Windows 8 and 8.1 still struggle to gain PC market share

The latest numbers from research firm Net Applications show that the combined market share of Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 in the PC market are still well behind that of Windows 7 and the now support-less Windows XP.

According to their updated numbers for June 2014. Windows 7 is now installed on 50.55 percent of all PCs, up from 50.06 percent in May. Even Windows XP, which is no longer being supported by Microsoft, made a slight gain, going up from 25.27 percent in May to 25.31 percent in June.

Windows 8 by itself had a market share of 5.93 percent in June, down from 6.29 percent in May, while Windows 8.1 had 6.61 percent of the PC OS market share in June, up from 6.35 percent in May. Combined, Windows 8 and 8.1 currently claim 12.54 percent, which is actually down from 12.64 percent in May.

The numbers show that, even after nearly two years, Windows 8 and 8.1 can't even come close to the install base that Windows 7 and XP currently have. That could be a motive for Microsoft to consider offering the next major version of Windows, code named Threshold, as a free update for both Windows 7 and 8.1 owners.

Source: Net Applications