In the first week of its release Windows 10 was installed on over 14 million machines, helped along by Microsoft's strategy of making the update free to Windows 7 and 8 users. By attracting so many users so quickly, Microsoft is positioning the new operating system as a go-to for developers.
Windows 10 is off to an especially strong start compared to previous versions. The first two months of availability saw over 60 million installs of Windows 7 and around the same for Windows 8 a few years later. To almost double the number is an impressive feat for Microsoft, especially given the unfavourable market conditions of the PC industry.
Early in October, Microsoft is expected to announce a host of new Windows 10 devices, including Lumia handsets and a new Surface Pro 4. These devices will help showcase the new operating system, increasing the attractiveness of Windows 10.
The stated aim of Windows 10 is to be in over one billion hands by two or three years time. The company is already over 10% of the way there, without the roll-out of other devices - such as the mobile version of the operating system or Internet of Things products - helping it along.
Business Insider has reached out to Microsoft to confirm the number. We will update the post if we hear back.