Windows 10 Pro now biggest business OS in western Europe - Context
Q4 boost in Windows 10 Pro helps OS reach new milestone
Windows 10 Pro has hit an important milestone in western Europe, becoming the most popular Windows business OS in the region for the first time, according to Context.
The analyst claims that prior to Q4, the Windows 10 version which was "downgradable" to Windows 7 was the most popular, but a flurry of Windows 10 Pro - or "pure" Windows 10 - activity meant it took the lead.
In Q4, Windows 10 Pro had 38 per cent market share of all Windows business PCs sold through western Europe distribution, up from 22 per cent in Q3. On a monthly basis, the OS had 48 per cent market share, up from 37 per cent in November, and just 27 per cent in October.
This, Context said, makes it the most popular Windows business OS, as the downgradable version's share was marginally behind with 46 per cent share.
"It's the first time Windows 10 has moved to the top," said Context analyst Marie-Christine Pygott. "We're hearing from vendors and the channel that is there is a pick-up now on Windows 10 refreshes. When you look at business-targeted PCs - notebooks, desktops and workstations - we had a year-on-year growth of six per cent in Q4 in western European distribution, which is a nice, solid figure, given the state of the PC market these days. It's a really positive development. They are encouraging figures on the business side of things."
She added that the December boost may have been down to some year-end projects finishing, but it's mainly due to companies beginning to see that it now makes sense to refresh their aging systems.
Earlier this month, Microsoft Germany released a blog claiming that Windows 7 - the world's most popular OS - can no longer keep up with modern security requirements and urged users to upgrade to Windows 10. Respondents to a CRN poll on the topic dismissed Microsoft's claims, with 41 per cent of voters saying they believe Microsoft was just trying to drum up support for Windows 10 with the blog. Some 38 per cent of respondents welcomed Microsoft's blog, and the rest (21 per cent) said it's too early to worry about Windows 7's end of life, as it won't occur until 2020.
Pygott added that security issues are important to customers when considering potential OS upgrades.
"This does play a role; security issues in general play an important role," she said. "But we've also seen new products come out which are attractive in the business segment. I think there is a more natural progression to the latest operating system now."