Uptake of Windows 8 has dropped as Microsoft customers opt for the soon-to-expire Windows 7 instead, according to new figures.
Redmond’s Windows 8 and 8.1 operating systems usage fell for the second month in a row, from 12.64% of the global OS market in May to 12.54% in June to 12.48% in July.
Meanwhile Windows 7 usage has increased more than 1% since May to account for 51.22% of all desktop and notebook operating systems.
This is despite Microsoft planning to end support for Windows 7 in January 2015 – less than a year after it stopped providing security updates and patches for the 13-year-old OS Windows XP.
XP still accounted for nearly a quarter of all operating systems in July, a drop of less than 1% since May.
Both Windows 8 and 8.1 dropped individually between June and July, from 5.93% to 5.92% and from 6.61% to 6.56% respectively.
However, Redmond has told CBR it is sure that users will make the jump to Windows 8 and 8.1 as it kills off 7, though 8 has received criticism for being hard to use.
A spokesman previously said: "We are very confident that customers see the value of upgrading. Windows 8.1 is the operating system for modern business.
"It builds on Windows 7 fundamentals like increased speed, reliability and security, while creating a modern platform designed for a new generation of hardware experiences – from tablets and innovative touch devices to traditional desktops and laptops.
"Windows 8.1 is great for businesses because it is designed to deliver the experiences people will want and provide businesses with the enterprise-grade capabilities they need."
It added that users still running XP risk losing personal and business data to viruses, spyware and other malicious software.
