Windows 7

For the first time in almost 2 years, Windows Vista lost some market share for the month of September. According to Stat counter , Windows Vista was at its peak in August holding 23.36% of the market share. But last month ( September ) it dropped to 22.54% . Windows 7 on the other hand climbed from 1.69% to reach a record high of 1.79%.

While these aren’t exactly huge changes is either OS’s market share, It is the first time Windows Vista has lost market share in almost 2 years. It’s also Windows 7’s biggest jump since it was first made available to the public in January 2009 and it shows that Vista users are already keen on switching to Windows 7.

The reasons for Windows 7’s rise is obviously due to the fact that the final code was made available to all volume license customers this September. The increase of its market share for the previous months can be put down to the availability of Beta’s, RC’s and also the RTM being made available to some businesses, developers and MSDN members etc…

I’d expect to see a large increase at the end of this month for Windows 7 when it is officially released on the 22nd of October (At the time of writing this article the counter to the top right of this page reads 19 Days 5 Hours till release !)The pre-order offers, upgrade schemes, and other various offers and promotions Microsoft are running will no doubt lend to this rise as well.

We see that the old war horse that is Windows XP, retaining its position as clear market leader but it is declining. Windows XP held at its peak 76.89% of the market according to stat counters data in December of 2008, just before Windows Vista was released, It now holds 68.49%.  Microsoft over all holds an impressive 93.48% of the market with Apple only holding 4.44%.

Do you think that Windows 7 will finally be able to do what Windows Vista couldn’t and knock Windows XP off the number 1 spot?

Let us know in the comments