I don't have the link handy but something like 80% of Windows 7 sales volume is when it's included with new computers.
People are *not* dumping XP left right and center, because windows 7 is NOT better.
I do a lot of home theatre HTPC type work and, with decent audio components such as those from Amcron or MacIntosh the difference in both sound and video quality between XP and Windows 7 is obvious... Also on lower end processors typical of HTPC setups (Atom chips are common) win7 will drop frames, burble and even lock up on stuff XP plays without any issues at all.
Frankly... if I could get proper SATA and High Def Audio crivers for Windows 2000... that's where my HTPC systems would be.
For the most part XP remains the operating system of choice for audiophile applications almost world wide... particularly with external THX quality DACs and Audio over HDMI setups. The reason for this is actually quite simple... Delayed Procedure Call Latency (DPCLat) on Win7 runs 200 to 400 microseconds where on XP it's usually under 20... and yes a 10 to 1 ratio is a difference you can actually HEAR on an audiophile quality DAC. Win7 sounds harsh, XP is more natural sounding.
The same is also true with a couple of electronics suppliers I did inventory systems for. They added a new computer (AMD X2 3ghz, Win7) beside their 5 existing XP setups (AMD X2, 2.4ghz) and almost always the XP systems can finish a part inquiry before the new machine... in fact, it's so apparent you don't even need benchmarks to find it... the XP machines run circles around the Win7 box. They asked me to install XP...
Newer isn't always better... in recent years, "newer" usually means "bigger pile of crap".
Were Microsoft to get their (stuff) together, they would strip out all the crap --dvd burners, animated sillyness, etc. etc.-- that most people don't use and come out with a "no nonsense" version of windows stripped right down to the barest essentials... THAT I would go for.
AND... most of the time it isn't because there's an actual problem one can put a finger on... I have systems out there that have been running behind hardware routers with Windows firewalls defeated, no virus checking, half their services shut down and networking wide open for YEARS without a single problem. Turn on Automatic Updates and I spend the next week running around trying to fix the unholly mess Microsoft has caused me.The firewall isn't the only thing in terms of security in an operating system, you know? When companies upgrade operating system because of security, it isn't to get a better "built-in" firewall.
Simple, rule... old platitude... if it ain't broke, don't fix it... Microsoft needs to learn that.
I am constantly amazed at the glaring lack of common sense I see so often in this industry...