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Microsoft Says 700M Devices Now Run Windows 10 (techcrunch.com)

Posted by msmash on from the aggressive-expansion dept.

Over 700 million devices run Windows 10, Microsoft announced on Monday at its Build developer conference. From a report: Almost exactly a year ago, that number stood at 500 million. In addition, the company also today noted that Office 365 now has 135 million monthly active commercial users, up from 120 million last October. Back in 2015, when Windows 10 launched, Microsoft's original goal was to hit a billion devices by 2018. It quickly became clear that this was a bit too optimistic. While Windows 10 usage clearly continues to grow at a decent speed, we're not likely to see it hit a billion users soon. In a wide-ranging interview with news outlet The Verge, Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella discusses the future of Microsoft. (He gave an interview to CNBC as well.) Onstage at Build, Nadella said "privacy is a human right."

56 of 120 comments (clear)

  1. Sure sure sure by cellocgw · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Like we had a choice.
    Certainly no choice on our business machines.
    Certainly no choice on the machines all our nontechie relatives bought.

    --
    https://app.box.com/WitthoftResume Code: https://github.com/cellocgw
    1. Re:Sure sure sure by tepples · · Score: 3, Insightful

      What applications do these "nontechie relatives" use that has no replacement on macOS?

    2. Re:Sure sure sure by DogDude · · Score: 1

      Our business still runs Windows 7. My personal machines still run Windows 7. Why do you say that you don't have a choice?

      --
      I don't respond to AC's.
    3. Re:Sure sure sure by Z00L00K · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I wonder what GDPR will do to the "telemetry" of Windows 10. EU citizens will have the right to know at May 25th. And no EULA can evade that.

      --
      If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker would destroy civilization.
    4. Re:Sure sure sure by I4ko · · Score: 1

      The link covers only the cloud services that MS offers. Unfortunately nothing relevant to windows 10.

    5. Re:Sure sure sure by cascadingstylesheet · · Score: 1

      Our business still runs Windows 7. My personal machines still run Windows 7. Why do you say that you don't have a choice?

      Perhaps after two years, some machines aged and needed to be replaced.

    6. Re:Sure sure sure by DarkRookie · · Score: 1

      Win 10 barely runs on those.

      --
      The millennial that doesn't like most of the stuff designed for millennials.
    7. Re:Sure sure sure by jellomizer · · Score: 2

      There are choices, Linux for business and Apple for home use. (They can be swapped too)

      But more to the issue, Microsoft is competing against itself. Having to convince people to get off their old versions and use the new versions, before the old versions get too old, and allowing the customers to look at other options, because either way it would be a hard upgrade.

      It is often like when Apple shows its iPhone sales. The people who stitch from Android to iOS or iOS to Android is more or less a wash. But apples success in a product are how many people upgrade their old phones to the new ones, and net new phone buyers.

      Now if Microsoft sees people not upgrading to Windows 10 and staying on Windows 7 or older. Then they may be having a problem with the product. Like they had with Windows Even Version. Where people didn't upgrade and stayed on the old version, forcing MS to put more effort into the next version to make it better and less on new shiny features.

         

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    8. Re:Sure sure sure by DogDude · · Score: 1

      I don't know. I'm guessing because some people weren't quite smart enough to avoid the upgrade, if they wanted to?

      --
      I don't respond to AC's.
    9. Re:Sure sure sure by DogDude · · Score: 1

      I'm in charge of about 30 Windows 7 machines. I never saw that.

      --
      I don't respond to AC's.
    10. Re:Sure sure sure by DogDude · · Score: 1

      You can get refurbs with Windows 7 on them for next to nothing. The market is flooded with them. We won't be moving away from Windows 7 until this market dries up.

      --
      I don't respond to AC's.
    11. Re:Sure sure sure by DogDude · · Score: 1

      I'm not saying it didn't happen. I'm saying we didn't see it. We did see one person accidentally do the update on a machine that mistakenly had the user set up as an admin (we just rolled it back), but other than that, we didn't see it.

      --
      I don't respond to AC's.
    12. Re:Sure sure sure by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 2

      I dunno, this computer runs things plenty fine for most non-techie people. Surfing, Facebook, e-mail, basic gaming, etc. All-in-one for under $500.

      --
      Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
    13. Re:Sure sure sure by Killall+-9+Bash · · Score: 1

      I CHOOSE not to "upgrade" to Windows 10.

      --
      "Prediction: within 10 years, Windows will be a Linux distribution." Me, 7-6-2016
    14. Re:Sure sure sure by Killall+-9+Bash · · Score: 1

      Maybe you didn't see ALL of the dirty tricks. Did you see the one where the user was NOTIFIED (not asked) about the impending 10 upgrade? Big window with one button ("ok"). Tell me what the user did wrong there. I got that one on MY workstation too, and I'm fucking sure I didn't agree to or approve of anything. Left the stupid window open and downloaded one of those 10 removers.

      --
      "Prediction: within 10 years, Windows will be a Linux distribution." Me, 7-6-2016
    15. Re:Sure sure sure by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      What applications do these "nontechie relatives" use that has no replacement on macOS?

      If we have learnt anything from the Netbook era it's that the answer is none, but they will just in general get pissed when ${random_windows_only_thing} doesn't work. So I have a question for you: If it works for them why force a change upon them?

      Most people don't care about the altruistic shit that happens on Slashdot. Try explaining privacy to someone and they'll likely post about it on their Facebook page. Try and explain after years of telling people how important security updates are that it's bad they get forced upon them.

      You'll get laughed at.

    16. Re:Sure sure sure by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      I wonder what GDPR will do to the "telemetry" of Windows 10. EU citizens will have the right to know at May 25th. And no EULA can evade that.

      Nothing. Windows 10's latest update makes it fully compliant. The GDPR does nothing to prevent data gathering. It just puts some requirements about management, e.g. deletion such as here: https://pureinfotech.com/delet...
       

    17. Re:Sure sure sure by ArchieBunker · · Score: 1

      Hard to avoid the upgrade when clicking the X on the window means "yes" to Microsoft.

      --
      Only the State obtains its revenue by coercion. - Murray Rothbard
    18. Re:Sure sure sure by tepples · · Score: 1

      What plans have you made for 20 months from now when security updates for the Windows 7 operating system on these refurbs dry up?

    19. Re:Sure sure sure by DarkRookie · · Score: 1

      Lucky you I guess.
      My $1000 system ran noticeably slower on Win 10 vs 7.

      --
      The millennial that doesn't like most of the stuff designed for millennials.
  2. How many *chose* to run it? by Rick+Schumann · · Score: 3, Interesting

    How many had it forced on them, were tricked into upgrading, or made no conscious choice whatsoever and really didn't notice, just turned it on one morning and whump, there it was? Be honest, Microsoft.

    1. Re:How many *chose* to run it? by Rob+Lister · · Score: 1, Troll

      I mean, you're a little right, Rick, but was it forced on you? Were you tricked into upgrading? I can't imagine anyone wouldn't notice though. But for the great unwashed it really didn't make much of a difference. I have a mixture on several machines and I'm pretty happy with all of them. Or at least not unhappy.

    2. Re:How many *chose* to run it? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Microsoft destroyed my laptop. It was working fine with older version of Windows (pre-Win10 version). Yes the laptop-display didn't work, but I had it connected to my TV via HDMI and everything was fine. Well, without prompting, without being given a choice, without being able to stop it Microsoft started Windows10 installing/upgrading on its own. But the video out HDMI doesn't work by default & without being able to see the native-laptop-screen am unable to get the forced-upgrade to complete, revert, nor install/update HDMI video drivers.
      How is this not criminal? How is this not corporate-sanctioned hacking?
      Where do I join class action lawsuit? Yes, may not get much money but it should cost Microsoft executives time in court and jail. When I contacted Microsoft they told me it was the equipment OEM who is responsible, or that I just needed to update the drivers (they repeatedly didn't seem to understand that native-display is needed to do that).

    3. Re:How many *chose* to run it? by Rick+Schumann · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Technically I did have it forced on me -- by my employer, a large microchip manufacturer. Showed up for work one Monday and the gods-be-damned drive encryption wouldn't accept my password. So they tell me "Oh, that's not compatible anymore, we have to 'upgrade' you to Windows 10". So I had NO CHOICE in the matter. Of course they own the damned computer, too, but I had to put up with it. I've hacked the living shit out of Win10 though so it's as sanitized as I can make it, use a different UI shell so it's more like Win7, and being the Enterprise version most all of the telemetry (spyware) is cut out or disabled (and more after I got done with it), so I'm coping. But at home? Still on XP, until I get around to upgrading the hardware, in which case it looks like it'll be Ubuntu. No more MS for me, thanks anyway.

    4. Re:How many *chose* to run it? by YuppieScum · · Score: 1

      FWIW, several of my non-techie friends were tricked into upgrading to Windows 10 - when the "do you want Windows 10" pop-up appeared, they clicked on the "close window" icon like they'd done before, but MS had decided to change the behaviour of the dialog, so that now meant "yes."

      Better yet, a couple of those (Sony - yes, I know, but I wasn't consulted during the purchasing phase) machines became unusable due to a lack of appropriate hardware drivers.

      Also, FWIW, MS can claim Windows 10 stats on pretty much every new non-Apple PC sold, as (a) MS and the OEMs don't offer any alternative; and (b) despite what gets installed on it once it's out of the box, so their claims are effectively meaningless.

      --
      This sig left unintentionally blank.
    5. Re:How many *chose* to run it? by Mr.Radar · · Score: 1

      Why not upgrade your existing home computer to Ubuntu now? Firefox is ending support for XP this year and it's the last major browser to do so; after that you get no new web features or security updates (not to mention the years of security updates for other system components you've missed out on, such as the Meltdown and Spectre mitigations).

      --
      What if this signature were clever?
    6. Re:How many *chose* to run it? by Rick+Schumann · · Score: 1

      Because I don't want to break the only working setup I have for something I haven't worked out all the kinks in, that's why, and also the XP box is >10 years old, single core processor, 2GB RAM, and just not worth bothering 'upgrading' an OS on. I have a newer setup that will replace it -- as soon as I get all the OS-related problems worked out. Also I don't spend much time playing with computers anymore so I'm not going to waste time duplicating effort for no reason. Also it's not a huge 3-alarm-fire priority; it'll happen when I have time and wherewithal to get it done.

    7. Re:How many *chose* to run it? by cwsumner · · Score: 2

      How many had it forced on them, were tricked into upgrading, or made no conscious choice whatsoever and really didn't notice, just turned it on one morning and whump, there it was? Be honest, Microsoft.

      Standard M$ tactic: Pop up a question window that only needs an Enter to count as "Yes go ahead".

      The user is working and typing something into a text window or word processor, while reading from a page (or something). The question pops up and "steals" the keyboard, the user typing hits an Enter, and the question takes it as a "Yes". The user probably never saw the question and just wonders "where did my words go???".

      M$ has known about this bug for years and has used it before. When they say that all users agreed to upgrade, this is what they are talking about...

    8. Re:How many *chose* to run it? by vandamme · · Score: 1

      Ubuntu is now the heaviest desktop (maybe tied with Mint Cinnamon). Kubuntu or Ubuntu MATE take half the memory. I've put Lubuntu or Puppy on many a "vintage" XP machine.

  3. Herpes 1.0 is also a huge success... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    it's "running" on about 3 billion humans...

    1. Re:Herpes 1.0 is also a huge success... by omnichad · · Score: 1

      1.0? The only reason it's spread so far is by forking.

    2. Re:Herpes 1.0 is also a huge success... by omnichad · · Score: 1

      Misspell what word? Viruses propagate, in part, by mutating. There is no definitive version 1.0, as they don't have a consistent codebase. With each fork, it is more likely to spread.

    3. Re:Herpes 1.0 is also a huge success... by swillden · · Score: 1

      " The only reason it's spread so far is by forking." Did you intentionally misspell that word?

      Misspell what word? Viruses propagate, in part, by mutating. There is no definitive version 1.0, as they don't have a consistent codebase. With each fork, it is more likely to spread.

      I'm not sure which of you to WHOOOOSH.

      --
      Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
    4. Re:Herpes 1.0 is also a huge success... by omnichad · · Score: 1

      I try ;-)

  4. I'm Doing My Part! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    I keep Windows 10 up to date on our desktop, laptop, and two surface tablets. Fantastic operating system. Service guarantees citizenship! Thanks, Microsoft!

  5. Sounds like a botnet advertisement by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Over 700 million devices run Windows 10, Microsoft announced on Monday at its Build developer conference.

    And a sizeable ratio of those even with sort-of legal agreement of its owners to terms that allow Microsoft to run basically any payload they want.

    This is the future of organized crime.

  6. 700 Mil Run Windows 10, Or Run FROM Windows 10? by dryriver · · Score: 1

    That... is the question. Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles And by opposing end them. To die—to sleep, No more; and by a sleep to say we end The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks That flesh is heir to: 'tis a consummation Devoutly to be wish'd.

    --
    Why did the chicken cross the road? Because Elon Musk put an AI chip in its head.
    1. Re:700 Mil Run Windows 10, Or Run FROM Windows 10? by the_skywise · · Score: 2

      *boots his computer*
      Once more into the breach dear friends!

  7. Correction by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    After my Windows 10 laptop automatically patched itself it now fails to boot. So correction: 699,999,999 devices.

  8. Not quite true by davidwr · · Score: 1

    I think most x86 machines are still sold with firmware that lets you erase the drive and install another OS.

    I expect that to drop below 50% within a few years though. Either that, or x86 market will be supplanted by ARM or something else that is effectively OS-locked by the firmware.

    It is true that most new x86 pcs have Windows 10 pre-installed and pre-paid-for.

    --
    Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
    1. Re:Not quite true by davidwr · · Score: 1

      I should have clarified:

      I expect that either computers and other things people "think of" as general-purpose computers - including tablets and smartphones but not including thermostats and feature phones - will be mostly "OS locked by firmware" in a few years.

      They will do this either because x86 will migrate in that direction or because x86 will be supplanted by something else that will or which is already "mostly OS locked."

      If you only count ARM-based PCs, smart-phones, and tablets that most people think of as a "general purpose computer" and you don't count PCs, phones, and tablets that are in fact are used as an embedded or special-purpose device, I think more than half of them are, for all practical purposes, "OS-locked" today. If they aren't technically OS-locked, it's very hard to get a different OS installed.

      So, if you are using that Pi as a general purpose computer, yes, it counts toward the total, but I think it's in the "less than 50% which are not OS-locked" group. If you are using it as an embedded system or other special-purpose device, it's excluded from the count.

      Just for reference, I think over a billion smart-phones were sold to end users in 2016. Almost all of them used ARM. Let's assume at least half of them were used for things other than the 3 very popular "special purpose tasks" of 1) making and receiving phone calls 2) surfing the web with the default web browser and 3) taking pictures or making movies with the default camera app (I picked 3 because if you have more than 3 very different, independent "special purpose tasks" then you've clearly crossed the line into "general purpose"). That's still half a billion ARM devices. Almost all of those either had a locked bootloader or a hard-to-bypass bootloader.

      Raspberry Pi sales were under 15 million total during its first 5 years of life. It's not quite statistical noise but it's close.

      --
      Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
  9. Minux in more popular by goombah99 · · Score: 1

    But Intel doen't give you a choice. you have to run Minux.

    --
    Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
  10. Hardisks / ssd's with win 10 metric by sjwest · · Score: 2

    We buy pcs without Microsoft licences (not from the famous brands) and still get microshit software on disk so if they consider new harddisk sales as a metric there wrong.

    Could run does not mean it runs it.

    1. Re:Hardisks / ssd's with win 10 metric by thegarbz · · Score: 2

      Congratulations on adding to the rounding error.

  11. Sure... by Locke2005 · · Score: 1

    ...and at least 100 million of those devices were upgraded voluntarily!

    --
    I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
    1. Re:Sure... by stooo · · Score: 1

      >>...and at least 100 million of those devices were upgraded voluntarily!
      Upgraded? You mean like in "Up" and "Graded" ?

      --
      aaaaaaa
  12. Are they double-counting reinstalls? by greenwow · · Score: 1

    As I'm sitting here waiting on Windows to clean install a fourth time on my work laptop...

    1. Re:Are they double-counting reinstalls? by stooo · · Score: 1

      >> As I'm sitting here waiting on Windows to clean install a fourth time on my work laptop...
      I cleaned a lot of windows, and they are all dirty again.

      --
      aaaaaaa
  13. Soon to be 700M - 1 by Snotnose · · Score: 1

    I did a manual update on my laptop last tuesday in the hopes of no unexpected reboots. Last night it rebooted.

    Fuck you Microsoft. If you can't be bothered to ask before rebooting, I can't be bothered to run your software next time I buy a laptop.

  14. Just don't write about George Carlin on it by Virtucon · · Score: 1

    Otherwise the TOS thought police might get you if you start using any of the 7 words

    --
    Harrison's Postulate - "For every action there is an equal and opposite criticism"
  15. Good Luck Sheeple by simpz · · Score: 1

    With your Personal Computer that no longer belongs to you.

    The scariest statement from about 2 years ago "Over 82 billion photos viewed within the Windows 10 Photo app"

    Even if w10 was the best software ever this *should* be a deal breaker. Esp for technical users, at least limit your exposure to game play etc where you actually need to use it.

  16. Only Raspberry Pi computers should connect? by Futurepower(R) · · Score: 1

    Please provide a link. I want to try the Raspberry Pi you recommend.

    Only Raspberry Pi computers should connect to the internet? Why Raspberry Pi isn't vulnerable to Spectre or Meltdown

    Intel CPUs are not safe: Intel reportedly gears up to patch 8 Spectre Next Generation CPU flaws. (May 3, 2018)

    Computers running Windows 10 with internet access are not safe. Some of the huge number of shockingly ugly problems with Windows 10:

    Windows 10 is possibly the worst spyware ever made.

    7 ways Windows 10 pushes ads at you...

    Microsoft is infesting Windows 10 with annoying ads.

    Years of bugginess: Windows 10 bugs

    Problems this year: Windows 10 problems 2018

    Update problems this year: Windows 10 update problems 2018

  17. The Stained Glass Logo. by westlake · · Score: 1

    Perhaps when Win 10 does reach a billion installs Slashdot will finally retire its stained glass windows logo. If the stereotypical Slashdot post about Win 10 died with it, so much the better.

    1. Re:The Stained Glass Logo. by stooo · · Score: 1

      Why remove the logo when Windows is still broken ?

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      aaaaaaa
  18. Re:Wrong again fucko! by tepples · · Score: 1

    Let's try a couple different answers that aren't quite so absolute: The majority of PC games released since January 1, 2013. Or the particular games that your friends play and want to play with you in online multiplayer.

  19. Raspberry Pi vendor and model you recommend? by Futurepower(R) · · Score: 1

    I was hoping you, or someone, had a Raspberry Pi vendor that is recommended.

    I've done some research and found that most companies are bad at communicating. It is possible to spend hours trying to decide about the different offerings.