Windows seemingly lost 400 million users in the past three years — official Microsoft statements show hints of a shrinking user base

All the FOSS and Linux advocates here going "good". Meanwhile the monkey's paw...

Instead, people are slowly ditching their computers for smartphones and tablets, especially as they’ve become more powerful than ever. The only remaining major consumer markets for Windows PCs are gamers and specialized professionals who rely on software that only runs on Windows, ZDNET observed back in 2019. While the pandemic caused a three-year blip in PC sales, it seems that this trend has continued.

I was just thinking along these lines. My parents have pretty much switched to using iPads for everything. They treat them like laptops, and it’s honestly not like they aren’t as functional for what my parents need.
- And, Microsoft aside, there is a big corporate interest in encouraging that. Buy a disposable, planned obsolescence-driven single device, stay within the ecosystem.
  People have been mad at Windows for so long they forget the reason we're supposed to be mad is it drifting closer to that in the first place.
- My mother did this as well. Basically only uses her computer to play free cell and read republican propaganda.
Android is still better than Windows.
- Maybe, but only if everything you do is in a web browser. Google is much worse than Microsoft when it comes to privacy though.
- LOL. Thanks for the laugh.
- At what?

Microsoft and most other tech giants have long since stopped feeding their cash cows in favor of squeezing them until they're dead.

Seems likely to just be 499 million less computer users. I know my father in law is only using a phone and iPad at this point. But I haven’t been a windows user since Windows NT/2000

This is what I think the bulk of their lost userbase has gone, in addition to Gen Z not being terribly interested in PCs the way those in Gen X and Millenials are.

Yeah. Outside of work most people aren't using proper PCs as much. They have their phone or tablet, which serves for most of what the average person does. (Watch videos and do things on browsers)

It's increasingly just business users and a small number of gaming enthusiasts.

Ever since switching to a foldable and buying a smart TV, I feel this. Things I used to rely on a computer for I can now easily do using my pocket tablet or TV instead.
Back in 2022 I spent $4K building my dream machine, yet I hardly use it. As someone who used to be glued to a PC all day, every day, I thought I'd never see the day where I can go several days in a row without my computer and not even miss it. But the only time I fire up my PC now is to spin some tunes on the turntables, play a game, edit a video, or work on my website. For everything else, the phone or the smart TV will suffice.
If you wanted to drive me insane, make me browse the internet using one stupid little screen. Sounds like hell on earth.

400 million, that's quite substantial! And I image that number is far from done growing...

Plus how many people have multiple computers in the house?
I sure as fuck do.
I generally run a phone (just because it was mentioned), a desktop, and a laptop.
Plus, my wife technically has three jobs (1 full time, 2 PRN) and hardware (laptop) from each of them, plus she not only has a windows laptop, but a macbook, plus her phone, plus her tablet.... it goes on, lol.
My desktop is currently on windows as I'm relying on some third party tools for a game, and I just haven't had the energy to look into it and get it running on Linux. (EQ private server, well within their rules, though their rules don't match the live environment - just wanted to clarify I wasn't cheating anyone, if they include install instructions on the home page, I assume its allowable, plus the GMs give advice in chat for configuration for newbies)
The laptop, is almost, without fail, some flavor of Linux. Its a personal machine, but I've mostly worked night shift help desk... sometimes there is time to kill. So I keep it in my backpack of tools and other shit, boot it up and continue whatever I was looking into previously to entertain myself.
Technically, I'm studying for an advanced role at
<Insert Company>
on the security team, for the most part, lol.
Just because I cracked the coffee shop next doors wifi to borrow their internet (So I can view things that are NOT on my employer's network on my personal phone) doesn't mean I'm doing anything nefarious to my employers, and the coffee shop had the wifi password written on a board at their stations, but they were closed because while people may NEED coffee at 2AM (especially to keep fucking children's hospitals running), they don't seem to care.

Expect even more when they no longer update Windows 10. I have 3 computers that are still good but can't be updated to 11. I'm installing Linux because I'm not buying new computers when these work great.

Hoping Steam OS is launched before Win 10 EoS

I imagine China now replacing Windoze on all government computers and servers with home grown KylinOS might have something to do with the exodus numbers.

aw…