Experts warn popularity of Microsoft's new operating system could 'break the internet'

Windows 10: Experts warn popularity of Microsoft's new operating system could 'break the internet'

Tech fans could face a long wait as the world rushes to get their hands on new operating system


Reuters/PAWindows 10
Tech analysts have claimed the immense popularity of Microsoft's Windows 10 upgrade could "break the internet".

Usually, that phrase is employed whenever Kim Kardashian unleashes her bottom, but experts now fear Windows could have the same effect on the web.

Windows 10 is now being rolled out across the world "in waves", but some users already reporting long waits to download the update.


Beta testers were able to access it yesterday, but other PC owners will be offered the chance to download it today.

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Dan Rayburn, an analyst with Frost & Sullivan, is expecting to see some very slow download times.

"Unless Windows 10 is a complete flop and people don't upgrade as quickly as Microsoft expects, Windows 10 is going to create some serious havoc with regards to the user experience," he wrote.

"Expect to see some download times in the days, not hours, especially if any other content owners happen to have larger-than-expected traffic at the same time."

Early yesterday evening, Windows related traffic had surged to a "massive" 10 TB/s a second, Rayburn added, some 2 TB/s above the rate he saw during Apple launches.

He expected Windows 10 to be "five times" more popular than an Apple launch, making it the "largest day/week of traffic ever on the internet".

PAThe new Windows 10 Hello screenThe new Windows 10 Hello screen
Windows users who have registered their interest will be notified once Windows 10 becomes available to them, with the roll out beginning in the early hours of Wednesday morning, and set to be staggered over the coming days.

Among those who downloaded the system at the earliest opportunity was Ian Fry, of Eastbourne, who tweeted: "Currently in the process of installing 'Windows 10' on my main computer at home. Cheeky early install."

And Matt Harwood, of Hitchin, Hertfordshire, tweeted: "Installing Windows10, it seems to be taking longer than Windows7".

PAWindows 10Microsoft of the Windows 10 action centre, at the launch of the new operating system, which is the biggest update the company has ever made to its computer software
Those who are not eligible for the free update will have to pay £99 for the Home version of Windows 10, which will go on sale at the end of the month.

Microsoft says there are currently 1.5 billion Windows users worldwide, but the software has come under increasing pressure in recent years from Apple's OS X, which runs on their range of Macintosh desk and laptops, and has seen sales steadily climb while the rest of the market - including Windows - has struggled in the age of mobile devices.

Having also demonstrated how holographic computing can work with Windows 10 via the firm's HoloLens augmented reality headset, Microsoft is hoping to move back to the cutting edge of the technology market with its new release.