According to Dell's latest report, nearly 1 billion PCs are still running Windows 10. Dell COO Jeffrey Clarke announced during the company's Q3 earnings call that around 500 million of these machines could upgrade to Windows 11, but have not done so. The remaining 500 million are older devices that are unable to support Windows 11 due to hardware constraints.
Hardware Limitations and Opportunities
The report highlights the significant number of PCs still operating on Windows 10, indicating the potential for upgrades. Clarke emphasized these as "rich opportunities" to migrate towards Windows 11 and utilize modern technology enhancements, referencing all Windows PCs industry-wide, not just those manufactured by Dell. Despite these prospects, some users have shifted towards other platforms, like Linux, following the end of support for Windows 10.
Impact of Windows 11 Requirements
Windows 10 PCs face challenges upgrading due to the stringent hardware prerequisites of Windows 11. Even if all eligible machines upgraded, 500 million PCs would remain on Windows 10. Microsoft's Pavan Davuluri mentioned at the Ignite conference nearly 1 billion users are on Windows 11, suggesting the potential for increase if hardware requirements are adjusted or more users choose to upgrade.
This scenario reveals the dual nature of Microsoft’s current situation: a substantial user base on an older system, yet a large potential market for improvements and upgrades to Windows 11.
