Microsoft is nearing a decision in its search for a new CEO, and reports suggest Satya Nadella who has headed the company’s cloud efforts, will lead the Redmond software giant going forward. We provide insight into what that means. Plus, even as the deadline looms for end of support for Windows XP, Microsoft’s aging operating system appears to be gaining market share, leading to the question: Will users resurrect a zombie edition of XP even after Microsoft buries it? Here’s a look at these and other Microsoft developments from the last week.

Paul Thurrott, writing on Windows IT Pro, says the choice of Nadella for the job would have “less to do with him being an internal candidate than it does with him being able to effectively navigate the complex internal structure and politics of a company that, frankly, was already transforming itself when Steve Ballmer announced his intention to step down.” 

But aside from that, the Nadella choice would offer upsides that an external candidate couldn’t. Check out Thurrott’s full analysis here.

Microsoft’s Windows XP Gains Market Share

Meanwhile, even as everyone is chattering about the possibility of Microsoft naming its new CEO this week, the company has apparently taken a step backward when it comes to its goals around operating systems. Microsoft is planning to end support for 13-year-old Windows XP in April, and it’s not backing down from that. But Aliso Viejo, Calif. data analytics firm Net Applications has reported that Windows XP actually increased its market share by a quarter of a percentage point in January, ending the month at 29.2 percent of all desktop and notebook computers worldwide, according to a ComputerWorld report. Will users keep XP alive?

Get Ready for Windows 8.1 Update 1

The Windows XP market share numbers come as Microsoft prepares Windows 8.1 Update 1 and Windows Phone 8.1. The updates get Microsoft closer to a consolidation of its client operating systems, according to Windows IT Pro. If you are looking for more details and analysis on this, check out the full article here.

Azure vs. AWS pricing: More cuts

For service providers shopping on price for cloud offerings, Microsoft recently dropped Azure pricing to match recent price cuts from Amazon Web Services (AWS). More details are available in this post at Talkin’ Cloud.

Tools, tools, tools

Finally, on the tools front, check out these developments. The Windows App store is offering the tool My Azure Dashboard, which lets admins manage Windows Azure-stored VMs from a Windows 8.1 PC or tablet. More details here.

And Microsoft is upgrading its Office 365 Partner Admin Center to make it easier for service providers to get a full view of their users. For instance, the update lets you view customers with admin privileges in a single view; find, select, and perform administrative tasks on behalf of customers; and view customers’ Office 365 service health status and details, among other additions. Check out all the details over here, including perspectives on the uneasy relationship partners have with Office 365.