Windows 8 is currently powering 21 percent of PCs

Mar 5, 2015 13:59 GMT  ·  By

Windows 8 has always been a very criticized operating system that had to cope with negative reviews and complaints from millions of users across the world, so it's no wonder that its market share was actually impacted by these difficult times.

Statistics released in the last 24 months showed that Windows 8 really failed to meet expectations, despite Microsoft's efforts to make it successful, but there's at least one chart that claims otherwise.

OS data provided by w3schools.com indicates that Windows 8 has actually been underestimated and many more people are actually using this particular operating system these days.

In January 2015, no less than 21 percent of the computers accessing the website were powered by Windows 8, while Windows 7 was indeed number one with 52.8 percent. XP was installed on only 4.7 percent of these computers.

Windows 8 vs. Windows 7

Obviously, Windows 8 usage didn't skyrocket, as Microsoft expected, but at least the difference between the modern OS and Windows 7 isn't that big, as other companies were claiming.

'And why is this important?' you might ask. The reason is as simple as it could be: Microsoft needs more users on Windows 8 to make sure that Windows 10 would be successful.

Back in 2012, when Microsoft officially introduced Windows 8, the company described it as an improved version of Windows 7, saying that it had all the features of its predecessor, with a little bit extra, referring to the new Modern UI that allowed the OS to be used on tablets as well.

Microsoft sort of expected Windows 8 to experience moderate success, but the OS has turned into a key element paving the way for Windows 10.

In the upcoming Windows 10, Microsoft will keep elements that made their debut in Windows 8, including the Start screen, live tiles, and other key features, so the more users on Windows 8, the bigger the possibility of offering a familiar operating system.

Windows 10 is scheduled to go live in the second half of 2015 and Microsoft expects its market share to increase significantly by the time this happens.