( Mashable ) -- Windows 7 is now the world 's most popular desktop operating system , according to the August report from Net Applications . In August , Windows 7 had a 42.76 % market share , a fraction of a point more than Windows XP 's 42.52 % . Windows XP was released in 2001 . The much-maligned Windows Vista sits at third place with a 6.15 % market share , followed by Mac OS X 10.7 and Mac OS X 10.6 with 2.45 % and 2.38 % , respectively . All in all , older versions included , Microsoft controls some 92 % of the market . It took three years for Windows 7 to become the world 's most popular OS . Microsoft 's desktop operating system , which was launched in October 2009 , will soon be replaced by a newer version â€ ” Windows 8 . Windows 8 , which is scheduled to go on sale on October 26 , will be Microsoft 's first operating system designed to work just as well on tablets as it does on desktop computers . Users running Windows XP , Vista or Windows 7 will be able to upgrade to Windows 8 Professional for $ 39.99 via an online download . © 2013 MASHABLE.com . All rights reserved .
Windows 7 is now the world 's most popular desktop OS , according to a report . Comment: Microsoft controls some 92 % of the market for desktop operating systems .