One step closer to the end for Windows XP

Posted on 22 Oct 2010 at 17:50

As of today, PC manufacturers are no longer allowed to preload Windows XP on their systems, bringing the operating system one step closer to retirement.

For some time now, netbooks have been the only machines system builders could install new copies of XP on, but Windows 7 is fast becoming the standard operating system for the ultra-small laptops with the cut-down Starter Edition. The American software giant has now seen fit to call time on its OS, which is over nine years old.

This new limitation won’t kill off XP completely however. Downgrades from newer versions of Windows are still allowed, and will be supported until 2015. Support has been limited to monthly security updates for some time now, but XP is still the most widely-used operating system in the world. Businesses that rely on XP-only software also show no signs of upgrading in the near future.

Coincidentally, today also marks the one-year anniversary of the launch of Windows 7. In that time, Microsoft claims to have sold 240 million licenses worldwide. While this might make it the fastest-selling operating system ever, its 17 per cent global market share still has a long way to go to match Windows XP, which currently has 51 per cent.

Author: Tom Morgan

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User comments

Tom

17% of the global market in one year? That's hardly a long way to go to beat XP. If its market share doubles in the next year, that's 34% - putting it almost neck and neck with XP (providing XP loses 17%)... Not such a long way to go is it???????????

By rjd83 on 25 Oct 2010