Windows 8 usage over twice that of Windows 7 beta

In a twitter post, Microsoft stated that

Windows 8 consumer preview usage more than twice Windows 7 beta at the same point in time. Millions of people using everyday

Source: Twitter

 

[Night Hawk]

The thing about 7 is that was a big turnaround for MS there! The popular phrase was the "OS out of the box" when just the beta alone was found to be far less buggy then all those blue screens XP users put up with! until SP3 at least where MS finally got around to addressing all of the bugs left unattended over the years!

I suspect 8 will still follow the lead MS took with 7 as far as improved security and stability as a platform while off in a new direction playing a hugh gambit in the mobile market at the cost of the desktop platform we have all grown accustomed to. Have a look at the PC World article about that.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Or just stopped using it

8 may have twice the downloads, but if you subtracted all the people that un-installed again shortly afterward, then I think you would see the big picture. Microsoft can say all they want about how many downloads have happened, its how many people that are actually still running it that counts. At least in my book it is. I think the user base is way lower compared to what windows 7 was.

Agreed (or just stopped using it).

I started using W7 from build 7048.
I probably used it ~70% of the time (vs XP).
I swapped over to build 7600 (~95% usage) about two months after it's official release.

I basically only fire up W8 to get updates (I'm actually posting this from W8DP for that reason).
Most of the time I'm using W7.

Usage:
W7 SP1 > Ubuntu 10.04 > XP SP3 > W8DP > W8CP

 

[Night Hawk]

Here I find myself booting into 7 constantly since I have been tied up with other things lately as well as waiting for the RPreivew next month to do the real compatibility testing. Betas are still beta and tend to see problems.

Typical of that would be the 64bit flavor of the FF browser WaterFox which takes about 3 or 4 times before it will take on the 64bit CP! That's with the latest release. Little things like that or "beta bugs" can get in the way at times!

 

[Mike Lonewolf]

I personally think also it has larger numbers than any previous Windows beta is because this time, unless you know what you are doing on a computer, you will be trapped in Windows 8. Remember back in 7, vista, etc. you could just go into Add/Remove and put your computer back to what O/S you had before looking/trying out the particular O/S. This time around that won't work as it had in the past, and unless you dual boot your computer(s) you have to go thru a complete reinstall and CALL IN to re-authorize your previous Windows version.

 

[z3r010]

This website now and sevenforums.com then - the differences between usage is a reliable indicator. Right now, usage is not even close to what sevenforums was.

Can we have some stats to compare?

I've just done a quick check.

Seven Forums - 23rd April 09 - 28k visitors
Eight Forums - 23rd April 12 - 7k vistors

 

[Mike Lonewolf]

This website now and sevenforums.com then - the differences between usage is a reliable indicator. Right now, usage is not even close to what sevenforums was.

Can we have some stats to compare?
I've just done a quick check.
Seven Forums - 23rd April 09 - 28k visitors
Eight Forums - 23rd April 12 - 7k vistors.

OK, as in my previous post, is this count the HIGHEST count in total for Windows 8, since the opening DP (Developers Preview) version came out? or just a one(1) day total? Taking into account of the people that have bailed after 24 hours or so of using Windows 8 (any)?

 

[z3r010]

That's just an average day.

 

[Golden]

Seven Forums - 23rd April 09 - 28k visitors
Eight Forums - 23rd April 12 - 7k vistors

Pretty comprehensive. Zero : do you have the same figure for Vista by any chance?

 

[z3r010]

Nope I was using a different system back then and those stats were lost long ago.

It will have been lots lots less than 7 & 8 though as we were just getting established back then and were on £20 per year hosting etc.

 

[DJC]

Pretty obvious difference.

I am interesting to see the traffic of eightforums, when the final version will be released.

 

[brummyfan]

This website now and sevenforums.com then - the differences between usage is a reliable indicator. Right now, usage is not even close to what sevenforums was.

Can we have some stats to compare?

I've just done a quick check.



Seven Forums - 23rd April 09 - 28k visitors
Eight Forums - 23rd April 12 - 7k vistors

This could be the result of more people were dissatisfied with Vista and was looking forward to the Windows 7 and/or more people are satisfied with Windows 7 hence not interested in a new OS.
There's also another possibility but only speculative, we could say that Windows8 have 25% of issues Win7 had at the same stage.

 

[mart4494]

Pretty obvious difference.

I am interesting to see the traffic of eightforums, when the final version will be released.

It will probably sky-rocket if you need to do a clean install of Win7 to go back. Live in hope that MS will release a 'proper' desktop Win8 version.

 

[Mike Lonewolf]

mart4494 said:

It will probably sky-rocket if you need to do a clean install of Win7 to go back. Live in hope that MS will release a 'proper' desktop Win8 version.

Metro is the NEW, and proper desktop environment, Metro isn't going to change come the release of Windows 8.

 

[mart4494]

Metro is the NEW, and proper desktop environment, Metro isn't going to change come the release of Windows 8.

I agree, I don't think it is going to change so we'll wait and see how this new and proper environment goes. It will either fly or flop - there won't be a middle ground.

 

[Chrysalis]

The volume would be even less if those of us who understand what is going on didn't bother to post.

If it was just left to the "everything MS does is perfect" brigade, then the forum would be even quieter.

There is definitely nowhere near the interest or excitement or win7 had at this stage.

Much of what (relatively) little has been posted about win8 has not been very positive.

It is a shame - there are some good things in Win8.

MS have wrecked it by forcing this metro stuff.

If they offered it as an extra feature - then they would have a much better reception.

I agree.

hyper-v and some of the other stuff is nice, but the enforced less efficient GUI changes (mainly metro) as well as some other limitations added make windows 8 a no go for me other than as a plaything on a unused pc. I wont buy an OS thats just going to be a plaything.

What should have been done is left the desktop largely unchanged and metro as an alternative interface incase someone hooks up kinect to their pc. Then metro for phones.

 

[Night Hawk]

The Metro UI from the start has been a larger "turnoff" for scores of people over those who were looking into Vista but later thought it was too big and slow for their XP machines back then. MS had made the big goober understanding the need for slightly more ram then 512mb back then! Even with XP 2gb is advised to see that older version run smoother.

The Big Bash besides 8 being a little larger and slower it seems then 7 is the Metro without choice! The other enhancements as well as improvements over 7 will likely be the strongest selling points however which would be what keeps 8 afloat!

And as z3r010 was indicating there the peak of interest in 7 was phenomenal with everyone wanting a look at the then new version coming out. With Vista's delays and eventual bad rep while still having been an improved OS found far more stable it was the new version that people wanted!

The initial tests with the 7000 builds also saw more serious interest in 7 take off! MS also realized that as well when deciding to do away with the need for a new Windows Live id and sign up to beta test requirement in order to get people to look at 8 with the introduction of the Metro UI which would have it's own reactions.

The MS theory would be "get it right out there where people can look at it as well as say see all these people are downloading 8 more then 7!". For those that will need something 8 will support but not available for 7 they will be the ones caught in the middle. If you like the look and feel of 7 but need 8 for this or that you have Metro in the face and likely will tend to see more and more simply dual boot the two rather then completely upgrade out of 7.

 

[gzt7d8]

MS Spin Misters at work!

 

[GMan]

I don't mean to single anyone out and am not at all - but many seem to be saying Microsoft said "download" -

This is the quote: "Windows 8 consumer preview usage more than twice Windows 7 beta at the same point in time."

They are saying usage and not downloads, which makes it even more towards a vivid imagination, to say it nicely.

 

[Night Hawk]

What do you do when you download any beta? Install and run it at least for a short time. When MS decided to make 8 far more widely available more people jumped on it for the obvious reasons.

The question MS avoids however is how many are still running the CP following the initial negative reaction by many?! While the experienced users will usually stick with it while in beta and soon to be RP the fussy may have simply dumped it!

Recently I was helping someone who wiped an OEM preinstall of Vista off of a laptop for the CP before he inquired about any dual boot, VM, or VHD install. He didn't have a recovery disk either but wanted the CP off and Vista back on again. Would that be one of those MS included in their count? More then likely while their idea is obviously to get interest in 8 going as well as it had been for 7!

 

[Mike Lonewolf]

Knighthawk, I know you remember as well as I that in such cases before installing 8, we back up our entire system(s). Brink even has stated that we do an outside backup of out entire systems, and even has a "How to" about it as well. It actually surprises me that people don't know PC Makers no longer gives you a Windows disc, or even a restore disc, and only a restore partition, companies such as Dell, or HP will sell you a restore disc that will bring your PC back to original factory specs, which still causes the end user to lose all the work he/she has done modifying their PC(s) to their individual tastes. Also Brink, grab the June 2012 issue of Maximum PC magazine, they updated your dual boot howto, pretty darn cool! There are also some VERY sweet things in that issue about Windows 8.