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Windows 10 Passes 700 Million Devices (neowin.net)

Posted by BeauHD on from the not-sure-if-we-should-clap dept.

At its Ignite 2018 conference, Microsoft said that Windows 10 has been installed on over 700 million active devices. Neowin reports of the confusion around this estimate, noting that "the last milestone was 600 million active devices" announced on November 29, 2017, nearly 10 months ago. From the report: If you follow Windows 10 news, this might not even seem like a major development. That's because the firm's communication around this has been wildly inconsistent. It started off when Windows and Devices chief Terry Myerson announced that he's leaving Microsoft, and he wrote in a farewell letter that Windows 10 is installed on nearly 700 million active devices. That was almost six months ago. At the firm's Build conference in May and at the Insider Dev Tour in July, Microsoft announced that Windows 10 is installed on over 700 million devices, only to retract those statements later on and say they were mistakes. But today after almost six months of "nearly 700 million", Windows 10 is officially installed on over 700 million devices.

62 of 113 comments (clear)

  1. Windows 10 Infects 700 Million Devices by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    FTFY

  2. Windows 10 Passes 700 Million kidney stones by mnemotronic · · Score: 2

    Right in your lap. Here's where you say "Thank you Microsoft".

    --
    The Russians have won. They have made the world a cesspool of distrust, greed, fear and hate.
  3. Re:What is the most devices.... by Kjella · · Score: 1

    First of all: What's a "device"? That sounds like a weasel-word if ever I heard one.

    It's the word Microsoft started to use when they thought they'd be counting Win10 phones too. But since they contribute practically nothing it's basically just PCs like before.

    --
    Live today, because you never know what tomorrow brings
  4. A great number of these are: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Xbox consoles

    Windows 10 phones which arent made anymore

    Buget atom tablets which microsoft gave away windows 10 on but in order to qualify the hardware maker had to purposely make the hardware suck, killing off intels efforts to gain marketshare over arm in the tablet market

    Win 7 and 8 machines that were automaticaly upgraded to 10 against the users will.

    People who upgraded to 10 for gaming since microsoft purposely holds back directx12 from anything other to windows10 to make people upgrade. The same bullshit they did with vista.

    People who upgraded because it was 'free' even though every other os is free eg linux, macos, android, ios, ps4, switch. Not being free is the outlyer here.

    People who upgraded because they have a new machine and microsoft refuses to give older version of windows support for newer cpus.

    Not the same windows 10. There is a huge difference between windows 10n enterprise ltsb which is subscription based, non bloated and has no bullshit vs the editions most people have which is infested with spyware, ads and superfluous programs.

    1. Re: A great number of these are: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      What? If you can legally purchase it then it is not free!

  5. How many were truly voluntary, though? by Rick+Schumann · · Score: 3, Insightful

    How many do you subtract that were forced on unsuspecting users, users who didn't know any better, and users who weren't otherwise given a choice? Can we also subtract out businesses, who either didn't have a choice, either, and their employees, who weren't given a choice by their employers?

    1. Re:How many were truly voluntary, though? by kiviQr · · Score: 1

      Somehow no one complains about iPhone updates

    2. Re:How many were truly voluntary, though? by i.r.id10t · · Score: 1

      I would except that my iPhone is incredibly good about not installing an update when I say "don't install this update".

      I can almost get behind forced security updates, but never behind sneaky or forced OS updates.

      The one good thing about the Win10 upgrade insanity though is that MS finally can update an OS from version to version and have it mostly work...

      --
      Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos
    3. Re:How many were truly voluntary, though? by williamyf · · Score: 1

      Well, the free upgrade offer ended on July 29, 2016. At that time, Windows 10 had around 350 Million Devices.

      Let's assume every single one of those devices were a non-voluntary unsuspected user sneaky upgrade.

      that means that they had from then until now, 350Million more devices.

      And no, you can not substract business or governments, either that do not give employees a choice, or that they do not have a choice themselves, lest you want to substract places like governments in Venezuela, Italy, brazil, and india, or many a company, where linux is forced, and you can not choose either.

      At the end, the owner of the business choose voluntarily the tools to use.

      It would be like if a police officer complained that the department uses ford cars instead of Chrysler, or if in a mechanic shop the mechaincs complained that the tools are craftman instead of stanley... (to honor the long standing slashdot tradition of automotive analogies)

      In the end, OSs are tools, each with strengts and weaknesess, and should be used as such.

      OSs are not religions or sports teams...

      PS: Mac on my desktop, android on my pocket, Linux in my datacenter, if I can.

      --
      *** Suerte a todos y Feliz dia!
    4. Re:How many were truly voluntary, though? by commodore64_love · · Score: 2

      > the owner of the business choose voluntarily the tools to use.

      I recently purchased a business laptop, and even though I would have preferred Windows 7 or 8......... I had no choice. Windows X was the only option.

      Which sucks (it ties up the internet with constant, non-skippable updates).

      --
      "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall
    5. Re:How many were truly voluntary, though? by rtb61 · · Score: 1

      Meh, M$ routinely lies. So is a computer one device or many. Careful, they said installed on, not running on. So like the typical M$ PR wankers they are, I'll bet they are counting broken devices that were replaced with another windows 10 box. Hey if you installed windows 10 and then replaced it, guess fucking what, you still installed it. Hey this is fun, windows 10 killed your box and you had to reinstall, that is windows 10 installed again, woo hoo. Also, yeah, I checked, I can still get windows 8.1 at lot of custom build places offer it, installed with windows 10 sort of but not and then another licence. Yep M$ scored big on a dying desktop market, which they are helping to kill because they want to whack an anal probe right into your device, feed advertising to your desktop, control your use of the device you, charge you rent to access your data and then charge a licence fee to other software manufacturers to access the device but they sacrificed the majority of user respect and killed the mobile phones and tablets and no one buys a TV with windows on it.

      This bullshit press release, they are hurting, we know it, they know it and so the bullshit. Fuck you recalcitrant users you will be forced to use windows ten as commanded by M$ and here's proof numbers, we are dominating you and we will continue to dominate you, so fucking American. You have to feel sorry for those people who had to install windows anal probe on the same device more than once because windows anal probe 10 hosed their machine, suckers, your helping improve M$'s PR=B$ numbers, every time you are forced to reinstall they look better, it's another install, bwa hah hah (you just know they are counting them as well, you just know it).

      Now will the SEC investigate M$ to confirm the validity of the numbers because they have a big impact on share price and they have already been caught out lying and well guess fucking what, the SEC did nothing about them pumping up their share prices with false press releases, not just an empty tweet but a full on marketing campaign, probably not. M$ work closely with the US government hacking computers on automatic unstoppable updates with the slightest request, empty security letters. Hey if they accuse you computer of doing bad things and blame you, are you responsible or is M$, they have full access to your device at all times, back door right into it, your device is now legally insecure as you have no control over it, you have ceded control of that device to Windows anal probe 10, so where do the legal liabilities lie on the illegal activities of the device, until they can physically prove you used the device and activated those commands, M$ kind of has to prove that it did not do it until the authorities can prove you physically did it. You can not keep M$ management out of your device, they made it impossible once you connect it to the internet, so who is really legally liable for the activity of the device, if they can not physically prove you carried out those actions, a video record of you, your keyboard and screen.

      --
      Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
    6. Re:How many were truly voluntary, though? by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      users who didn't know any better

      Can you separate users who didn't know better from users who actually care? This isn't an iPhone. The last time I saw anyone remotely care about an OS upgrade was Windows XP.

      Actually that's not right, those poor people who used Vista were generally quite excited to use something else when the chance presented. But the point is most users don't give a shit what their computers run. Given them a Linux with a windows skin and the only thing you'll hear complaints about is that when they double click the .exe file it doesn't work (remember these complaints from the netbook days)?

    7. Re:How many were truly voluntary, though? by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      Mostly 'cause I don't have one. There are many alternatives, ya know. Also and especially in a professional environment.

      Plus, as far as I know you can actually tell your iPhone that you need it now and it should postpone the update. It's not that easy with Windows when it decides to do the update NOW and to hell with you and your unsaved work.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    8. Re: How many were truly voluntary, though? by Billly+Gates · · Score: 1

      Easy.
      1. People choose to buy iPhones. People who hate them buy an Android.
      2. This is anti MS site slashdot. A site like neowin.net is where the tiny Windows fanboys go.
      3. People don't choose to buy Windows. They do so because they need a PC for work or some task that uses software which runs on Windows.

      Gone are the days where PCs are cool and fun!

      Phones are cool and the PC is the boring visual word processor to type things. So because it's boring and a chore then OS updates are not cool anymore than updating the firmware in your thermostat. They are disruptive and due to legacy break shit. Windows 10 is technically superior to 7 and I love hyper-v and WSL Linux built but no one gives a shit as it's work.

      --
      http://saveie6.com/
    9. Re: How many were truly voluntary, though? by Billly+Gates · · Score: 1

      People do care about keeping 7. Windows 10 while technically supperior, has major breakage issues upon frequent updates.

      Agile reelease may work well on phones with jailed apps but legacy crud make Windows a nightmare. This is why MS wants developers to use the app store. Windows is a mess and a Hodge podge glue of legacy and unknown ungodly nightmare of hardware support from manufacturers who refuse to update drivers.

      Users don't care to the point where they need it to work but care when a change to something disruptive.

      --
      http://saveie6.com/
    10. Re:How many were truly voluntary, though? by NormalVisual · · Score: 1

      My favorite is when the power goes out, and as you go to quickly get everything shut down before the UPS runs out of juice, and Windows decides THEN it wants to do an update.

      --
      Please stand clear of the doors, por favor mantenganse alejado de las puertas
    11. Re: How many were truly voluntary, though? by NormalVisual · · Score: 1

      I'd be happy to upgrade to 10 if there weren't so many spyware issues to deal with. Microsoft made their own bed with this version.

      --
      Please stand clear of the doors, por favor mantenganse alejado de las puertas
    12. Re:How many were truly voluntary, though? by painandgreed · · Score: 1

      > the owner of the business choose voluntarily the tools to use.

      I recently purchased a business laptop, and even though I would have preferred Windows 7 or 8......... I had no choice. Windows X was the only option.

      Pretty much true. Even though we have an Enterprise license and can install Windows 7, no newer hardware though our supplier has drivers to support Windows 7. It's either buy a 2+ year old computer (which we sometimes do) or use Win10.

    13. Re:How many were truly voluntary, though? by Rick+Schumann · · Score: 1

      But are they tools for the users, or are they tools for Microsoft? I say they DGAF about the users so long as they're making money off them, and that's wrong.

    14. Re:How many were truly voluntary, though? by Ravaldy · · Score: 1

      You're very good at hiding your hatred for MS. Biased opinion anyone?

      This bullshit press release, they are hurting, we know it, they know it and so the bullshit. Fuck you recalcitrant users you will be forced to use windows ten as commanded by M$ and here's proof numbers, we are dominating you and we will continue to dominate you, so fucking American.

      You don't need to trust their press release, you can go look at it for yourself. Data collected from browsers alone point to their number being correct. Fact is, they do dominate the desktop OS world according to those numbers. If it's a workstation it has a 85% chance of being Windows and 42% chance of being Windows 10.

      Nobody is forcing anybody to use anything. Instead, the current technology landscape makes it that for many types of businesses, Windows is the logical choice. The appearance of Android mitigates this issue but doesn't wash it away.

      From a user's perspective, an OS is like a car. If it has a steering wheel, four wheels and brings you where you need to be then mission accomplished.

      If you are a decision maker in the tech industry and you do not understand Microsoft's place in the industry then you have either been blinded by hatred or aren't as informed as you think you are.

    15. Re:How many were truly voluntary, though? by Rick+Schumann · · Score: 1

      You can stop the Windows Update service and set it to 'Disabled', and that will prevent updates from happening whenever it feels like it, but you'll have to re-enable it to get updates, and you won't have a choice in what updates you get.

    16. Re: How many were truly voluntary, though? by hackwrench · · Score: 1

      No thank you sexy coca cola girl. I'm an adult. I don't need your free drink. I threw it on the ground. I'm not a part of your system.

    17. Re: How many were truly voluntary, though? by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      People do care about keeping 7.

      No they don't.They just don't care about upgrading. You can verify this yourself Windows adoption figures perfectly trend the sale rate of PCs with one notable exception: Windows 10 adoption was higher than all previous versions initially thanks to the MS forced tactics.

      The downward trend in Windows 10 adoption compared to Windows 7 is perfectly inline with the downward trend in PC sales on the whole.

      Windows 10 while technically supperior, has major breakage issues upon frequent updates

      Yes I agree. It also is a technical detail that is completely irrelevant as everyone who isn't a techhead doesn't know or doesn't care.

  6. Linux has the most devices globally by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    According to wikipedia, Linux kernel systems are 40.41%, windows 36.84% and Apple 18.46%.

    1. Re: Linux has the most devices globally by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      I don't need to control your desktop when I control the servers that decide what your desktop gets to see.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    2. Re: Linux has the most devices globally by Merk42 · · Score: 1

      You have that much control over other people's devices? Sounds like Linux is a bad idea for the server!

    3. Re: Linux has the most devices globally by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      Who cares that you have the trigger, when I'm the one controlling the rockets?

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    4. Re: Linux has the most devices globally by Merk42 · · Score: 1

      WOOSH
      Exactly! You shouldn't have control over the rockets, ergo, Linux is bad for the server

    5. Re: Linux has the most devices globally by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      Whether it's a good idea or not depends mostly on whether you're the server...

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  7. Looking forward to PC being Managed by them by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    These guys are now going to 'manage' your PC and charge you a fee. They will also remove and suggest what software you need.

    What could possible go wrong.

  8. Re:What is the most devices.... by kiviQr · · Score: 1

    They probably include Sufrace tablet.

  9. Re:What is the most devices.... by ElizabethGreene · · Score: 4, Interesting

    My understanding is that a device is a PC, a laptop, a console, a tablet, an IOT SOC, a HoloLens, a surface hub, a phone, or any other piece of kit running Windows 10.

  10. 700 Million Devices by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

    So, like, a fraction of Android/Linux devices?

    --
    When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
    1. Re:700 Million Devices by williamyf · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Yes, 700 Million devices, a good % of those devices are capable of Content CREATION/PRODUCTION, unlike most of those Android/Linux devices which are only capable of Content COMSUMPTION.

      Having said that, I use a Mac on my desktop, and an Android on my pocket. And I advocated Linux in the telco datacenter A LOT (in late 90's early 00's time frame, when it was quite harder to argue the case against the Likes of Solaris, HP-UX and AIX)...

      But yes, to each his own, this milestone is a good one for Win10.

      OSs are like tools. Each has its streghts, weaknesess, and purpose, so should be used acordingly. Instead of treating OSs as religions, or sports teams...

      --
      *** Suerte a todos y Feliz dia!
    2. Re:700 Million Devices by Tough+Love · · Score: 2

      Yes, 700 Million devices, a good % of those devices are capable of Content CREATION/PRODUCTION,

      Interesting point. What fraction of those do you think are actually being used for content creation/production? I think, very small. But looking at it the other way - of all content production, how much is done on Windows machines? I think, a high percentage, so granted. But don't forget that Hollywood is basically standardized on Linux workstations now, that has a really outsized contribution to content creation. And there is a rapidly expanding content creation scene based on tools like Blender and Krita, where the upstream development is done on Linux machines, even though most of the users are on Windows. Interested in your comments.

      BTW, there are several great video editing tools available and principally developed on Linux now. There is basically no reason not to switch content creation to Linux, and big reasons for doing it... you save a bunch of money (or avoid criminalizing yourself by stealing stuff) and get your edits done a lot faster, without random reboots, upgrade nags and risk of virus infection.

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
    3. Re: 700 Million Devices by Tough+Love · · Score: 4, Informative

      I don't know about "most", but JACK audio is, in a word, awesome. Far in advance of anything available on Windows or Macos. For glitch-free real time audio processing, Linux is without a doubt the best choice for professionals. I expect that many professionals have noticed that.

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
    4. Re:700 Million Devices by williamyf · · Score: 1

      When I set on my Mac and Fire up Powerpoint to make a presentation on how to install fusionsphere/Openstack on Huawei servers all while reading the manuals in fucking Hedex (windows only), while preparing hadout notes in word..., or when I sit in my mac and again fire up Powerpoint to preprare a rpesentation about how to instal, configure and administer the Hadoop backend for Nokia's CEMoD 16 while reading the manuals in AdobePDF (thank god), and write handouts in word, I am creating content too.

      I guess the cute girl in Admin creates content when she fills up an excel sheet with my perdiem, flight tickets and hotel reservation to send to logistics to arrange everything....

      Not only hollywood creates content, and not all content is ausio/visual.

      --
      *** Suerte a todos y Feliz dia!
    5. Re:700 Million Devices by Tough+Love · · Score: 2

      Hollywood is a long way from "standardized" on Linux. The reality is nobody gives a shit about Linux

      Ahem.

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
    6. Re:700 Million Devices by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      Yes, 700 Million devices, a good % of those devices are capable of Content CREATION/PRODUCTION.

      The hardware. Yes. But with that OS?

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    7. Re:700 Million Devices by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      So, like, a fraction of Android/Linux devices?

      The most important fraction. Google makes a tiny fraction of profit from Android/Linux when compared to Enterprise agreements from Microsoft.

      When keeping the shareholders happy no one gives a crap about Android, especially since Google's monetisation attempt may see them lose 4% of their revenue soon.

    8. Re: 700 Million Devices by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

      So Windows and MacOS are downstream for JACK. Interesting.

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
    9. Re:700 Million Devices by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Yes, 700 Million devices, a good % of those devices are capable of Content CREATION/PRODUCTION, unlike most of those Android/Linux devices which are only capable of Content COMSUMPTION.

      Wrong, and also wrong. You can create content on a smartphone. People do it every day. Videos, photos including retouching, 3d models using free tools from autodesk, poems, slashdot posts...

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    10. Re: 700 Million Devices by NormalVisual · · Score: 1

      JACK may be awesome, but I don't think Avid and their competitors are quaking in their boots just yet.

      --
      Please stand clear of the doors, por favor mantenganse alejado de las puertas
  11. Congratulations Microsoft by kaoshin · · Score: 1

    As the saying goes, quantity is job number one.

  12. Mod parent up by williamyf · · Score: 1

    Well played Kaoshin, well played

    --
    *** Suerte a todos y Feliz dia!
  13. Re:What is the most devices.... by Barlo_Mung_42 · · Score: 1

    Well, the one thing we know is it's NOT a phone.

  14. Re: What is the most devices.... by dougdonovan · · Score: 1

    this tells me there are "only" 700 million people literate enough to operate Windows 10. there are 9 billion people on earth. this is sad however...this issue keeps me employeed...125k...thank you to the general public for your support. for the past 25 years.

  15. They will be pleased by Trogre · · Score: 1

    That's a whole lot of eyes and ears for Microsoft now.

    --
    "Nine times out of ten, starting a fire is not the best way to solve the problem." - my wife
  16. Wow that's almost as many as Windows 95! by aybiss · · Score: 1

    Wow that's almost as many as Windows 95!

    --
    It's OK Bender, there's no such thing as 2.
  17. Re: What is the most devices.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Well Linux does run on a lot more devices than Windows. Many, many more.

  18. Re:What is the most devices.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    How? Linux is a kernel and DOES run on more devices and places than Windows. Android is Linux. 95% of the internet (servers, routers, switches, other equipment) is powered by Linux. Probably most IoT and standalone devices/appliances run Linux.

  19. Re: What is the most devices.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    They include Windows 10 installs that people have rolled back or replaced. It's actually a very inaccurate and scummy method that Microsoft uses to arrive at their number.

    I'm guessing the true number of actual live, used installs of Windows 10 is probably closer to 100 million. Microsoft would never admit that though since they claimed Windows 10 would reach 1 billion users years ago. It's embarrassing for them that hasn't even remotely happened.

    Everyone uses what works and for most that is a smartphone running Android. Other than Apple customers, most consumers don't have corporate loyalties nor do they care about weird, techno-nerdy things like "operating systems" and if they do, they want Windows 7.

    Windows 10 is spyware. Windows 10 is adware. Windows 10 is crippleware. Windows 10 is failware.

  20. Re:What is the most devices.... by thegarbz · · Score: 1

    First of all: What's a "device"?

    That sounds like a weasel-word if ever I heard one.

    A piece of electronics that runs Windows 10. Here's a simple litmus test: Does the accumulated dense mass of atoms run Windows 10? Chances are it's a device.

  21. "has been installed" by Opportunist · · Score: 1

    I think the correct time would have been "had been". How many of those came preinstalled and the first thing anyone did to them was to wipe the system?

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    1. Re:"has been installed" by bazorg · · Score: 1

      Nobody knows and that's a knowledge gap that has certainly been reduced by telemetry.
      Back in the day, people could read about number of units shipped, about licenses sold and come up with some sort of estimate. Today, if Microsoft really wanted to disclose the number of active devices, they probably could.

    2. Re:"has been installed" by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      And that they don't though they can tells you anything you need to know.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  22. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  23. Re:What is the most devices.... by pgmrdlm · · Score: 1

    Self check outs at Grocery stores, atm machines, and other such devices. I wouldn't be supersized if the os isn't on certain auto's

    --
    Anonymous comments are as pathetic as the anonymous "sources" that contaminate gutless journalism from the New York Time
  24. Re:What is the most devices.... by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 1

    Linux runs on THREE types of platforms:

    * Desktops
    * Mobile
    * Super Computers

    The facts that ...

    * 2 billion mobile devices run Linux, and
    * 100% of the Top 500 super-computers run Linux ... has ZERO impact on the total number of Desktops running Linux. "Funny" how this is the only "space" that MS can compete in. LOL.

  25. Re: What is the most devices.... by hackwrench · · Score: 1

    I can visualize an OS very similar to the one my computer uses. Am I a device and am I running Windows 10?

  26. Same old song. by westlake · · Score: 1

    How many do you subtract that were forced on unsuspecting users, users who didn't know any better, and users who weren't otherwise given a choice? Can we also subtract out businesses, who either didn't have a choice, either, and their employees, who weren't given a choice by their employers?

    The geek has been posting variations of this rant since the launch of Slashdot. Windows took possession of the desktop along about Win 95 and never looked back. The fundamental reason is that the Windows PC is a mass market product easily customized for home and office use. You want 1500 thin clients for corporate use? No problem. Shopping Amazon.com for the high-end water cooled gaming machine? Also no problem.

  27. Re: What is the most devices.... by thegarbz · · Score: 1

    Yes. Windows 10 is running on your device. I don't see how you personally would be the device though. Do you have a brain implant? If so I can send you John Connor's address.