A recent statement by Karen L. Parkhill, Executive Vice President and CFO at HP, has shaken the tech industry: 30% of PCs in circulation still run Windows 10. This figure, obtained from an investor call, offers a much more reliable picture than third-party statistics from Statcounter or Steam surveys. The persistence of such a high market share for an operating system that stopped receiving active development years ago—and whose successor, Windows 11, is aggressively pushed by Microsoft—raises key questions for businesses, developers, and IT managers. In this article we analyze why this matters and how organizations can prepare for the future without losing competitiveness, leveraging custom software and emerging technologies.
The HP disclosure not only confirms Windows 10's resilience but also reveals interesting regional dynamics. While North America's upgrade cycle to Windows 11 is already mature, regions like EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) and APJ (Asia-Pacific) are accelerating the process, boosting PC sales. However, the fact that a third of the installed base remains on Windows 10 indicates that many enterprises and consumers see insufficient reasons to migrate. Reasons include hardware costs, legacy application compatibility, resistance to change, and dissatisfaction with Windows 11's new interfaces and requirements.
For the business landscape, this situation has direct consequences on security and operational efficiency. Microsoft has extended the ESU (Extended Security Updates) program for Windows 10 until October 2027, but it is a temporary fix. Companies relying on this OS must plan their transition or accept growing risks. This is where the need for cloud services on AWS or Azure becomes critical, enabling infrastructure modernization without depending solely on the local OS. The cloud offers flexibility, scalability, and especially managed security updates, reducing the attack surface of outdated equipment.
Migration is not only technical but strategic. Many organizations have invested years in developing custom applications that run perfectly on Windows 10. Rebuilding that ecosystem for Windows 11 can be costly and disruptive. That is why at Q2BSTUDIO we recommend a hybrid approach: keep what works, but wrap it with modernization layers. For example, containerizing or virtualizing legacy apps, while simultaneously designing new features with technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and intelligent agents. AI is not a passing trend; it enables process automation, analysis of large data volumes, and creation of virtual assistants that boost productivity. Integrating AI agents into existing applications can extend software life without complete rewrites.
Another fundamental pillar is cybersecurity. With Windows 12 (note: Windows 10) lacking official patches after 2027, businesses become easy targets for cyberattacks. A solid cybersecurity plan must include network segmentation, system hardening, and continuous monitoring. At Q2BSTUDIO we offer pentesting services and audits to identify vulnerabilities before attackers do. Moreover, combining cloud and Business Intelligence solutions with Power BI allows management to make data-driven decisions in real time, critical when managing a heterogeneous IT fleet.
We must not forget automation. Process automation through RPA or custom scripts helps reduce operational burden and minimize human errors. For instance, migrating data between systems, updating configurations, or generating compliance reports can run without manual intervention, freeing IT teams to focus on innovation.
Ultimately, the 30% Windows 10 market share is not an anecdote but a warning and an opportunity. Companies that act early, reviewing their technology architecture and relying on partners like Q2BSTUDIO, can turn this challenge into a competitive advantage. The key is not to wait for Microsoft to turn off the lights, but to design a gradual modernization path, leveraging custom software, cloud, AI, and cybersecurity as enablers. The future is not Windows 10 or Windows 11 alone; it is a flexible, secure, and intelligent ecosystem that adapts to each business's needs. And that future starts today.
