NetMarketShare Second Quarter Stats show Windows XP Growing Strong while Google Chrome in No. 2 Spot - Windows 7 Upgrade Windfall for Computer Repair Technicians

We have a looming Crisis, at least for Microsoft, in the Desktop World. The Majority of the World, including myself, still loves Windows XP.

This despite the coming end-of-support deadline as issued from Microsoft that’ll come into effect on Tuesday March 8^th 2014 as stated in “Microsoft to start nagging Windows XP users about April 8 end-of-support date”, published  March 3, 2014 -- 14:02 GMT,By Mary Jo Foley, ZDNet and “Microsoft set to pull plug on Windows XP”, published March 25, 2014, 7:51 AM By DAVE JOHNSON, CBS News.

So says the stats from NetMarketShare which indicate that Windows XP accounts for amazing 27% of all Internet Traffic. Apparently, the “love” is really stubbornness on the part of Businesses and Corporations as pointed out in “Windows XP won't die without a fight”, published March 3, 2014 7:53 AM PST by Lance Whitney, CNET News, as many have become comfortable with Windows XP and love its stability and robustness.

The cost of licensing, let alone upgrading to Windows 7 and Windows 8 is a little more than they can bear to afford right now, despite having ample warning since 2013 as stated in “Intel, HP prepare for the end of days -- Windows XP's, that is”, published December 1, 2013 12:12 PM PST, by Brooke Crothers, CNET News.

Even Banks are the same, with a whopping 95% of ATM (Automated Teller Machines) still running Windows XP as stated in “ATMs Face Deadline to Upgrade From Windows XP”, published January 16, 2014 By Nick Summers, BusinessWeek and “Does end of Windows XP support mean major security risk for ATMs?”, published April 1, 2014, 1:46 PM By SHOSHANA DAVIS, CBS NEWS.

The security risk factor is overplayed; it’s STILL the same security risk level as before, mainly the Debit and Credit Cards as stated in my blog article entitled “Who is responsible if your Credit Card or Debit Card account is hacked?”.

Interestingly too, the majority of Browsers are still running Windows Explorer. But Google Chrome has now stepped it up a notch and is now firmly in Second Place at 17.5% of global marketshare with Mozilla Firefox falling back to Third at 17.2%.

Despite the improvements in Browsers, many just can’t bother with switching from the old Browser, which is embedded in most Desktops anyway. Click on a link and it’s usually the first Browsers that pops open anyway.

This is going to be an interesting Summer of 2014 for me as a On-Call Computer Repair Technician. After support ends, a lot of machines will have to resort to getting their support from Computer Technicians or upgrading to Windows 7 or 8, depending on their Hardware.

Thus the current drought of persons calling in to have their computer’s repaired is set to end once these Windows XP Machines start having problems and are in need of Data Backup’s and Recovery of their Windows XP Systems, which many prefer due to its stability.

What a difference a Quarter makes – Customer favour Stability over the Latest Thing

This isn’t much change from the Last Quarter. Back then I’d done an article based on NetMarketShare Stats and the situation was much the same for Windows XP as stated in my blog article entitled “NetMarketShare Stats shows Windows 8.1 and Internet Explorer poised for Growth - Rising Tide of the Microsoft Surface and Windows 8.1 Tablets in Real-Time”.

To be honest, I’ve rarely encountered any Desktop Systems in Jamaica, save for a few companies that still use them. The majority of persons whose computers I repair tend to have Laptops. For them, an upgrade to Windows 7 is a no-brainer.

MSME (Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises), who are dependent on running older applications and have already settled into their swing of things, are not too keen on disrupting the Money Machine that is their businesses. To backup their data on a few machines just to install a new Windows 7 is a headache.

The cost of the License isn’t really a factor and Microsoft lowering the License per machine to US$15 as stated in my blog article entitled “Microsoft cuts cost of Windows 8 Licensing by 70% - Low cost Windows 8 Tablets coming as Microsoft is now Walking with the Enemy, Google Chrome OS” won’t change the statistics for a long time.

Windows XP Love has been Growing Strong since 2001 when it first appeared on the market. It is the longest lived of all of Microsoft’s Operating Systems until Windows 7 usurped the throne, Game of Thrones Style, back in October 2011 according to Statcounter Stats as stated in my Geezam Blog article entitled “Windows 7 trumps Windows XP for Pole Position – Windows 8 Cloudy Future”.

The Browser scene is chancing, albeit very slowly. Google Chrome has now overtake Firefox, most likely due to the popularity of Chromebooks. Chromebooks may be fuelling this statistics as they do connect to the Cloud via the Internet through a Browser as noted in my blog article entitled “Toshiba launches the US$280 Chromebook CB35-A3120 - Chrome OS’s cheaper and a sure bet against Windows 8.1 Rising Tide as Apple prepare to go to Hybrid School”.

Good to note that Google Chrome OS is nowhere to be seen on this chart, mainly because it may be indistinguishable as an OS by the NetMarketShare Analytics Engine. If so, then it implies that the Browser Stats for the Chrome Browser may indeed be a direct result of the increasing sales of chromebooks as I’ve suspected!

How to survive the Windows XP Apocalypse – Be a Good Boy Scout and Be Prepared

Many in fact, are hunkering down for the Long Night without Microsoft Support or Updates, which, trust me, you really don’t need at all as noted in “How to keep your PC secure when Microsoft ends Windows XP support”, published Feb 28, 2014 3:15 AM by Chris Hoffman, PCWorld and “Still using Windows XP? Here’s how to bunker down and survive the end of support”, published March 21, 2014 By Matt Smith, DigitalTrends.

Mainly all you need really is just a good Antivirus Program as recommended in my Geezam blog article entitled “How to remove Rootkit Virus or Hidden Folder Virus using Bootable Rescue Discs”. As Malware and Viruses are now your responsibility, the Removal of AdWare from Browsers is especially a priority as noted in my Geezam blog article entitled “Change the Default Search Engine of any Browser when Malware is on your Computer”.

Making sure you have copies of Software on hand, or at least where to download or Torrent Software as noted in my blog article entitled “UWI'splanning to increase all Tuition by 5.5% come the new Academic Year 2013-2014 -How to Download ANY Video, including Facebook Videos, Convert and Free VideoHosting Online”. Giving your computer a speed boost via my Tips and Tricks in my Geezam blog article entitled “Tips and Tricks on how to make your computer run faster” will also help when problems arise.

Finally, having a backup plan using the software and tips as explained in my Geezam blog article entitled “How to do Physical Backup using DVD and CD and a Listing of the best software Burning DVD and CD’s” and “How to Backup your Data using the a List of the Best Free Backup Solutions” . Make sure that one of those backups is a fresh copy of Windows XP Professional SP3 and also a DVD with Software Drivers and the three main Service Packs.

I suspect that Windows XP, the zenith of Windows OS, will be around for quite some time as Windows 7 and Windows 8 take some getting used to. Ditto too, Internet Explorer as an undisputed King of Browsers.