8 ms·

Windows dips below 50% of web traffic to US govt websites

108 points by umeshunni 10y ago

executesorder66 10y ago
Wow, these are really good stats. I wish my government had something like this. Was this created by the United States Digital Service[0]? I've heard great things about them. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Digital_Service https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Digital_Service
- raarts 10y ago
  Close. It's 18F Digital Services Delivery. The website says the code is on github [1] [1] https://github.com/18F/analytics.usa.gov https://github.com/18F/analytics.usa.gov
  - eonw 10y ago
    pretty straightforward google analytics API data gathering. easy to make, this code makes it even easier.
  - konklone 10y ago
    It's both. 18F hosts the code and led the development, but there were major contributions from USDS (such as the visual design). And the program itself is owned and directed by the Digital Analytics Program, another team in the GSA. It was a team effort.
maheshs 10y ago
Mobile keep growing which is the result of the dip in traffic from windows. As a desktop, windows still strong.
- deviate_X 10y ago
  Unless you can show absolute numbers, you can't call it a "dip". Like many in various industries there has been a huge push to support mobile, and thus the effect the larger % of the population who use mobiles vs pc's comes into effect
  - cptskippy 10y ago
    Why is that? He's just pointing out that the dwindling numbers are not necessarily because of a desktop market share decline but because of the growth of mobile. We're seeing this everywhere.
    - pdpi 10y ago
      The point is, as a _share_ the numbers are dwindling, but we can't tell from the share numbers whether the _absolute numbers_ are dwindling, stagnant, or still growing (albeit slower than mobile growth).
TorKlingberg 10y ago
Interesting that Windows 7 is still twice as common as Windows 10.
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]
- dogma1138 10y ago
  Don't know about the US government specifically however it's not uncommon for the government to be the biggest single user of it's websites, followed usually by business/corporate users. If this is the case in the US also then a lot of business users have not upgraded to Windows 10 yet.
  - tdlowden 10y ago
    Hey dogma1138, I manage this program. Only about 4% of total traffic is from within US gov networks.
  - AnAfrican 10y ago
    The US Postal Services' websites are by far the most visited. Followed by things like the Weather services and then things related to health or social security. Those are "costumer"-oriented sites. But then again, some of them could be browsing from their work computers.
    - dogma1138 10y ago
      That doesn't necessarily mean much, every time I went to the post office here in the UK and asked for something specific they went on their website and printed a page for me (not the most efficient use of resources but hey it works), there's also the case of terminals at public government offices where the public can go to use online resources (home office, and job center are a good example of that), this could be not that different from 30% of the site hits for HSBC in the UK which are from within the internet banking terminals in the branches. But as tdlowden said apparently only 4% actually comes from US government networks so I guess it's not the case, tho I don't know if it's only federal or also local government since the US has a very tiered form of government.
benologist 10y ago
I think Windows has become obsolete. For most people it's now something you choose to install in increasingly annoying update windows vs automatically installed on new PCs that used to sell like hotcakes. Everyone was automatically opted out of Windows 10 as they kept using old computers with no compelling reasons to buy a new PC again (probably 'ever' for most people). Phones usurped a lot of tasks that are more convenient that way and that will only continue. I think Google will do some damage to Windows next year through Surface clones and Chromebooks. Chrome OS is getting pretty competent with support rolling out for the full Play Store... and through that people have already installed the Windows version of Steam and playable games. The full desktop browser is also very empowering. Overall it's becoming directly equivalent at all the good stuff, it's even Linux under the hood and can co-install full Ubuntu. What it leaves behind allows for mindless security, no upkeep, and performance. Apple like to think their iPad Pro is the next generation of PCs too - http://www.macrumors.com/2016/08/01/apple-new-ipad-pro-computer-replacement-ad/ http://www.macrumors.com/2016/08/01/apple-new-ipad-pro-compu...
- romanovcode 10y ago
  Well unless apple releases iPad Pro that can actually run programs instead of "apps" from store then maybe. But it's not the case. And for Chromebook, I don't think it's even close.
  - montibbalt 10y ago
    This is obviously anecdotal but I work on a somewhat popular web game (millions of sessions/month despite having a mobile app) and Chrome OS (1.15%) represents less of our sessions than even 3rd place Linux (1.23%). We actually get almost as many people visiting our web game from a mobile device _by mistake_. So to put it lightly, Chromebook has some work to do.
  - ld00d 10y ago
    What's the difference between running "apps" and "actually running programs"?
dade_ 10y ago
I am visiting elderly relatives this week, so I get my anecdotal updates. The Windows machine was under a towel (for dust) which basically means it isn't being used anymore. The story: after clicking no every time, his Windows 7 machine auto-upgraded to Windows 10. He has figured out how load Internet Explorer to find his links, but is baffled by the rest of Windows. So he went out and upgraded his phone to a new Samsung smartphone and uses it for all of his email and web searches. He still needs a bigger device and is planning to buy an Android tablet because he thinks it will be similar to his phone and easier than figuring out Windows 10. He also wanted to know if he can still get viruses on Windows 10, which is his other reason to switch to Android. I showed him how he can use voice to interact with his device because his eyesight keeps him from using his devices for long periods of time. Saying "Ok Google" is really un-intuitive, he actually wrote it down. Also, he found new games to replace the ones he played on Windows. So this Windows 10 auto-update could very well be pushing people to abandon their desktop/laptop altogether if they don't have a use case forcing them to keep Windows.
- ralfd 10y ago
  Similar story here, but with iPad (good accessibility for old people eye sight). Only Apple iCloud is still baffling (my cloud storage is full? I think I forgot my password?), but many things like TouchID make it easy to use and the simplicity of the system is unkaputtbar/secure compared to a "real" computer.
  - glial 10y ago
    iCloud storage is baffling to me too, and I work in tech!
    - eonw 10y ago
      ive tried to explain it until i was blue in the face to my girlfriend, finally gave up.
    - thesmok 10y ago
      I just don't use it for iCloud backups. Plug my iDevices to iTunes for local backup once a month and it's all peace.
forgotAgain 10y ago
Wow, that's a US government page. Good job!
zeveb 10y ago
Kinda funny how the NASA & NSF sites see a lot of Linux usage (because their visitors are geekier) but less Android usage (because they are more upper-class, and Apple devices are a status signal).
- JustSomeNobody 10y ago
  Are Apple devices really seen as a status device? Maybe I don't see it because I don't need validation.
  - zeveb 10y ago
    > Are Apple devices really seen as a status device? By the sort of person who'd rather pay extra for a Mac than just use Linux, sure. I remember seeing an acquaintance wax eloquent to another acquaintance about how perfectly designed the iPhone is (it's not: it's a plain black box) — it was really just a way of showing to his acquaintance how wise and clever he is to appreciate the emperor's new clothes. > Maybe I don't see it because I don't need validation. Me neither, which is why I haven't bought an Apple computer in this millennium.
    - tim333 10y ago
      iPhone's are quite nicely designed. Nothing's perfect though.
    - Roboprog 10y ago
      In fairness, I have 2 phones. My personal phone is an Android, because I'm cheap. My work phone is an iPhone, and it has MUCH better battery life. Most features might be quite similar, but as far as I know, using [Objective] C on custom hardware is more efficient than pseudo-Java, resulting in less battery usage, and better audio latency for stuff like Garbage Band on my iPad. ... At least until the Android JIT catches up. When that happens, Android code might well become better/faster, due to there being less of it to glean the intent from. But we're not there, yet. And I'm definitely on a tangent now :-) (and, I have all 3 major OSs on various home computers)
  - 10y ago
behnamoh 10y ago
No wonder, given the post-PC era began a few years ago, shifting the focus to portable devices. Although I believe we're entering a post-post-PC era, w/ IoT and VR/AR on the horizon (both of which consume orders of magnitude more internet than ordinary mobile phones.)
JohnnyConatus 10y ago
Confirmed: Russian hackers use Linux.

108 points by umeshunni 10y ago

Wow, these are really good stats. I wish my government had something like this. Was this created by the United States Digital Service[0]? I've heard great things about them. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Digital_Service https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Digital_Service

raarts 10y ago
Close. It's 18F Digital Services Delivery. The website says the code is on github [1] [1] https://github.com/18F/analytics.usa.gov https://github.com/18F/analytics.usa.gov
- eonw 10y ago
  pretty straightforward google analytics API data gathering. easy to make, this code makes it even easier.
- konklone 10y ago
  It's both. 18F hosts the code and led the development, but there were major contributions from USDS (such as the visual design). And the program itself is owned and directed by the Digital Analytics Program, another team in the GSA. It was a team effort.

maheshs 10y ago

Mobile keep growing which is the result of the dip in traffic from windows. As a desktop, windows still strong.

deviate_X 10y ago
Unless you can show absolute numbers, you can't call it a "dip". Like many in various industries there has been a huge push to support mobile, and thus the effect the larger % of the population who use mobiles vs pc's comes into effect
- cptskippy 10y ago
  Why is that? He's just pointing out that the dwindling numbers are not necessarily because of a desktop market share decline but because of the growth of mobile. We're seeing this everywhere.
  - pdpi 10y ago
    The point is, as a _share_ the numbers are dwindling, but we can't tell from the share numbers whether the _absolute numbers_ are dwindling, stagnant, or still growing (albeit slower than mobile growth).

TorKlingberg 10y ago

Interesting that Windows 7 is still twice as common as Windows 10.

deleted 10y ago
[deleted]
dogma1138 10y ago
Don't know about the US government specifically however it's not uncommon for the government to be the biggest single user of it's websites, followed usually by business/corporate users. If this is the case in the US also then a lot of business users have not upgraded to Windows 10 yet.
- tdlowden 10y ago
  Hey dogma1138, I manage this program. Only about 4% of total traffic is from within US gov networks.
- AnAfrican 10y ago
  The US Postal Services' websites are by far the most visited. Followed by things like the Weather services and then things related to health or social security. Those are "costumer"-oriented sites. But then again, some of them could be browsing from their work computers.
  - dogma1138 10y ago
    That doesn't necessarily mean much, every time I went to the post office here in the UK and asked for something specific they went on their website and printed a page for me (not the most efficient use of resources but hey it works), there's also the case of terminals at public government offices where the public can go to use online resources (home office, and job center are a good example of that), this could be not that different from 30% of the site hits for HSBC in the UK which are from within the internet banking terminals in the branches. But as tdlowden said apparently only 4% actually comes from US government networks so I guess it's not the case, tho I don't know if it's only federal or also local government since the US has a very tiered form of government.

benologist 10y ago

I think Windows has become obsolete. For most people it's now something you choose to install in increasingly annoying update windows vs automatically installed on new PCs that used to sell like hotcakes. Everyone was automatically opted out of Windows 10 as they kept using old computers with no compelling reasons to buy a new PC again (probably 'ever' for most people). Phones usurped a lot of tasks that are more convenient that way and that will only continue. I think Google will do some damage to Windows next year through Surface clones and Chromebooks. Chrome OS is getting pretty competent with support rolling out for the full Play Store... and through that people have already installed the Windows version of Steam and playable games. The full desktop browser is also very empowering. Overall it's becoming directly equivalent at all the good stuff, it's even Linux under the hood and can co-install full Ubuntu. What it leaves behind allows for mindless security, no upkeep, and performance. Apple like to think their iPad Pro is the next generation of PCs too - http://www.macrumors.com/2016/08/01/apple-new-ipad-pro-computer-replacement-ad/ http://www.macrumors.com/2016/08/01/apple-new-ipad-pro-compu...

romanovcode 10y ago
Well unless apple releases iPad Pro that can actually run programs instead of "apps" from store then maybe. But it's not the case. And for Chromebook, I don't think it's even close.
- montibbalt 10y ago
  This is obviously anecdotal but I work on a somewhat popular web game (millions of sessions/month despite having a mobile app) and Chrome OS (1.15%) represents less of our sessions than even 3rd place Linux (1.23%). We actually get almost as many people visiting our web game from a mobile device _by mistake_. So to put it lightly, Chromebook has some work to do.
- ld00d 10y ago
  What's the difference between running "apps" and "actually running programs"?

dade_ 10y ago

I am visiting elderly relatives this week, so I get my anecdotal updates. The Windows machine was under a towel (for dust) which basically means it isn't being used anymore. The story: after clicking no every time, his Windows 7 machine auto-upgraded to Windows 10. He has figured out how load Internet Explorer to find his links, but is baffled by the rest of Windows. So he went out and upgraded his phone to a new Samsung smartphone and uses it for all of his email and web searches. He still needs a bigger device and is planning to buy an Android tablet because he thinks it will be similar to his phone and easier than figuring out Windows 10. He also wanted to know if he can still get viruses on Windows 10, which is his other reason to switch to Android. I showed him how he can use voice to interact with his device because his eyesight keeps him from using his devices for long periods of time. Saying "Ok Google" is really un-intuitive, he actually wrote it down. Also, he found new games to replace the ones he played on Windows. So this Windows 10 auto-update could very well be pushing people to abandon their desktop/laptop altogether if they don't have a use case forcing them to keep Windows.

ralfd 10y ago
Similar story here, but with iPad (good accessibility for old people eye sight). Only Apple iCloud is still baffling (my cloud storage is full? I think I forgot my password?), but many things like TouchID make it easy to use and the simplicity of the system is unkaputtbar/secure compared to a "real" computer.
- glial 10y ago
  iCloud storage is baffling to me too, and I work in tech!
  - eonw 10y ago
    ive tried to explain it until i was blue in the face to my girlfriend, finally gave up.
  - thesmok 10y ago
    I just don't use it for iCloud backups. Plug my iDevices to iTunes for local backup once a month and it's all peace.

forgotAgain 10y ago

Wow, that's a US government page. Good job!

zeveb 10y ago

Kinda funny how the NASA & NSF sites see a lot of Linux usage (because their visitors are geekier) but less Android usage (because they are more upper-class, and Apple devices are a status signal).

JustSomeNobody 10y ago
Are Apple devices really seen as a status device? Maybe I don't see it because I don't need validation.
- zeveb 10y ago
  > Are Apple devices really seen as a status device? By the sort of person who'd rather pay extra for a Mac than just use Linux, sure. I remember seeing an acquaintance wax eloquent to another acquaintance about how perfectly designed the iPhone is (it's not: it's a plain black box) — it was really just a way of showing to his acquaintance how wise and clever he is to appreciate the emperor's new clothes. > Maybe I don't see it because I don't need validation. Me neither, which is why I haven't bought an Apple computer in this millennium.
  - tim333 10y ago
    iPhone's are quite nicely designed. Nothing's perfect though.
  - Roboprog 10y ago
    In fairness, I have 2 phones. My personal phone is an Android, because I'm cheap. My work phone is an iPhone, and it has MUCH better battery life. Most features might be quite similar, but as far as I know, using [Objective] C on custom hardware is more efficient than pseudo-Java, resulting in less battery usage, and better audio latency for stuff like Garbage Band on my iPad. ... At least until the Android JIT catches up. When that happens, Android code might well become better/faster, due to there being less of it to glean the intent from. But we're not there, yet. And I'm definitely on a tangent now :-) (and, I have all 3 major OSs on various home computers)
- 10y ago

behnamoh 10y ago

No wonder, given the post-PC era began a few years ago, shifting the focus to portable devices. Although I believe we're entering a post-post-PC era, w/ IoT and VR/AR on the horizon (both of which consume orders of magnitude more internet than ordinary mobile phones.)

JohnnyConatus 10y ago

Confirmed: Russian hackers use Linux.