Windows 7 surpasses XP, Vista
Windows® XP used to be the king of the hill and Windows Vista® launched with a lot of chatter. However, Windows® 7 seems to have the upper hand in performance and security and is quickly gaining devotees.
June 2011
by Robin Wark
When it came to PCs, it used to be an XP world. At its peak in January of 2007, the Windows eXPerience operating system, commonly known as XP, held a 76.1 per cent market share, according to data from W3Schools, a web developer's portal.
Now PC users have many choices. Since launching XP, Microsoft has rolled out Windows Vista and Windows 7, with Windows 8 rumoured to be coming in 2012.
The Numbers
Windows XP, which first launched in 2001, continues to be the most popular. As of May 2011, according to W3Schools, it is used on 40.7% of computers that browse the Internet. However, Windows 7, which came out in the fall of 2009, is catching up quickly. The stats showed it at 36.5%, while Vista was at 7.1%
But, how do they compare? In November of 2009, Michael Muchmore of PCMag.com, the online home of PC Magazine, installed the 32-bit versions of each software on a 1.73-GHz Toshiba Satellite M45-S269 laptop with 1GB RAM and a 100GB hard drive. When he tested them, he experienced the following results:
XP |
Vista |
7 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Start-up time (in minutes:seconds) | 0:49 |
1:07 |
1:03 |
| Shutdown time (in seconds) | 17.0 |
12.5 |
11.5 |
| Picasa video encoding (in minutes: seconds) | 5:36 |
6:02 |
5:41 |
Muchmore did note that his test machine was built in the "XP days." He said a newer machine likely would have worked better with Windows 7 and produced better start-up times. His testing does demonstrate the old Windows XP criticism about how long you see the "Windows is shutting down" message.
In October of 2009, Nick Mediati of PC World wrote about his magazine's similar tests – but only between Windows 7 and its predecessor. Their tests shows on two different machines showed:
Vista |
7 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Start-up Time (in seconds) | ||
| Gateway Laptop T-6815 (32-bit) | 39.6 |
43.6 |
| HP Desktop a6710t (64-bit) | 55.2 |
48.3 |
| Launching Photoshop (in seconds) | ||
| Gateway Laptop T-6815 (32-bit) | 5.32 |
9.71 |
| HP Desktop a6710t (64-bit) | 2.68 |
9.55 |
As for protection, Microsoft's Security Intelligence Report on malware in 2010, shows that Windows 7 was almost five times more secure than Windows XP. According to the report, Windows 7 64-bit had just 2.5 malware infections per 1,000 computers compared to 19.3 for Windows XP 32-bit Service Pack 2.
| Infections per 1,000 computers | |
|---|---|
| Windows XP 32-bit SP2 | 19.3 |
| Windows XP 32-bit SP3 | 15.9 |
| Windows Vista 32-bit SP1 | 9.8 |
| Windows Vista 64-bit SP1 | 6.6 |
| Windows Vista 32-bit SP2 | 7.5 |
| Windows Vista 64-bit SP2 | 5.3 |
| Windows 7 32-bit | 3.8 |
| Windows 7 64-bit | 2.5 |
The Strengths
Each of the three latest Windows operating system has its own strengths:
Windows XP: As XP has been around for a decade, there are plenty of programs and device drivers available for it and your hardware. As well, its longevity bread familiarity with its user interface. It also developed a reputation as a stable operating system.
Windows Vista: With a new look, Windows Vista was determined to protect you. Its User Account Control (UAC) gave frequent warnings, allowed for more parental control and included the latest, and more secure, version of the Internet Explorer web browser. It also came with many extras, such as a contacts program, a calendaring program, a photo editing program and others.
Windows 7: One the criticisms of Vista was that some users found it a challenge to get all of their hardware working with it. This seems to have improved in Windows 7, especially in the area of graphics cards for multiple monitors. Its UAC is a bit mellower and the security messages are consolidated. Windows 7 also has some neat features like side-by-side window auto-sizing, which is handy.
The Future
It is only human nature for people to like something different. Some users prefer their old standby Windows XP software, while many have quickly come to like Windows 7. Some enjoy Vista and its extras.
However, with Windows 8 already on the horizon, users might have to consider switching from their older operating systems in the future.
Microsoft has announced that on April 8, 2014, it will no longer provide support – including security patches – for Windows XP. As of April 14, 2009, the company is not offering its "Mainstream Support," such as free technical support or handling warranty claims, for the OS.
As for Vista, Microsoft plans to end its Mainstream Support on April 10, 2012. Security fixes are expected to be offered, under "Extended Support," until April 11, 2017.
ParetoLogic wants to serve all PC computers users and thus offers several of its products for all three operating systems. The company has also diligently worked to ensure its most popular software, such as ParetoLogic PC Health Advisor and ParetoLogic Anti-Virus PLUS, work on the 32 and 64-bit versions of Windows 7.
Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.