[cpeterso]

For an example of just how many people don't care about EOL'd operating systems:

Microsoft's mainstream support for Windows 7 ended in January 2015 (and paid "Extended Security Updates" service ended in January 2020) and yet 21% of Firefox users are still running Windows 7:

https://data.firefox.com/dashboard/hardware#goto-os-and-arch...

[strombofulous]

Only 1.97% of steam users use windows 7, so I don't think we can assume either demographic is a fair representation of all users

https://store.steampowered.com/hwsurvey/Steam-Hardware-Softw...

[majewsky]

Steam users are not a "fair representation of all users" either. The gamer demographic is biased towards newer and faster hardware than the average user, and the newest greatest hardware is only going to be supported on the latest OS version(s).

[strombofulous]

I agree. I claim that both sets are biased, whch is why we can't use the steam charts or Firefox usage data to draw any conclusions about the broader population

[quantumsequoia]

I think Firefox users are much more likely to be contrarian with their software decisions. I'm not sure how much I'd be willing to extrapolate from from data on Firefox users to the general population

[madeofpalk]

You think Firefox users are going to be more likely to use an EOL-ed OS?

[bruce343434]

Perhaps, because win7 is known for being "the last good windows" with some privacy. It may or may not be true, but a lot of people are adamant about not using linux while also trying to maintain privacy, hence they use win7. I imagine such users would probably use a browser like firefox.

[recursive]

I remember when win2k was "the last good windows" and then windows xp after it. I $CURRENT-2 is always going to be considered "the last good windows".

[voldacar]

Nah there was definitely some kind of fundamental qualitative change from 7 to 8/10. I dont think the post-7 versions of windows will ever be loved like 7

[sellyme]

I don't recall anyone describing Vista as "the last good Windows" back in 2013.

[shkkmo]

Windows 8 will never be considered "the last good windows"...

[fomine3]

Windows 8.1 is heavily underrated. It's the final desktop Windows without rolling release model. (Except LTSC because its license is very limited.)

[cyberge99]

Neither was Windows ME (Millennium Edition).

[HKH2]

I still think Win2k was the last good Windows. XP was buggier and 7’s classic theme didn't look right.

[GeekyBear]

Win2k WAS the last good Windows.

Dave Cutler was still in charge, and his attitude towards stamping out bugs is sorely lacking today.

[beardyw]

No, Microsoft reserves odd numbers for good versions. That's why there was no 9. 11 will be brilliant! ;)

[Schnitz]

When Windows XP PCs started to become obsolete, one way to extend their life (at least for people that only used them to browse the web) was to install Firefox. I've actually helped someone do this when their freemail provider stopped supporting IE 8. There's people for whom a new computer is an expensive purchase and they will use it until the wheels fall off.

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/end-support-windows-xp-...