By JR Raphael
November 3, 2009

Watch out, Vista: Windows 7 may soon put your sales to shame.

Microsoft’s new operating system is showing strong early growth compared to past releases, some new data suggests. About 3.6% of Net-connected computers were sporting Windows 7 over the weekend — less than two weeks after its launch — according to the analysts at Net Applications.

Windows 7 Market Share
For only 10 days into Windows 7′s life, 3.6% isn’t too shabby of a number. Compare for yourself: More than a month after its debut, Vista claimed only 2.04% of the operating system market, gauging by Net Applications’ measurements at the time. It didn’t hit 3.74% until May of 2007, four months into its release. And that’s following a launch absolutely jam-packed with “wow.”

Granted, the new Win 7 data is based only on computers that accessed the Web over Saturday and Sunday, and that number may rise or fall as the week moves forward. Still, it’s the first time the software has cracked the 3% mark, so it’s a milestone well worth noting.

Personally, I suspect all those wild Windows 7 launch parties had something to do with it. Plus, you’ve gotta imagine plenty of people dressed up as “unspecified errors” for Halloween — that’s free marketing right there.
All joking aside, though, let’s hope the “Save Vista” campaigns don’t kick in anytime soon.