According to the latest research from data analytics company Net Applications, the adoption rate of the newest version of Microsoft’s desktop PC operating system (OS), Windows 8, is still growing.

After making its way to a global computer operating system usage share of 5.10% during June 2013, Windows 8 now tips the usage scale at 8.02%. The world’s most utilised PC OS - Windows 7 - boosted its usage share from the 44.37% captured in July to 46.47% currently.

Over the course of September 2013, Windows 7’s adoption rate (0.78%) pulled ahead of Windows 8’s (0.61%) for the first time since the launch of Windows 8 back in October 2012. This should change after the general availability of the Windows 8.1 update later this month.   

Windows XP remains at second place but sees its usage stake drop significantly from 37.17% in July to 31.36% currently. Also hitting the down button on the usage share elevator is Windows Vista, as its share dips from 4.62% during July to 3.98% by October.

Source: Net Applications

Byond Redmond’s OSs

The solitary non-Windows OS in the top 5 is still Apple’s Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, which slightly boost its worldwide usage stake from 3.14% in July to 3.69% currently.

When combined, the usage rate of all of the versions of Mac OS X comes to 7.54% (up from 7.2% in July), while all versions of Windows predictably grab the Lion’s share of the usage - 90.8% (down from 91.5% in July).  

The global usage rate for Linux comes to just 1.65%, a minor improvement over July’s 1.28% stake.

In related news, Microsoft recently lifted the lid on its Windows RT 8.1 powered Surface 2 and Windows 8.1 Pro running Surface Pro 2 tablets.