Windows XP turns 25. It’s still beating Windows 8 in market share

This fall marks the 25th anniversary of the launch of Windows XP, an event worthy of commemoration. Computer manufacturers gained access to this classic operating system on August 24, 2001, but it wasn’t available for purchase until October 25th of that same year.

Unlike its predecessors Windows 95, 98, and ME, Windows XP was based on Windows NT, which meant fewer system crashes and greater security. Microsoft called Windows XP “the most important version of Windows ever,” and in retrospect, that was no exaggeration.

Windows XP proved so popular that support for it was repeatedly extended, and even today there are some users who stubbornly cling to this iconic version. According to the latest data from Statcounter, 0.09 percent of the population still uses Windows XP, compared to 0.02 percent for Windows 8, which was released 11 years later.

But Windows XP isn’t the only Microsoft product celebrating an anniversary. Windows 95 is also celebrating its 31st birthday, which you can read more about in our article revisiting Windows 95’s success.

For something quirky, learn about why the Windows 95 CD came with a Weezer music video. For an even greater deep dive into the history of Windows, check out our visual walk down Windows memory lane.

Further reading: Every Microsoft Windows version, ranked