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Windows 8.1 finally overtakes XP

Cape Town - Despite a slow start, Microsoft's Windows 8.1 has finally overtaken Windows XP which is no longer supported.

According to data from StatCounter, the 8.1 OS has reached a market share of 15.99%, while XP continues its decline to 10.5%, about equal to Apple's OS X (9.6%), and down from 16.3% a year ago.

Windows 8.1 was largely flat as consumers were initially sceptical about Microsoft's removal of the 'Start' button on the software. But the operating system had a jump on its growth curve in September 2014.

However, despite overtaking XP, 8.1 lags far behind Windows 7 which has a market share of 53.1%.

In SA, 8.1 is showing strong growth with 17.04% market share, predictably second to 7 at 57.4%, but well ahead of XP at 7.04%, StatCounter data shows.

As evidence that African computer users are holding on to their machines longer, Windows XP still commands 18.96% on the continent, with 8.1 at 7.3%.

In Asia, even though the growth trajectory of 8.1 at 12.87% market share indicates that it will soon overtake XP, the latter is stable at 15.88%.

Microsoft is working to ensure its latest operating system, Windows 10, meets the needs of both PC and mobile users.

The latest OS will be launched in SA on July 29 with a new Microsoft Edge web browser.


- Follow Duncan on Twitter

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