Uptake Rate: Windows 8 Slips Further Behind Vista

Consumers continue to show a reluctance to upgrade their computers to Microsoft's newest operating system (OS), Windows 8. According to a new report, Windows 8's uptake rate continues to slip behind that of Windows Vista.

Analyst firm Net Applications reports that in January 2013 Windows 8's share of all Windows PCs was approximately 2.5 per cent. That represents an increase from December 2012, when Windows 8 accounted for 1.9 per cent of all Windows-based PCs.

Add Windows RT-based computers to the list and Windows 8 is bumped up to a 2.6 per cent share. (Source: computerworld.co.nz)

Unpopular Windows Vista More Popular Than Windows 8

Even still, Windows 8's share of the pie remains well behind Vista, which was released to critical derision in 2007.

After three months of availability Vista's uptake rate was 3.3 per cent -- significantly higher than Windows 8's current rate, even with Windows RT added to the mix.

That's a bad sign for Microsoft, which in the past few years has done its best to make consumers forget Vista ever existed. The company rarely mentions the operating system in press releases or public presentations.

Also problematic: Windows 8's month-by-month growth has slowed significantly. What this means is that, in January 2013, Windows 8's popularity increased at a slower rate than it did in December 2012.

This could be tied to the post-Christmas slowdown, but it could also mean that consumers are really unsure about making the leap to Microsoft's newest OS.

For the record, Windows 7's popularity after three months of availability was significantly higher than the uptake rates recorded for Windows 8 or Windows Vista. At this point Windows 7 was being run on 8.2 per cent of all Windows machines.

This means that, after three months of availability, Windows 7 was three times more popular than Windows 8 is now.

When looking at the wider market (including operating systems other than Windows), Windows 7- and Windows 8-based systems account for 44.48 per cent and 2.26 per cent of all computers tracked by Net Applications.

Windows Vista is currently being used on 5.5 per cent of those computers. (Source: pcworld.com)

Microsoft Numbers May Not Add Up

Net Applications' statistics contradict the vague numbers used by Microsoft to trumpet Windows 8's early adoption.

Earlier this year the Redmond, Washington-based firm said it had sold 60 million Windows 8 licenses -- though it remains unclear how many of those licenses are actually being used.