According to NetMarketshare, Windows XP adoption currently sits at 17.18%, Windows 8 at 5.88%, and Windows 8.1 at 10.92%, giving Windows 8.x a total of 16.8%. Windows 7 remains the big dog, with a 53.05% adoption rate.

The Windows 8 adoption rate straggling may be old news, but the coming crossover in adoption rates is interesting nonetheless. Part of the issue is Windows fragmentation and Microsoft’s struggle to convince its customers to fork over the $100+ to buy into a newer OS. Will a free OS change that?

Another issue is all those left behind machines and the security risk they pose. How many unpatched Windows XP and Vista machines are out there, either waiting to be malwared into a zombie state or already serving in a malware army?

If you want to explore OS, browser, or search engine market share, head over to NetMarketshare, then make a selection from the drop down menus at the top of the main pane.