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Microsoft Windows

The curtains close on Windows 7 and 8 sales with users urged to adopt 8.1

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By John McCarthy, Opinion Editor

November 3, 2014 | 2 min read

Microsoft has ceased sales of its operating systems Windows 7 and 8 in a bid to move users onto the most recent 8.1 update which has proven unpopular with consumers.

Windows PCs account for 90 per cent of the desktop market

As a result of the announcement, PC, laptop, tablet and mobile users will instead by offered Windows 8.1 as the firm attempts to upgrade users from older systems.

On 31 October, Microsoft stopped distributing licences for Windows 7 Home Basic, Home Premium, and Ultimate to consumers and PC producers, with businesses limited to exclusive Windows 7 Professional packages.

The company will continue to support Windows 7 until 13 January 2015. This comes after Windows 8 was widely regarded as a failure with only six per cent of those on a Microsoft’s operating system using it - comparable over half still use Windows 7.

Last month, the firm announced it will launch Windows 10 late in 2015. This announcement surprised many as Microsoft completely skipped Windows 9, although it is now is widely acknowledged to be the 8.1 update currently on offer from retailers.

Over one million people had signed up to use the Windows 10 beta as of mid-October, with that number thought to have risen since.

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