NetMarketShare recently released the October statistics for operating systems, and it seems that Windows 8 is on its way to passing XP in total number of users. Of Windows 8.1 alone, the market share has leapt from 6.7% last September to 10.9% October. Combine that with the 5.88% of Windows 8 users who haven't downloaded the 8.1 update, which brings the total up to 16.8%. With only a 0.38% difference between Windows 8/8.1 users and XP users, it's certainly safe to say that the current version of Windows will soon overtake it. Though of course Windows 7 still has a massive share of the market at 53.05%.
Windows 8 was met with a fairly dismayed response when it was released to the general public on October 26, 2012. While 8.1 fixed many of the complains that users had with the operating system, the overall feeling that Microsoft was catering too much to the mobile market still remained. This has resulted in many Windows 7 users deciding to keep their old operating system for the time being.
Luckily for those who held off on upgrading, Microsoft has scheduled Windows 10 for a late 2015 release. This version promises a move away from solely focusing on the touch screen market, providing an option for those who prefer the old look and feel of Windows.
