Surprised! Vista more than doubling XP's sales in one month.

Surprisingly, Windows Vista in one month, since the start of January 30th, has already doubled the pace of it's predecessor, Windows XP. With all the flaming floating around about how Windows Vista barely reaches a WOW factor, those people failed to realise that Windows Vista was actually selling well around other parts of the world.

Windows XP itself was an amazing contender in the global market of Operation Systems, where in two weeks managed to sell more than 7 million copies around the globe. Of course, after adding into consideration the population growth of the world and better living standards of the average guy (ie they have more access to buying a computer or using one) does it really mean that Windows Vista doubles the pace of Windows XP? For example, Asia makes up two-thirds of the world population and over the past few years, there have been dramatic changes and improvements in living standards and income per capita in the area. This dominating power may also be a reason of the increase in Windows Vista sales.

The world population was approximately 6.6 Billion in 2007 and 6 Billion in 2001. Global Output has risen by an average of 4.4% since 2005 and since 2001, (when Windows XP was released), the world has seen a 21.6% increase in overall GDP. In my opinion, I believe all these factors play an important part in explaining the sales of Windows Vista, thus making not that surprising anymore.

Still, 20 million units of Windows Vista licenses is still a huge number and although there were a few mixed feelings about Microsoft's first major operating system in over five years, the company seems to be doing well. This can be contrasted with the 7 million sales of Windows XP in it's first two weeks.

Windows Operating Systems operate on more than 95% of the world's computers, and the Windows Franchise is one of the most important part of the Giant Microsoft Corporation. Windows is the main money earner, estimated at 75% of Microsoft's earnings. Which in turn allows Microsoft to invest in other projects such as the Xbox360, online digital movement, music etc.

Questions for the future may be: "When will the market be saturated?" "Is Windows Vista really that good?" "Will people continue buying Windows Vista?"

In the meantime, we will just have to wait and see.

Information from CIA Factbook and Reuters