Windows 9 Could Be A Free Upgrade For XP, Vista, And Win 7 Users

[allheart55 Cindy E]

Windows 9 could be a free upgrade for users of Microsoft’s older operating systems, like Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7, according to ZDNet.

 

Users of these dated but still popular (aside from Vista) operating systems could be offered “some kind of deal” to poke and prod them toward Microsoft’s next desktop OS, a report suggests. However, it’s worth noting that Windows 8/8.1 users were not mentioned as possible recipients of this upgrade offer. They have been mentioned as possible free update recipients in the past, however.

Rumored features in Windows 9 include a new Start menu, and Metro apps that can run in windowed mode in the classic desktop UI. Though Microsoft hasn’t announced Windows 9 yet, rumors indicate that Redmond’s next big desktop OS could land sometime in Spring 2015 – with the release of a free, public beta as early as this fall.

 

Microsoft is no doubt aware that Windows 8 and 8.1 usage numbers have been very weak. For the month of July, Windows 8.1′s desktop share stood at 6.56 percent. That’s a minor drop from 6.61 percent in June, but a drop nonetheless. Meanwhile, Windows 8′s share fell from 5.93 percent in June to 5.92 percent last month, a teeny tiny decrease of 0.01 percent. Regardless of the size, it’s a trend Microsoft must be unhappy with.

Combined, Windows 8 and 8.1 occupy just 12.48 percent of the desktop OS pie as of July. That’s not much, considering that Windows XP occupies roughly double that even though it’s well over 10 years old. Then there’s Windows 7, whose share spiked in July to 51.22 percent. That’s up from 50.55 percent in June, an increase of 0.67 percent.

 

Microsoft will need to do something radical with Windows 9 to ensure that it’s adoption numbers aren’t a repeat of what the tech giant has endured with Windows 8 and 8.1.

 

 

Read more: http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/windows-9-could-be-a-free-upgrade-for-windows-xp-vista-and-windows-7-users/#ixzz3AHL6Z3ca

[Rich-M]

Well those numbers say it all. If Windows 7 got to 51% after the end of XP then it is obvious where those XP users went and that is Windows 7. Sales still show Windows 7 way outperforming Windows 8 and 8.1 sales and this has never happened before, not even with Vista or Windows Me but then I believe Windows 8 to be Windows biggest flop to date. Personally I would love to know the numbers of those remainig with XP and bet that it is still triple to the actual Windows 8 users out there.