The woes of Microsoft's ailing operating system have been well documented, but new figures published this week have shown how far the uptake of Windows 8/8.1 has lagged behind that of its more well regarded antecedent.



January marked fifteen months since the release of Windows 8, and the OS has just reached an important milestone: a 10% market share combined between both 8 and 8.1 versions. To put that in perspective, it took Windows 7 just six months to reach the same share, and in fifteen clawed its way to nearer 25%. By capturing a tenth of the market the OS has only just surpassed Windows Vista, Microsoft's other disappointing release in the post-XP era.

Data from NetMarketShare also shows that Microsoft's venerable Windows XP OS remains a significant presence in the market. Despite nearing planned obsolescence (April is the fateful date) XP still occupies a not insignificant 29.3% compared to the 10.6% of Win8 and 8.1 combined, whilst Windows 7 sits astride the pile at close to 48%. Part of that is the stubbornness of home users with squeezed budgets, and businesses with their operations working just so will tend to hang on to working configurations, but even so the figure has to be a worry.

Poor traction for its OS's is a problem that Microsoft have had to deal with for a while. As an effective software monopoly for the x86 hardware platform the chief competitor with any product will be the previous version; if the new generation's software isn't seen as up to snuff then it simply will be avoided as long as the previous is available. Combined with the downturn in system hardware sales since the recession and a more recent boom in tablet popularity (for which Microsoft didn't have a contender) the slow uptake of Windows 8 wouldn't be surprising even were it an excellent OS.

Of course, it currently isn't excellent and nor does it include killer features which aren't also available elsewhere. DirectX 11.1 has yet to prove itself as a major improvement for users, and whilst certain canned benchmarks have been shown to be more fruitful on a Windows 8 kernel other factors such as UI changes and anti-consumer practices when changing hardware have stifled demand.

With all that, is it any wonder that Valve are challenging Microsoft (even in a limited way) with SteamOS and AMD are seeking to develop alternatives/extensions to DirectX.

Perhaps that is why rumours persist of an accelerated timetable for the release of Windows Threshold (AKA Windows 9), along with its more mature Metro interface marking a better balance between the needs of desktop and tablet configurations. More should be known about the future at Microsofts BUILD conference this April.


Source: Softpedia, NetMarketShare
Source: Global Market Share of Windows 7 and 8 - Statista Chart