Frustrated ex-Microsoft engineer explains why Windows sucks

  • Dave Plummer is a notable ex-Microsoft engineer credited for the development of many Windows components including Task Manager, Space Cadet Pinball ports on Windows NT, ZIP file support, and more. We have covered his work on Neowin multiple times, including him flaunting a Special Edition copy of Windows 95. Now, the former executive has strayed into slightly controversial territory by publicly explaining why Windows "sucks".

    In a video titled Windows "SUCKS": How I'd Fix It by a retired Microsoft Windows engineer over on his YouTube channel, Plummer has noted that in an effort to simplify the operating system for novice users, Microsoft has frustrated the more vocal power users who don't appreciate the new guardrails. To work around this problem, Plummer has suggested introducing a toggle which essentially enables a less "chatty" version of Windows so that it doesn't nudge you about app suggestions, doesn't trigger web searches in local search unless you ask for it, offers a single location for system-wide settings so that you don't have to go on a scavenger hunt, and makes power tools like Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), curl, Windows Terminal, and WinGet readily available and deeply integrated into Windows.

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    https://www.neowin.net/news/frustrated-ex-microsoft-engineer-explains-why-windows-sucks/

    Edited once, last by Gandalf (November 11, 2025 at 5:48 PM).

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