End of the Line for Windows 7 and 8.1
Are you planning to buy a computer in the coming weeks and hoping to get it with Windows 7 preinstalled? If so, you should know that Microsoft won't make it easy for you. According to its "end of sales" table, Microsoft has closed the curtain on Windows 7 and 8.1, meaning manufacturers can no longer offer them on their computers. While it's logical to assume that stock of PCs with previous systems still exists, Microsoft's message is clear: From now on, it's all Windows 10.
Several sources report that Windows 10's growth has almost completely stalled. Numbers show a rise of just 0.06% in October, reaching 22.59%, and notably Windows 7 gained 0.11 points, reaching 48.38% of the market. The lack of movement isn't good news for Redmond's flagship OS, but things are about to change, assuming we see a rebound in PC sales. Microsoft not only sets deadlines for support phases on its operating systems but also for their availability in the market through manufacturers like Dell, Lenovo, Toshiba, and others. October 2010 marked the end of Windows XP, a year later it was Windows Vista's turn, in 2014 came the Home Basic, Home Premium, and Ultimate versions of Windows 7, and now it's Windows 7 Professional and Windows 8.1's turn.
As always in these cases, it's essential to read the fine print. The announcement directly affects OEMs, but that doesn't mean that current copies of Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 will disappear by magic. If you manage to find a retail box of Windows 7, there's no problem using it, and the same goes for Windows 8.x. Activations will continue, as will support (January 2020 and 2023). What no longer works is I want a new computer with Windows 7, unless the seller has it on the shelf. I've been walking through several stores, and the presence of Windows 10 is overwhelming, from small netbooks with Atom processors and 2GB of RAM to true portable beasts with Core i7 chips and dreamy SSDs.
In summary, those who resist Windows 10 will have to search a bit deeper… or take that route we all know, which for obvious reasons I can't name. There are still several ways to get Windows 10 legally and for free even though Microsoft declared the end of its famous offer, though they don't extend to Windows 7 and 8.1. At the end of the day, the decision is always the user's, and the numbers speak for themselves. The fact that Windows 10 is the only option for OEMs will surely improve its market position, but that doesn't cover the technical details to be resolved, and some highly questionable internal decisions.
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