Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) announced that it has officially discontinued the retail sales of some versions of Windows 7 and 8 to clear the path for the newer versions of the operating systems (OS).
Microsoft had stopped selling copies of the Home Basic, Home Premium and Ultimate versions of Windows 7 from Oct 31 through original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and now discontinued sales of Windows 8 as well.
Therefore, the recent announcement leaves consumers with just one option of Windows 8.1 till it releases the next update, Windows 10 in late-2015. Windows 8.1 will now be offered as the default version on laptops and PCs for sale.
Windows 7 Professional can still be purchased through Microsoft's Downgrade Rights at an additional cost and with limited availability. OEMs can still sell PCs pre-loaded with Windows 8 and Windows 7 Professional over the next one year.
Microsoft had released Windows 8 in 2012. The original version witnessed slow adoption by consumers as the software developer had excluded some familiar features such as the start menu of the desktop version of the OS. On the other hand, Windows 7, released in 2009, is still popular among consumers.
The latest move is expected to boost adoption of the latest versions of Microsoft’s operating system. However, the change will take its due time as a large stock of the older versions is still available. Moreover, users tend to move to a newer version at a much slower pace.
In addition, as per Microsoft, Windows 10 will offer an improved experience for enterprise users. It is expected to offer better business security, identity and information protection, and easy management and deployment for enterprise use. Therefore, enterprises may be encouraged to upgrade.
Microsoft shares carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Better-ranked technology stocks to consider at this time include Autodesk Inc (NASDAQ:ADSK) , MicroStrategy Incorporated (NASDAQ:MSTR) and Fleetmatics Grup (NYSE:FLTX) , all of which sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).