2-cents.

-Max

 

[indianacarnie]

Opening myself to the flamers too I guess. I've tried only two distro's of Linux. I doubt very seriously if I'll try anymore just a huge waste of my time. Way too user unfriendly imho. Trying to install drivers for a third party Toshiba wifi card was a total nightmare. With windows..... a breeze. As long as Microsoft keeps it as easy as that for us "dummies" they will always have the lion's share of the O.S. business.

 

[legacy7955]

Opening myself to the flamers too I guess. I've tried only two distro's of Linux. I doubt very seriously if I'll try anymore just a huge waste of my time. Way too user unfriendly imho. Trying to install drivers for a third party Toshiba wifi card was a total nightmare. With windows..... a breeze. As long as Microsoft keeps it as easy as that for us "dummies" they will always have the lion's share of the O.S. business.

I know I'm gunna get flamed for this ...but try Linux Mint.

I think you'll like it .:busted:

I have Linux Puppy running on an couple of older PCs with P4 and it is blazing fast.

 

[Maguscreed]

As to the whole linux/windows thing.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, if that is true this image may be worth OVER 9000!!!!

 

[KazeNoKoe23]

As to the whole linux/windows thing.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, if that is true this image may be worth OVER 9000!!!!

:roflmao: How true is this???