Dave Plummer once worked as a programmer at Microsoft, where he played a key role in the development of the Windows Task Manager, as well as the import of ZIP archives for the operating system. This man has definitely earned his place as an integral part of History of Windows.
So you know there's weight when it starts to latest video on YouTube with the words “Windows sucks.” But Plummer doesn't name names and doesn't stop there. He also explains why he thinks Windows is bad and how Microsoft can change things for the better.
Plummer believes that Windows didn't suddenly become bad in one fell swoop. Instead, it has gradually moved away from the people who use it and rely on it the most. Plummer accuses Microsoft of turning Windows into a sales channel for all of its products.
In the video, Plummer explains how Microsoft has spent nearly two decades optimizing Windows to reach a billion people. Making the operating system's user interface simple for less tech-savvy users in hopes that they would buy Windows was a business decision. So far so good.
Problems started with Windows 10
Starting with Windows 10, Microsoft moved to a Windows-as-a-service model, where you install the operating system once and then it is updated regularly over time. This, of course, meant that Microsoft had to find new ways to generate revenue from Windows.
Microsoft has begun directing these users to cloud services and subscriptions: Office 365, OneDrive cloud storage, Xbox services and Azure. Windows 10 became a gateway into the Microsoft ecosystem (from which the company wanted to make much more money) and was no longer just a product that Microsoft sold for profit.
Microsoft also collects more user telemetry data starting with Windows 10, so it knows more about them. This data can be used to improve the operating system, but it is also used to inundate users with additional app offers and maintenance recommendations.
Windows 11 goes even further
Windows 11 is now the entry point for Microsoft 365 apps, Xbox Game Pass, OneDrive, Edge, Copilot, and the Microsoft Store. Everywhere you look, Windows 11 is trying to force you to use a Microsoft product that you don't need in the first place.
When you open the Start menu, Microsoft 365 “recommended” apps appear front and center. When you open Settings, a banner reminds you to sign in to OneDrive. The search feature attempts to redirect you to Bing results, even for local search queries.
Plummer makes this point with a succinct statement: “When the operating system suggests, “Hey, maybe you should switch browsers after you've explicitly chosen a different one, that's not onboarding. It's just disrespectful.”
How could it change for the better?
Plummer calls for a “pro mode” that users can easily enable. Professional mode will leave Windows clean and simple, with no ads, offers, or other intrusive elements.
In addition, all Windows settings should be centralized in one place without having to search for them. You can see all of his suggestions for improving Windows in the 16-minute video above.
