Is it finally out with the old (Windows XP) and in with the new(er) Windows 7 — especially with Windows 8 on the way? Many of you have said "no" in the past year, but new figures show that XPiration is heading out at last, more than 10 years after the operating system was released.
Windows XP ended 2011 with a 46.52 percent share of the desktop operating system market, down from just over 50 percent in September, and 57.51 percent in February 2011, according to Net Applications. (Msnbc.com is a joint venture of Microsoft and NBC Universal.)
Windows 7 had 36.99 percent of the market at the end of 2011, up from 24.09 percent last February. Windows Vista, which came in between the XP and 7 and has been perhaps the least-liked Windows OS, had 8.44 percent, down from 11.49 percent in February.
Microsoft is happy to see XP go, or keep going away. On XP's 10th anniversary, the company politely suggested Windows users make the shift by sharing an infographic called, "Standing still is falling behind," and noting on one of its blogs that "While turning 10 is often lauded, in the tech industry it means you’re falling behind. 10 years is a long time to have the same old technology."
Even the National Security Agency wants users to move on from XP. In a PDF released last April, the secretive government agency said "Both Windows 7 and Vista provide substantial security enhancements over earlier Windows workstation operating systems such as XP."
Related stories:
- IE 6 deep-sixed in Microsoft browser overhaul
- Windows 8 does what Apple doesn't
- Windows XP turns 10, still thrives
- Windows XPiration is at hand
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