As the article notes, the increase seems to be driven mainly by users in Asia, where recycling and reusing older hardware is quite common. I wonder if third-party companies are offering extended security patches there, which could make affordable second-hand Windows 7 machines more appealing for people who just need them for browsing or light tasks. It would certainly make sense given recent fiascos and Microsoft’s current stance on AI, especially with generative AI being used to develop system-level code.
I use this on my DJ laptop. It’s nice because it doesn’t constantly bother you with bullshit, and is extremely stable.
Anyone still stuck on 10 who isn’t ready for Linux just yet should give LTSC a try. You’ll probably like it. It’s not going away anytime soon, either, because it is used in mission critical things like ATMs and cash registers that need to just work without being bothered with constant updates and reboots nor being bombarded with ads.