Windows 10’s adoption and growth rate in Africa is but at a very slow rate. It sits at only 26% among Windows desktop versions in Africa.
It has been more than two years since Microsoft released Windows 10 officially. One would expect that by now its market share usage will be higher than previous Windows versions. That hasn’t been the case. Data from StatCounter shows Windows 7 still has a very high market share in Africa. At 51.54% of all windows desktop versions this is pretty staggering. Considering mainstream support for Windows 7 SP1 ended in January 2015. Of course security fixes are still available to Windows 7 SP1 users till January 2020 under the free extended support.
Windows 10 has a market share of 26.14 percent of Windows desktop versions in Africa. Followed by Windows 8.1 at 10.44 percent of the market share. Windows vista apparently still has some very loyal users as well. I personally find only 26.14 5 market users interesting because Windows 10 was a free upgrade. The high cost of buying an operating system or an upgrade has been a problem for most users. Most will resort to using a downloaded pirated copy instead which exposes the user to cyber threats. So there are instances that I’ve seen or heard of about 10 people doing an upgrade from a single download.
This will be typical in any area of Africa, where a friend goes like my disk/PC crashed do have any OS? Or a computer technician “buys” one license and uses only that for all the PC upgrades he/she is called to do. I think the high cost of Data charges will deter some people from upgrading unless they are connected to free Wi-Fi huh?
How does the Windows desktop versions market share compare across Africa?
The statistics above show the market share for users in Kenya, Ghana, South Africa and Nigeria. It shows growth adoption for Windows 10 in these countries but a bit of indecisive hesitation around April 2017 in Ghana lol. Maybe The creators update didn’t seem to go well and most of them downgraded to 7? Windows XP is the fourth widely used version with a 5% and 2.99% user rate in Kenya and South Africa respectively. Windows 8.1 devices are at an incredibly 13.22% of user shares in Ghana. Forced Windows 10 automatic updates didn’t get to them, obviously PC’s used offline often?
What will Microsoft have to do to get more people in Africa to upgrade their PC’s to Windows 10. I haven’t mentioned anything on what version of Windows 10 the upgraded devices are running. On the 17th of October, the Fall creators update arrives to Windows users. This update arrives with more fixes and some impressive features. This will be a good opportunity for Microsoft offices around the continent to push for more upgrades. If Microsoft wants to get to a billion Windows 10 devices in the planned 3rd year this will be how to do it. I know Microsoft has said this isn’t going to happen with the adoption rate slowing down.
What do you think about these adoption rates? Are you still holding out on upgrading? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, the next update to Microsoft’s Windows 10 OS will be available 17th October.
Microsoft will be rolling out the fourth update to Windows 10 with the Fall Creators Update on 17th October 2017. The update is feature rich than the previously rolled out Creators update in April this year. Microsoft Windows and Devices Group Chief Terry Myerson says “We are coming up on our fourth major update to Windows 10, and our mission with these updates is to create a platform that inspires your creativity”.
“our mission with these updates is to create a platform that inspires your creativity“
We learn’t from Build this year some features coming in the Fall creators Update. These include; better Windows Inking capabilities, a new outlook and feel of the OS with Microsoft fluent design system. Story re-mix app. Changes coming in the video and photo’s app. Windows Mixed Reality and the availability of a variety of headsets that will also start shipping on October 17th.
If you are signed up for the Windows Insider preview program, then chances are you’ve been using these features for a while.
Windows 10 is two years. Hip hip hurray! It has been two incredible years since the official launch of Windows 10. How has it been received and what’s the way forward?
Microsoft windows consumers didn’t take too well to a disruptive Operating system in Windows 8. The aftermath showed the world was just not ready for a touch first era, even though mobile(touch) devices had been on the rise. I remember windows 8’s reception was like Windows Vista all over again and Microsoft had to act very fast. What was wrong? PC keyboard and mouse users thought it wasn’t user friendly. Maybe Windows 8.1 did some good but consumers of the product weren’t impressed thus far.
Microsoft then introduced the Windows Insider program. Program was to allow signees test in advance early builds of the OS and provide an input. I think it was a very brave move, getting users involved in building process. Taking feedback from diverse users of various functionalities and shaping up an operating system that works like they want. We’ll most times Microsoft introduces the feature and we tell them what we think. Other times we tell them what we want in and they try and come up with it.
Windows 10 was officially announced on September 30th 2014 and released on the 29th July 2015. Just 24 hours after availability it had been upgraded on 14 million devices. The number increased to 75 million upgrades by the end of July 2015. That maybe encouraged Microsoft to want to see it running on over 1 billion devices before or by 2018. We’ll that hasn’t been the case and Microsoft have had to say that isn’t going to happen.
By October 9th 2015 there were 110 million Windows 10 users with 1 billion visitors to the Windows 10 app store. Microsoft also recorded the highest user engagement with over 11 billion hours on Windows 10 in December 2015. In November 2015 the fist major update to Windows 10 was available.
Windows 10 is two years what now?
Fast forward a year after, the Anniversary Update was out and looking very impressive. It wasn’t feature rich but included a lot of bug and under the hood fixes. At Build 2016 we were told Windows 10 was running on 300 million active devices. By Build developer conference 2017, 500 million monthly active users. Windows 10 currently has a market share of about 37% and Windows 7 still holds over 40%. Microsoft tried to force help consumers upgrade, by automatically triggering it. Those who saw this and raised the alarm cried foul and Microsoft stopped in their tracks.
Looking at its adoption rate i believe we will have about 600 million active/ monthly active devices by the release of the Fall Creators Update 2017. The Fall creators update will see more features included with lots of tweaks as mentioned at the May Event. There’s going to be a wowing look with the introduction of Microsoft’s fluent design.
The consumer focus hasn’t been all personal and home users. The business community have been well catered for, you know them with this extra security stuff, lol. Well Windows 10 has been built to be the most secured Windows yet. There’s even an insider program for IT administrators and professionals. With their feedbacks Microsoft has made it possible for IT admin to delay, schedule and plan roll outs.
Windows 10 is two years, Way forward?
It’s been great seeing there are over a billion Windows Insiders now helping build the best Windows yet. Insiders even want more build and quicker to try out. Windows 10 cuts across a range of platforms not only PC. From Xbox, Mobile, Mixed reality, IoT and more. Microsoft still courts developers and hopes Windows will be the best platform for all developers. The confusion of Universal Windows Platform and one core seems to be fizzling as Microsoft try’s to make it’s plans clear to developers. Hopefully the app gap isn’t an issue anymore.
Windows 10 is two years and the dream to build an operating systems for the new generation still holds. Building an OS that is a more human way, as in the video will be a challenge. Mostly because as you plan for a new generation the old still exists and transitioning both isn’t that easy. But strides are being made each day in that direction. An example is what happened when there was a rumor about the end of Microsoft Paint. Paint 3D is a more feature rich version of its old compatriot but the world still has a soft spot for old paint.
I’m sure there’ll be more to this story as we move along. It sure will get better and better because folks like you are helping build it. What has been your experience so far with Windows 10, share with us.?
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Microsoft South Africa brought together a number of invited guest to the Artjamming gallery where they talked about technology, art and creativity.
The event was to share with participant new features released in the Windows 10 Creators Update. Microsoft released Windows 10 Creators Update to the public on April 11th this year. The update is still trickling in so you might not have gotten the update yet. Or you probably have received the notification to update. We shared on how to get the update if you want it now.
Here’s a gist of what was shared with the guests.
Our mission is to empower every person and every organisation to achieve more. Part of that is delivering ongoing innovations in Windows 10.
Windows 10 is for everyone. We believe every idea can make an impact and we want Windows 10 to be the place you love to create and play.
Windows 10 Creators Update inspires new ways to build, create, learn, play and transform your ideas.
Participants also learnt about security in Windows 10 with how Windows defender keeps your PC safe from viruses and malwares. Mixed reality wasn’t left out of the topics.
Read our post on the new features in the Windows 10 Creators update to know more.
Later guests got their creative groove on as they took the challenge of painting some art work.
Day 3 Keynote is here! Watch and follow Microsoft’s Developer Conference Build 2017 live.
Day 1 was Amazing. Intelligent clouds and AI were everywhere in all conversations. Day 2 blew people off their minds with some interesting features and announcements.
Today will feature a lot of technical deep dive sessions. There’ll be an online keynote event with John Shewchuk and Steven Guggenheimer. Event 06:40 PT. Time variation will mean 1330 GMT, 1430 WAT if you are in Lagos, 1630 EAT if you are in Nairobi and
1503 SAST if you are in Johannesburg.
Join us and follow for todays event. We’ll have announcements and more on the page.
