In October this year, Microsoft released its latest operating system, Windows 8, which features many new features to attract new customers. However, a report from USA Today reveals that Windows users in the U.S. are hesitant to switch to the latest Microsoft operating system.

Furthermore, the report indicates that about one-third of Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP users who are prepared to buy a new personal computer intend to switch to an Apple product.

Antivirus firm Avast conducted a survey of Windows PC users and the findings were exclusively released to USA Today.

"It doesn't surprise me that people wouldn't be in a rush to buy a new PC just because it has a new operating system," says Steve Kleynhans, an analyst with Gartner mobile and client computing. Kleynhans further added "If Microsoft somehow demonstrates through its marketing that users can do new things in new ways, that might start to get people interested."

Microsoft has made major changes to the new operating system's user interface (UI). Instead of using a keyboard and a mouse, users can now operate a PC using a touchscreen.

On Oct. 25, Avast surveyed 1.6 million users of its PC anti-virus product and received 350000 responses which included 135329 responses from U.S. Windows users.

Nearly 65 percent of U.S. users replied from PCs running Windows 7, while 22 percent used Windows XP, and 8 percent used Windows Vista. Nine percent of U.S. respondents said that they would buy a new computer to experience the new operating system while 70 percent of respondents said they planned to stick with what their current PC.

"Windows 7 works just fine. It's not a major priority to make a change, especially if there might be apprehensions about bugs," said George Otte, CEO of Geeks on Site.

"The simple adjustment of not having a 'start' button will be a hurdle," said Karl Volkman, chief technology officer at SRV Network, an Internet service provider.

The demand for PC's has reduced as many users have started using a tablet as an alternate to PC. As such, the growth of the Windows 8 operating system may not be very high as expected.

Do you have a PC running on the Windows operating system other than the Windows 8? Do you wish to upgrade to Windows 8?