Cue a few wry smiles. Microsoft’s decision to kill Windows 10 before hundreds of millions of users were ready may have backfired. In the midst of multiple emergency Windows updates and warnings, here’s some more bad news on the PC front.
Whilst 200 million or more of the 500 million PCs still running Windows 10 as at the Oct. 14 deadline day cannot officially upgrade to Windows 11, there are workarounds that still work. But Microsoft’s official advice is to recycle old PCs and buy a new one instead — ideally a new Copilot PC, complete with the hardware needed to run its AI.
Set against the backdrop of continued warnings that unsupported Windows 10 PCs are an open door for hackers, Microsoft says “Copilot+ PCs take protection even further with a powerful architecture for executing AI workloads locally. This enables proactive, context-aware AI experiences while keeping your data secure.”
This AI push is not yet here. Counterpoint’s latest report has some starkly bad news for the Windows-maker — and will likely disappoint. “The significant ramp-up in AI PC shipments is anticipated to commence after 2026.”
But the real surprise is that Apple is proving to be a major beneficiary of Windows 10’s demise, despite it being Google that was pushing harder fore a slice of the upgrade market with its option to turn PCs into Chromebooks.
Per MacRumors, “the Windows 10 end-of-support deadline is driving the largest coordinated PC replacement cycle in years across the industry, and Apple is emerging as one of the main beneficiaries as Mac shipments accelerate.”
In Counterpoint’s latest quarterly numbers, Apple outpaces all OEMs bar Lenovo. “Apple’s shipments jumped 14.9% YoY in Q3 2025” the research team reported, “thanks to popular new MacBook models and enterprise adoption.”
And as ComputerWorld points out, “while it’s unwise to read too much into either event, it’s hard not to see some connections once you add things up. Because, while gently avoiding too overt a challenge to Microsoft, Apple is clearly signaling to hundreds of millions of people stranded on Windows 10 that it might be worth getting a Mac.”
That report recalls Apple’s slightly awkward recent ad poking fun at Windows’ blue screens of death, pushing Macs as a better replacement. Maybe some users took note.
Whilst the Mac aspect will grab the headlines, it’s slower than hoped AI upgrades that’s the real story. Windows 11 is all in on AI. Now Microsoft needs users to play along. One thing does need to be emphasized above all else. The end of Windows 10 is a major cyber threat. If you’re affected, make sure you don’t fall off support.