Windows 7 Finally Poised to Overtake XP
For better or worse, Windows XP has been the operating system that just wouldn't die. Even after the introduction of two newer versions of Windows, Windows XP has dominated the PC market.
That is set to change. According to a report from online statistics firm StatCounter, Windows 7 is poised to overtake Windows XP in market share.
Last year Windows XP held 43 percent of the market. At last count, however, Windows XP sat at 32 percent, while Windows 7 was at 30 percent.
StatCounter reported that the handoff may have occurred already; preliminary data from the first week in April showed Windows 7 with the lead by a very narrow margin. However, StatCounter was reluctant to make an official call until more data were collected.
Windows XP, originally released in 2001, was succeeded by Windows Vista, but that was widely regarded as a step backwards. The arrival of Windows 7 was much better received. On the market for well over a year, Windows 7 has seen a steady climb in market share, while Windows XP, like Windows Vista, has steadily declined.
The transition suggests people learned to trust Windows 7 after general rejection of Windows Vista among individual customers and even many businesses. It also indicates that millions of XP computers are getting too old for their owners to use. Even with updates , Windows XP is starting to show its age.
The popularity of other operating systems, such as Linux and Mac, has stayed relatively level over the past year.
