Microsoft ends support for Windows 7

As per news report, Microsoft has stopped providing support for its nine year old operating system, Windows 7, for laptop and desktop PCs. The company has also stopped its security support, leaving users exposed to cybersecurity risks. Microsoft has urged Windows 7 users to upgrade to Windows 10.

As per GlobalData, this move of the company will provide a huge push to Asia’s PC business as 35% of the enterprise PCs in Asia are still running on Windows 7. Businesses which are still holding on to Windows 7 will have to either upgrade their licenses to Windows 10 Pro or Windows 10 Enterprise via Volume Licensing for existing PCs, or to buy new PCs altogether.

The report also reveals that in Asia the market for new PCs in Asia was worth $39.4 billion in 2019 and India accounted for around 20% for it.

Global Data pegs Windows 10 current market share in Asia at around 60%. Globally, market share of Windows 10 was 47.65%, while Windows 7 was 32.74%, as on December 2019, as per Netmarketshare.

In India, to save cost SMBs are still using old operating systems and PCs. A study by TechAisle which was commissioned by Microsoft reveal that 43% SMBs in India still own PCs that are more than four years old and are running older operating systems. According to the report, old PCs are 3.8 times more likely to need repairs, resulting in 132 hours of productive time lost.

Though Windows 7 was succeeded by Windows 8 and 8.1 but they never got the same response due to the drastic changes in the UI to make the new OS user friendly for touchscreen based 2-in-1 laptops. The initial absence of Start Menu also drew lot of flak.