Windows 'really Does Suck For Some People': Ex Microsoft Engineer...

"I think we've crossed the line over to where the operating system feels like a sales channel for all their other properties."

"Windows Sucks" is the cold open to former Microsoft Engineer turned tech YouTuber, Dave Plummer's latest video. As tongue-in-cheek as Plummer usually is, this video has him go over how he would fix it if "Heaven help us, I was suddenly put in charge."

"I worked on Windows, and most of my code is likely still in there." Plummer has a storied past as a developer. As well as working on Windows, he is known for coding the original Pinball port on Windows NT, as well as creating Task Manager. Just a few days ago, he announced that he rescued a 100 lb 14-inch magnetic drive from the '80s with its 622 MB of storage still intact.

As Plummer points out, he left Microsoft over two decades and "nobody's calling to ask for my opinion. I get no credit for the wins and I take no blame for the boneheaded decisions, though I deserve the right to admire one and roast the other."

Plummer argues that Microsoft has spent a long time making Windows uber accessible, but, in the process, has turned off power users. Though he likes elements of Windows, he uses his latest video to enunciate why "it really does suck for some people."

"The things that you do to protect novices, like hiding the sharp tools, adding guardrails, narrating every step with a balloon tip, they turn into real friction for the people who live in the OS all day." He argues it's the "right strategy" and a smart business decision for the average user but wrong for those at the high end.

However, Plummer argues there's a way to build an OS that is both welcoming to newcomers without putting "the experience in mitten mode". Instead, he argues for a new mode that power users can operate, one that drops all "verbosity" and prompting. He goes on to say it should remove all app suggestions and get rid of web search in local search unless you ask for it (this one, I'm definitely on board with). He then argues this mode should have all settings bumped into a single control space, so you aren't left hunting for modes in drop-downs, boxes, and other places.

Finally, Plummer argues that the Windows Console should be respected as a tool and a default for power users. Alongside this, he argues Winget (Windows Package Manager), SSH (Secure Shell), tar, "and all their friends" should be "unambiguously available and already on the path for you." Importantly, they want this potential mode to acc

Source: PC Gamer