Introducing_Windows_10_for_IT_Professionals_Preview_Edition.pngMicrosoft has shared on the official Windows blog a post from Terry Myerson to the effect that Windows 10 is “Off to the Hottest Start in History.” Myerson, Executive VP of Microsoft’s Windows and Devices Group, states that: “In just a few short months, it’s been incredible to see more than 110 million devices already running Windows 10.” Should we take him at his word? And should we be cheering?

Myerson didn’t share whether that 110 million figure represented downloads of the new OS or actual installs, but most commentary concludes that he was actually quoting the number of Windows 10 activations to date. That means that the actual number could be higher. If nothing else, it looks like Microsoft’s free upgrade plan for Windows 10 has been a roaring success. In July, pundits were talking of 10 million Windows 10 users (me among them). In August, Computerworld suggested that 45 million users were running Windows 10. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to see how fast user numbers have built since then. Plus, Myerson said that 8 million business machines were now running Windows 10, which suggests that almost all of the growth has been from individual users.

Myerson also stated that “developers are seeing the benefits – with developer revenue per download increasing four times since Windows 10 launched. This early activity is attracting new universal Windows apps to Windows 10.” If so, that could be something to cheer about, with more ereaders and other apps written that will run on Windows mobile devices as well as their desktop siblings. Myerson lists a few, including Facebook, Shazam, etc. – though no Kindle.

In 2011 Windows shared reported estimates that 1.25 billion users worldwide were running Windows PCs. Windows 10 has already garnered about 10 percent of that number. Microsoft looks finally to have hit a home run with an OS release – and given a lot of users a free leg-up in the process.

2 COMMENTS

  1. It’s activations that are being counted, which is the most accurate number you’re going to get for the number of in use installations. Like all such statistics, it’s not perfect (for instance, it’s likely some have installed and activated, didn’t like what they saw, and reverted back to whatever they were running previously).

    There were 75 million activations (in total) reported in August, not 45.

    Of course we should cheer. Unless you’re an unreasonable Microsoft hater, this is only good news, even if you prefer other platforms. Competition, especially strong competition, is good for everybody.

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