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Windows 10 Set to Overtake Windows 7 in Number of Users

By Simon Batt
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If you kept tabs on Windows 10 around the time of its release, you may have seen the news articles regarding the slow rate of people adopting the operating system. In debates over which operating system was the best to use, people would point out that the vast majority of Windows users were sticking to their guns and using Windows 7 over 10. These days, however, it’s not so black and white, as Windows 10 is about to overtake Windows 7 in number of users.

What the Numbers Say

The most notable shift in numbers happened in October. Computerworld reports an eight-tenths of a percent increase in Windows 10 users, while Windows 7 lost 1.6% of its users. This puts Windows 10 at 43.9% of the total Windows-based computers, and Windows 7 at 45.1%. It’s expected that Windows 10 will finally surpass Windows 7 by the end of the year.

Why the Shift?

With Windows 10 about to surpass Windows 7 in number of users, it’s good to ask why this is happening. How did an operating system with a tiny market share finally get near the point of topping one of the better Windows systems of all time?

Microsoft Pushing Windows 10 Since Release

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Sometimes the simplest explanations are the best. Part of the reason for this shift is due to how Microsoft stuck to its guns with Windows 10. Since its release Microsoft has always pushed Windows 10 to not only be the main option, but the only option. If you wanted a new PC after Windows 10 was released, the main vendors were all selling Windows 10 as the OS of choice.

Due to Microsoft’s diligence, it’s only natural to see the numbers shift towards Windows 10. As Windows 7 machines slowly die off and people replace them with PCs pre-loaded with Windows 10, the shift is inevitable.

The Support Time Bomb Is Ticking

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When Microsoft releases a new version of Windows, it starts a support countdown for the previous version. Once this time frame expires, Microsoft officially drops support for that operating system. This isn’t done all in one chunk – Microsoft typically takes slow steps away over a few years, supporting less and less on each step. On the final step, Microsoft cuts off all support, including Windows Updates. At this stage it’s very dangerous to use the operating system, as Microsoft won’t fix any security breaches that occur from then on.

For Windows 7 that final date is January 14th, 2020. Just over a year away at the time of writing! Users and businesses that want their systems to be kept secure from threats will want to make the jump, and soon.

Public Opinion Is Shifting

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A few years ago, if you declared you were a Windows 10 user online, people jeered about privacy issues and called the system “official malware.” These days, however, the public opinion is shifting. As Windows 10 receives updates and tweaks to better suit the public, more and more users are converting to Windows 10’s ways. These days when users ask the question, “Is Windows 7 better than Windows 10?” the answers are often a resounding “no.” Not only that, but they’ll also claim that 10 has become better than 7 in almost every way.

When One Window Closes, Another One Opens

Windows 7 is on the decline, and Windows 10 is hot on its heels to become the most used Windows operating system in the world. This is partly due to the natural progression towards 10 as Windows 7 becomes harder to find, but there are also social and technical reasons for the shift.

If you loved Windows 7 and hated Windows 10, has your opinion shifted? Or does Windows 10 still live in 7’s shadow? Let us know below in the comments.

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Simon Batt Avatar
Simon Batt
Simon Batt is a Computer Science graduate with a passion for cybersecurity.

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