It is no secret that Windows 8 is off to a slow start and the latest market share data from Net Applications should raise a few eyebrows in Redmond.
Windows 8 is gaining traction, but growth remains painfully slow. In April its market share went from 3.31 percent to 3.84 percent. It gained 0.53 percent last month, but back in December it gained 0.66, so we appear to be seeing a negative trend. Windows 7, on the other hand, dipped just 0.01 percent, sitting at 44.72 percent share, reports TNW.
Given the horrific state of the PC market, the numbers come as no surprise, but they paint a bleak picture for both OEMs and Microsoft. Consumers seem content with Windows 7 and there is practically no incentive to upgrade to Windows 8.
The PC market is mature and the upgrade cycle is slowing down to a snail’s pace, while consumers are choosing to spend their upgrade money on smartphones and tablets. The fact that XP still commands a massive 38.31 percent share speaks for itself.
Microsoft lost a little ground in overall OS share last month. Its market share dipped 0.11 percent to 91.78 percent, while OS X and Linux gained 0.07 and 0.04 percent respectively.
http://news.techeye.net/software/win...t-3-84-percent
Windows 8 market share at just 3.84 percent
2nd May 2013, 06:45
Windows 8 market share at just 3.84 percent 
