According to a leaked internal Microsoft document, the number of active Windows 11 devices has topped 400 million, which is in contrast to the figures achieved by Windows 10 at the same stage of its lifespan.
Microsoft has yet to formally comment on the number, but it follows the same trend seen in other usage statistics. Earlier this month, Statcounter figures put Windows 11 usage still some way behind Windows 10.
Supporters of Windows 11 say that the circumstances surrounding its release are considerably different from those surrounding the release of Windows 10. After the dismal Windows 8 and 8.1 versions, Microsoft’s extensive advertising and incentive for consumers to upgrade resulted in the release of Windows 10. In comparison, Windows 11 has not been as aggressively pushed on Windows 10 customers.
One of the reasons for such is that Windows 11 is simply OK, and not particularly good either. At launch, Windows 11 required updated hardware, including recent CPUs. This necessitated many users to purchase new kit. When faced with choosing between the perfectly acceptable Windows 10 or splashing the cash on new hardware for Windows 11, users shrugged, and so Windows 11 has languished.
The good news for Microsoft is that Windows 10 has just under two years left of updates before Microsoft intends to pull the plug, meaning Windows 11 has considerable ground to catch up in a constrained hardware market.
The sources for this piece include an article in TheRegister.