The percentage of PC users running Windows 8.1 doubled in a month’s time, according to the latest October data compiled by metrics firm Net Applications.
The Windows 8.1 OS rose from 0.87% market share to 1.72%, for a 0.85% gain. The trend is expected to continue in November and beyond as Microsoft herds its customers away from its previous operating systems and towards 8.1.
Windows 8 fell 0.49 percentage points (from 8.02 percent to 7.49 percent), its first loss ever.
At the same time, Windows 7 grabbed 0.03 percentage points (from 46.39 percent to 46.42 percent). Last month, Windows 7 gained more share than Windows 8 for the first time, but in October it remained flat.
Notably, Windows XP dropped only slightly, from 31.42% to 31.24%–not a very big fall, considering Microsoft wants to move everyone off that OS before it cuts off all support for it in a few months.
Linux dropped from 1.65% market share to 1.61%, remaining a well kept secret as ever–or well avoided bogey, depending on your perspective.
We expect Windows 8.1’s share to be much higher next month.
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