Love Windows

When new CEO Satya Nadella was new at the job he articulated Microsoft’s mission much more clearly than he does now. Instead of talking about intelligent cloud and intelligent edge he just said he wanted people to “love Windows”.  https://www.crn.com/news/applications-os/300075482/microsoft-ceo-nadella-we-want-people-to-love-windows-10-not-just-use-it.htm

I work in IT so my work is Windows. Windows clients, Windows server, the cloud and Office 365. I use Windows because it allows me to access the tools I need to do my work. I don’t use UWP apps at all and I use a variety of other tools including PowerShell. This puts me clearly in the Microsoft ecosystem.

I actually liked this idea of “loving Windows”. The idea that Windows was more than work and more than productivity, for me, was a good thing. I had a Windowsphone, a Windows PC, my old Xbox 360 was my movies and TV box and, when the family plan arrived, Groove would take over from Spotify as my music service. 

In three years Nadella has failed to progress my love of Windows. In fact it’s gone backwards. Now Windows has retreated from the central part of my technology use to being mainly something I use for work or when I need a keyboard to type. 

Apple did the same thing. There was a time when an Apple user had to have a Mac to sync music, activate and upgrade an iPhone and use Apple services like iTunes. Apple then just made the Mac a component in an integrated ecosystem. 

Microsoft seems to have done the same thing. It’s downgraded or deprecated Windows as just part of their environment. The difference is that Microsoft don’t have an ecosystem outside business and productivity. Of course there is Xbox and Minecraft. Despite their rather incompetent launch of the Xbox One in 2013 as a $500 TV box that had to have a Kinect sensor it survived the poor marketing of consumer products, 

I reflect that in 2018 there is little to make a consumer “love Windows”. I struggle to find a service, not related to work, that a normal non-gaming consumer would look to Microsoft for.

If you care about Windows then this is a little bothersome. Microsoft may be looking ahead to the next wave of quantum computing virtual reality headsets that interact with the cloud but Windows is disappearing. It makes me sad that I can’t love Windows and no one else can in the way Apple and Google seem to generate real passion for their products. I am not sure whether UWP or PWA really matter much in the Microsoft universe when cloud interaction may not involve Windows at all in 10 years. 

Nadella is and will make Microsoft shareholders a lot of money. That’s what he is there to do. However, I think if you care about Windows then we have passed the peak and are heading to a future without WIndows.

Conversation 41 comments

  • Oasis

    Premium Member
    30 June, 2018 - 7:05 pm

    <p> I agree. I have 5 devices(all PC's) in my house 2 Dell Vostro 400/410 w/Q6600 one QW7, the other a XP/Vista/Linux and a Dell 3847 I-4440 w/W7 and a VIAO laptop w/W7 and a ASUS nuc with W8.1, and an old MacBook, b4 the screwed the KB. Was given many chances to upgrade to Windows 10 and didn't see any good reason to do so. The way they were treating the people who didn't protect themselves from an y auto update to it was scary and they haven't got any better. Now I see forced updates from earlier versions even if you have it set otherwise and twice Plus and Month Cumulative updates. Glad I stayed on the other side of the divide. When my Vista machine went EOL, I could have got a W10 license but instead I added Lubuntu and neutered the Windows Vista install(games and such), I just added Puppy Linux there as well(18.04). These do everything I need to get done. I am not working(retired) and don't need productivity software, just browser and email client. At least I get to control the updates. Hope they finish Windows 10 before 2023 when my last Windows licenses runs out. Might be worth a look then. If it hasn't broken in half and sank by then. </p>

  • hrlngrv

    Premium Member
    30 June, 2018 - 7:18 pm

    <p>To what extent does <em>love</em> depend on familiarity or comfort? When MSFT makes a lot of changes to Windows, some people may love the changes, but others won't and would prefer that with which they're more comfortable. IOW, I'd love to see MSFT's telemetry on the number of PCs using alternative Start menus.</p><p>One of the things I used to love most about Windows was replacing various parts of it with 3rd party alternatives. That's becoming practically impossible. The guy who developed Classic Shell gave up doing so because of Windows 10's rapid release schedule. Maybe not MSFT's fault, but not a reason to love Windows.</p><p>Anyway, as more and more of all computing, both at work and away from work, involves the browser, the local OS was bound to become less important. Windows wasn't going to escape this. Nadella is just facing up to reality: Windows will never again be as important as it was 10 years ago. MSFT needs to find the next new things, though that won't include Windows as a mobile device OS (tablet PCs don't count). As for MSFT's consumer services, does MSFT know how to run such business units efficiently? Would the people who know how to run such business units fit into MSFT's management style, i.e., would they have any future in higher positions within MSFT?</p><p>If MSFT's inevitable future is IBM 2.0, could anyone love that?</p>

    • Oasis

      Premium Member
      30 June, 2018 - 8:22 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#287507"><em>In reply to hrlngrv:</em></a></blockquote><p>"The guy who developed Classic Shell gave up doing so because of Windows 10's rapid release schedule".</p><p><br></p><p> That is what I was using on W8.1 and had to add back in the start menu down where the quick launch tol bars are and I had to make my own Tiles for my program on the desktop and I don't mind the changes that much. Everything if at a mouse click or two. Did like the Classic Shell though.</p>

  • jumpingjackflash5

    01 July, 2018 - 2:43 am

    <p>Yes. Microsoft should be clear of what the future of Windows will be. It is not sustainable to tease the users with announcements of new features that are then abandoned, twice a year reinstall upgrades that bring very little to the average users (but provide compatibility and reinstallation issues) etc.</p><p>Windows IS a great OS, especially on desktops and notebooks (both irreplaceable "form factors"). But Microsoft must position it clearly and define its future. If it does it, it can even regain its position in mobile space, because its Android apps are very good and if they collaborate with Windows well – Android is more the firmware of mobile devices than OS.</p><p>However if Microsoft continues to treat Windows and Windows users like it has been doing recently, people will start to dislike their desktops, focus on mobile and not using connection with desktop/notebook much, which will also cause less usage of Microsoft apps on Android. Then Microsoft becomes the new IBM, and we will mostly run various Linux distros on our desktops, and another Linux distro, e.g. Android firmware, on our mobile phones. The richer people could run Macs and Iphones similarly to what they have been doing up to now.</p><p><br></p>

  • SherlockHolmes

    Premium Member
    01 July, 2018 - 5:13 am

    <p>Its one thing when a company wants his users to love a product. But its a completely different thing when the same company does what it can to make its users hate the product. Thats what Microsoft does with Windows in recent years. </p>

    • Tony Barrett

      02 July, 2018 - 7:23 am

      <blockquote><a href="#287548"><em>In reply to SherlockHolmes:</em></a></blockquote><p>That's very true. From Windows 10's earliest inception to distribute it covertly via GWX, that hate was already growing, and it's now utterly despised by many as it's just a glorified data collection tool with a fancy front end that's only their to service Microsoft requirements. Throw in the ads, forced upgrades, nagging and MS service push, and you can see how love can turn to hate.</p>

  • Paul Thurrott

    Premium Member
    01 July, 2018 - 8:40 am

    <p>My first big editorial for Thurrott.com was about this topic. And it's sad to note that the situation I complained about has only gotten worse: Now the crapware in Windows is coming straight from Microsoft.</p><p><br></p><p>https://www.thurrott.com/windows/windows-10/632/sorry-satcha-no-one-will-ever-love-windows-fix-problem</p&gt;

    • SherlockHolmes

      Premium Member
      01 July, 2018 - 11:20 am

      <blockquote><a href="#287577"><em>In reply to paul-thurrott:</em></a></blockquote><p>To be honest, wasnt that the case right from the start of Windows 10? And I think that kind of thing makes it for users very hard to "love" Windows. </p>

    • JustMe

      Premium Member
      02 July, 2018 - 3:37 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#287577"><em>In reply to paul-thurrott:</em></a></blockquote><p>Honestly, this. Back in the day, buying a PC from even one of the big guys meant scratching your head trying to figure out how to get rid of XYZ crapware. Sometimes (provided you had or your vendor provided drivers) you could wipe the disk and do a 'clean' Windows install. Now, the crapware is of Microsoft's own making and even more of a pain to get rid of (if you even can). On top of that, the GWX debacle has ensured that any trust in Microsoft by anyone other than the most ardent of MS supporters has all but disintegrated. If Mr. Nadella wants me to 'love windows' then he needs start by directing his company to give me back control of the software on my machine.</p>

  • christian.hvid

    01 July, 2018 - 1:22 pm

    <p>Most people (that is, normal, non-geeks) tend to embrace and love technology not because of exciting features, but because of a lack of frustration. People tend to love technology that's comprehensible, reliable and Just Works. Steve Jobs understood this, Tim Cook clearly does not. Nor did Terry Myerson, if he's the man behind all the silliness in Windows over the last couple of years.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>But there's no reason to believe that Microsoft is unable to turn Windows 10 into the most friction free platform of all. Windows Phone was significantly smoother and more elegant than both iOS and Android. The question is: does Microsoft itself have enough love and passion for Windows to actually make the effort?</p>

    • Greg Green

      05 July, 2018 - 12:00 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#287611"><em>In reply to christian.hvid:</em></a></blockquote><p>Good point. If Nadella and staff don’t love windows it’ll be hard for them to get consumers to love windows.</p>

  • StevenLayton

    01 July, 2018 - 2:26 pm

    <p>“Loving” Windows is a really odd concept. It’s a tool to get a job done. Does a joiner love their hammer and saws? Like Windows, they can be used to make something fun, or practical. It’s the end result that might bring the joy.</p><p><br></p><p>Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy technology, but it’s always the end result, and not the means that I enjoy.</p><p><br></p><p>Maybe the better goal from Microsoft is for the user not to hate using the hammer?</p><p><br></p><p>(Its difficult to explain, so sorry If I offended!)</p>

    • christian.hvid

      01 July, 2018 - 2:45 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#287614"><em>In reply to StevenLayton:</em></a></blockquote><p>Actually, I believe it's quite common that joiners (and other craft persons) have a great deal of affection for their tools – especially those that have been in use for a long time. I'm not sure if it qualifies as love though, and it's probably not mutual. 🙂 </p>

    • Daekar

      03 July, 2018 - 6:38 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#287614"><em>In reply to StevenLayton:</em></a></blockquote><p>A well-built and well-functioning tool is absolutely a thing of beauty that evokes an emotional response. If you don't believe me, go buy cheap crappy tools and try to build a piece of furniture that doesn't look terrible or do an engine rebuild. Now buy some good tools and try again. There is immense satisfaction in using something that just does the job right the first time, elegantly and without effort – or, there is when one has been exposed to the alternative so the craftsmanship in the former piece is more evident.</p>

    • Greg Green

      05 July, 2018 - 12:03 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#287614"><em>In reply to StevenLayton:</em></a></blockquote><p>I love my impact driver, no innuendo intended. It puts screws through wood almost like a knife through butter. I actually smiled, almost laughing, when I was building garage shelves. And I’m just an amateur builder.</p>

  • Jules Wombat

    01 July, 2018 - 3:03 pm

    <p>Get with the program.&nbsp; The days of heavyweight client platforms are over for the majority of users. The future is in the provisions cloud services, to simpler client and IoT devices. Satya is very smart, he understands the game. You need to reorientate yourself away from Windows, it is a dying platform &nbsp;</p>

    • Hassan Timité

      01 July, 2018 - 4:38 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#287618"><em>In reply to Jules_Wombat:</em></a></blockquote><p>Wrong, Satya is stupid.</p><p>Mircosoft needs Windows even if it become completely cloud services oriented company it would still need a platform with optimal integration with their services. A platform which enable its customers to do the best use of its services ! Google had this with both Android and Chrome O.S. Apple had it with at least IOS. Microsoft needs an ecosystem and Windows is a fundamental piece of Microsoft ecosystem.</p><p>Not forgetting that several Microsoft services suck outsides of the U.S like Cortana just to name one. Contrary to its main competitor Google. So this drawback will really hurt Microsoft if it become a services oritented company without platform.</p>

    • illuminated

      03 July, 2018 - 3:22 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#287618"><em>In reply to Jules_Wombat:</em></a></blockquote><p>Well, I am not sure if windows can be considered as heavyweight client platform. I've seen Android phones with more RAM than windows laptops. Apps are not exactly thin either. Many android apps are much fatter than most of stuff on windows. Thinness is just an illusion.</p><p><br></p>

    • Daekar

      03 July, 2018 - 6:34 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#287618"><em>In reply to Jules_Wombat:</em></a></blockquote><p>I've never understood this mantra. Is cloud important? Certainly. But this idea that the mobile OSes are somehow magically "thin" (what does that mean, really?) while Windows is a cumbersome "heavyweight" is just a bunch of nonsense. </p><p><br></p><p>Windows might require marginally more computing resources to achieve the same UI responsiveness, but that's about it. The only difference to me is that in Windows, I can seek out a huge variety of powerful applications and abilities in the OS. In Android, those things are absent – it's simpler and more limited. They both run great on the hardware I have, and they both automatically update themselves with relatively little drama.</p><p><br></p><p>I think a lot of the attitudes about Windows are carryovers from previous versions. It's faster, has a better UI, has more built-in functions, the Store is better than its ever been, and you can do amazing things that would NEVER be possible on Android or alternatives like install Windows 10 on a hard drive on one machine. Take that hard drive out of that machine and install it in another one. Boot up that other machine AND EVERYTHING JUST WORKS. I did it by accident the other week when I missed the BIOS Setup key on boot. Seriously, that is a "difficult computer science problem" that they absolutely nailed.</p><p><br></p><p>PC is a dying platform because most people who had them didn't need all the power they offered, and when something simpler and less functional came along, they made the switch because it was easier and they are too blind to realize that trusting all of your file management to a faceless corporation is a bad idea.</p><p><br></p><p>As Android and iOS get more capable, they become more and more like Windows. It's easy to see the progression if you're paying attention… iOS especially is a steaming hot mess of bad UI design and decreasing stability because in order to make the platform useful they had to had a bunch of stuff to it.</p><p><br></p><p>I'm not saying that Windows will be around forever, but that if you actually need to do anything technical, especially if you don't want it to take forever, you need a full desktop OS. Pick your flavor, I don't care (yes I do, MacOS is terrible), but mobile OSes just can't cut it yet, and won't for a good while. Even ChromeOS is only an option if you're a journalist whose needs don't exceed the capability of an Android handset but you want a bigger screen.</p>

  • Hassan Timité

    01 July, 2018 - 4:51 pm

    <p>Well Microsoft is stupid if it think that it can survive without its own platform.</p><p>I suppose that people who also believe so think that Microsoft can become just another Amazon.</p><p>However Microsoft is not similar to a company such as Amazon because they don't have the same history and the same foundations.</p><p>The closer company to Microsoft is Google which is a very services/cloud oriented company with its own platform.However Google has understood that it requires its own platform for the best integration with its services and the optimal consumption of its services by his consumers.</p><p>This is why Google has both Android and Chrome O.S and is rumored to be developping a third O.S.</p><p>If Microsoft let Windows die then not only this will piss off a lot of their customers but Microsoft will have no platform where it can insure the optimal integration and consumption of its services. It will rely on platforms from companies which will more than pleased to get rid of Microsoft solutions on their platforms, especially Google.</p><p>Moreover there are already a lot of people who strongly dislike/hate Microsoft for its previous and current errors. This is especially true outsides of U.S where some solutions such as Cortana suck, and where Windows Phone could have been successful if Microsoft really wanted. </p><p>And this number of people will exponentially grow if Microsoft kill or let Windows die.</p><p>This could be the last straw the one who break the camel back.</p><p>Most people won't trust Microsoft and will give up Microsoft services as soon as they will find other solutions better suit for their needs on the platform where they will migrate. </p><p>On Android people will prefer soon or later to move to Google or even Amazon services . On IOS Microsoft services could have a better chance to survive longer but soon or later people will choose other solutions, too. </p><p>I am personnaly not interested by Microsoft solutions on my Android Tablet or on any Android smartphone as there are good enough solutions from either Google or other.</p><p>The only platform on whom i use Microsoft solutions today is Windows.</p><p><br></p><p>I think that Microsoft should acknowledge the importance of Windows for its ecosystem ,stop this insanity called Windows as service and have a coherent strategy for the stability and the evolution of WIndows.</p>

    • illuminated

      03 July, 2018 - 3:51 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#287646"><em>In reply to Hassan_Timite:</em></a></blockquote><p>Surprised by your love for Google. The only reason why Google is doing what they are doing is to get the most of internet traffic going through their services and platforms. They are not in business of office or productivity tools or operating systems. They only need your traffic, your behavior history in order to determine your behavior patterns and how to push something to you at the right time. </p>

      • Hassan Timité

        03 July, 2018 - 5:53 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#288243"><em>In reply to illuminated:</em></a></blockquote><p>I don't love Google though i use their solutions out of necessity.</p><p>In fact if Microsoft hasn't been highly incompetent, i would be using a Windows phone instead of an Android smartphone. And you must be kidding when you claim that Google is not in O.S and productivity tools markets. Because not only they are in these markets but from what i see they are way more focused and serious(competent ?) than Microsoft. Even if they use Android as a trojan horse they have been competent enough to earn the lion share of the market of mobile devices. They also earn money from this market contrary to a popular belief.</p><p>In fact Microsoft itself needs Windows as a trojan horse for their services because without Windows i don't see how they will insure that most of their customers keep using their cloud based solutions in the long tzem. However their current strategy is highly inefficient and even they earn a lot of money for the moment this will not last for a long time and the fall will be abmyssal.</p>

  • johnh3

    01 July, 2018 - 5:50 pm

    <p>I still think Nadella made a huge mistake to kill Windows Phone/Mobile. It may not be big in the US market, but at the time around Windows Phone 8,1 it was around as same level as iOS/iPhone in many markets. Since smartphones are replacing the PC in many ordinary tasks Microsoft may newer be relevant in a serious way again as before. Yes they still got the cloud, work PC.s and so on.</p><p><br></p><p>But without smartphones they are in a much weaker position. They had even a opportunity to continue with the forked android version Nokia developed with Nokia X. But they never get that a real try. </p><p><br></p>

    • hrlngrv

      Premium Member
      01 July, 2018 - 7:38 pm

      <p><a href="#287648"><em>In reply to johnh3:</em></a></p><blockquote>. . . it was around as same level as iOS/iPhone in many markets . . .</blockquote><p>Only in a half dozen European countries and Vietnam. so countries cumulatively with less than 5% of the world's overall population or less than 10% of the world's population with sufficient disposable income to buy smartphones.</p><p>Smartphones aren't economically viable as individual regional market products. Sympathy due to those few countries which embraced Windows phones, but there weren't anywhere near enough people interested worldwide for Windows phones to be anything other than persistent money losers for MSFT.</p>

      • wright_is

        Premium Member
        02 July, 2018 - 2:36 am

        <blockquote><a href="#287652"><em>In reply to hrlngrv:</em></a></blockquote><p>That is the problem, unless you go boutique, like Apple. What is Apple's market share these days, world-wide? 16%? When Microsoft killed Windows Phone, they had around 18% in Germany – although only single digits worls-wide.</p><p>It is a shame it has gone. It was the best interface of a bad bunch. I now have Android devices, but I don't use them as much as I could, because it is often more convinient to wait until I can get to a decent sized device. Cortana was better than Google Assistant, but still hasn't been released on Android or iOS over here – it is available on Windows, but Microsoft claimed they didn't have the backend server infrastructure to support Cortana on non-Windows platforms in their last missive on the subject…</p>

        • jumpingjackflash5

          02 July, 2018 - 3:05 am

          <blockquote><a href="#287671"><em>In reply to wright_is:</em></a></blockquote><p>Yes.</p><p><br></p><p>Microsoft has made big mistake to dismiss Windows Mobile. It was for sure not that hard to maintain the platform – given the number of Windows versions it supports already. They could take mobile as an additional "Surface" platform. </p><p>Android is a firmware of mobile phones, not an OS. On every device it is different, fragmented, upgradeable by one or two versions and two or three years only. That is enough for mobile but nothing else.</p><p>Maybe Microsoft top management simply did not like Windows Mobile. </p><p><br></p><p>Well now it is done. Microsoft must now ship its mobile software on Android and IPhone, which it does and does reasonably well – Office, OneDrive, Skype. </p><p><br></p><p>And maybe one time, when they start to listen to their customers, will put the mobile phone with Microsoft Apps and Microsoft Mobile OS on the market again. Even if the OS could be based on heavily customised Android, for application compatibility. Of course if Windows Mobile could not be resurrected that is a viable alternative.</p>

          • Hassan Timité

            02 July, 2018 - 8:08 am

            <blockquote><a href="#287672"><em>In reply to jumpingjackflash5:</em></a></blockquote><p>I think Mr Nadella hate Windows whatever the version and will be more than pleased to get rid of all editions besides perhaps Azure and focus on Cloud solutions and IA.</p><p>What he doesn't seem to understand is that Microsoft has <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">already </span>given too many reasons to be hated and that Microsoft can't afford to give additionnal reasons to disturb or piss off its customers.</p><p>As an outsides of US customer i have been quite pissed off by the death of Windows Phone which had a potential to be successful and the poor quality of some services which seem to be quite good in USA.</p><p>I personnaly think that Microsoft, moreso than his competitors, needs its own platforms to stimulate the consumption of its services. That Nadella doesn't understand something as basic is beyond my comprehension.</p>

        • hrlngrv

          Premium Member
          02 July, 2018 - 11:37 am

          <p><a href="#287671"><em>In reply to wright_is:</em></a></p><p>Considerable difference between 3% high-point worldwide market share and 15% recent low-point share. Also, Apple manages that many-fold higher low-point share by selling more of their highest priced models than lower priced ones, IOW, Apple's average profit margin per phone was always a lot higher than for Windows phones no matter who was making them.</p><p>Niche is great when there's a lot of mark-up in each unit sold, e.g., Ferrari, not so good if most models sold are mid-range to low-end.</p><p>Anyway I can't accept that outsiders have any useful perspective on the long-term profitability of Windows phones compared to MSFT management. IOW, wish otherwise, but MSFT has concluded Windows phones didn't have a profitable future, probably not even as a niche product.</p>

          • wright_is

            Premium Member
            03 July, 2018 - 6:28 am

            <blockquote><a href="#287747"><em>In reply to hrlngrv:</em></a></blockquote><p>Which is what I said, Apple is a boutique business, selling (relatively) low numbers at "exclusive" prices.</p>

            • hrlngrv

              Premium Member
              03 July, 2018 - 6:49 pm

              <p><a href="#288030"><em>In reply to wright_is:</em></a></p><p>Sorry. I should have been clearer. Apple's exclusive high-end path wasn't available to MSFT even though MSFT tried to copy it.</p>

    • VancouverNinja

      Premium Member
      05 July, 2018 - 11:37 am

      <blockquote><a href="#287648"><em>In reply to johnh3:</em></a></blockquote><p>"…Microsoft may never be relevant in a serious way again as before" is that a joke? Microsoft is more powerful (more profitable too) and more relevant to computing than they have ever been. They are more important globally than any of the other three majors – Google, Amazon, or Apple. </p><p><br></p><p>You think PCs are not important as they were to businesses a decade ago? Think again – I do not know a business that can run without them. Even education still requires full PCs after K-5. </p><p><br></p><p>Nadella made the right choice dumping a bone headed buy in Nokia phones and the whole effort. The battle was lost and would never get to a meaningful market share. There was no upside in being the Beta format in a VHS world for Microsoft. </p><p><br></p><p>The brilliance is what Nadella identified – the only opportunity to gain the upper hand in the mobility device market is to look to (essentially create) the next major evolution in mobile computing. We have the rumors of Andromeda and if it does launch it will be different enough to cause mobile phone users to truly consider it. It would be the final brush stroke on the canvas. </p><p><br></p><p>I have mentioned this many times before – mobile phone upgrades happen on a super short cycle 1-2 years on average, some going a little longer. Android is the most vulnerable if MS launches a strong next gen mobile device. It is essentially an orphan and the reason Google is desperate for any type of PC traction. A crazy cool new mobile device that eliminates the need for a mobile phone <em>and</em> a tablet, while seamlessly integrating with all Windows 10 devices would be the perfect solution for large portion of mobile phone users today.</p>

  • RR

    02 July, 2018 - 4:26 am

    <p>You typed this complaint onto Thurrott on a Windows computer. Was that work related?</p><p>I don't get most of this (seems like you wrote something similar a few months ago). I don't see anything wrong with W10, at least not in a major way, given that these OSs are always work in progress. Your issue seems to be that Microsoft cut services that were losers (kinda different from Thurrott's complaints which are about W10's design moving away from people like him, power users, but he shoe horns it in). </p><p>Microsoft or any business eventually have no choice but to cut losers after throwing enough money at it. The market tells them this, so, these complaints really aren't actionable, your choice is to go with the companies that have won in those places Microsoft has withdrawn. Microsoft made some major errors in mobile, and many other services. I think the most basic one, that incumbents have repeated since the beginning of time, is they tried to integrate the new tech into their existing platform while it turned out mobile was its own thing that the winners fast optimized for both technically and business model wise. This is a root cause of all that happened thereafter that you complain about, but there isn't really much anyone can do about it now. Also, after following this for a few years now, Microsoft's business model is just different. That is why they lose very often on these consumer plays. They cannot throw unreasonable money at things the way Google and Amazon can because they make their money the old fashioned way by selling things, whereas Google/Amazon are luring consumers in with low cost/free services, which Google monetizes via ads, and Amazon via retail (plus in their case, a stock I don't think makes sense, which is a very powerful tool when you are competing). In this environment, Microsoft can't do what you want which is support Windows Phone, Grove, consumer Cortana etc as losers just to satisfy a few enthusiasts. They would lose money now, but have no future business model they were relying on to make it back, unlike Google/Amazon.</p><p>BTW, I still use a Windows Phone. But if it breaks before Andromeda, I will get an Android and won't think too much about it. If it doesn't break and Andromeda isn't what I expect, I will get an Android, end of story. Forget the love. Microsoft, Google, Apple, Amazon etc are just suppliers and we are consumers. You have to go with those who rise about in the scrum. </p>

    • ponsaelius

      09 July, 2018 - 3:42 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#287674"><em>In reply to RR:</em></a></blockquote><p>Complaint is the wrong assumption. I was assessing whether Satya Nadella had achieved a target he set as CEO. I already said I use Windows when I need a keyboard. </p>

  • Tony Barrett

    02 July, 2018 - 7:17 am

    <p>Windows is <em>sort of</em> ingrained into IT now, but in many cases it's more used out of necessity than 'love'. It's just a tool to do a job, but more and more though, it just seems to get in the way now of actually doing that job. The continual patching, rebooting, updates, upgrades, notifications, alerts etc. It's now distracting and annoying. Unfortunately, MS still have such a stranglehold on the OS market, PC manufacturers rarely ship a device without Windows, so that's how it goes,</p><p>The consumer fell out of love with Microsoft (and somewhat Windows) a while ago. They don't need Windows anymore, but it's just something they know, and people like familiarity. If you actually look at what the average person needs these days though, a mobile device, or a Chromebook, or Linux will do the job with far less fuss and way less distraction. I think it's only a matter of time until people realize this, and MS already seem to know this, as Windows is actually on a very slow slide towards its inevitable death. Many enterprises these days don't need Windows either (or pay the MS software assurance tax). LoB apps are moving to mobile or just web based. If alternatives can come up with enterprise management that meets even the basics, MS could have a real problem.</p>

    • wright_is

      Premium Member
      02 July, 2018 - 9:15 am

      <blockquote><a href="#287678"><em>In reply to ghostrider:</em></a></blockquote><p>At least the updates are planned, you get them lumped once a month, unless it is a nasty zero-day.</p><p>We run Windows and Linux and often, with Linux, we get several updates a week for our platforms, some include Kernel updates, which require rebooting the servers.</p><p>Also, using WSUS, Windows is very easy to manage and to roll out the updates at a time of your choosing.</p>

      • hrlngrv

        Premium Member
        02 July, 2018 - 4:20 pm

        <p><a href="#287689"><em>In reply to wright_is:</em></a></p><p>Re Linux updates, different packages have different update schedules. That can be a PITA. OTOH, several distributions intended for servers have more managed schedules. And not all kernel updates need to be installed. Anyway, it's a trade-off: availability of more frequent Linux than Windows updates gives you the choice about how often you want to apply updates.</p>

        • wright_is

          Premium Member
          03 July, 2018 - 6:32 am

          <blockquote><a href="#287904"><em>In reply to hrlngrv:</em></a></blockquote><p>Not if they are publicly facing servers… For a while in March and April this year, we were having to update the servers on an almost daily basis. There were patches coming out nearly daily, which meant that probably a third of the servers needed patching every couple of days due to new critical and/or zero-day patches.</p><p>Equifax shows why you shouldn't sit on patch roll-outs.</p><p>I was also working for a security company, so it would have been doubly embarrassing to have sat on patches for a couple of days and then have been compromised.</p>

  • Angusmatheson

    02 July, 2018 - 9:57 am

    <p>I loves windows 10. I despised Windows 8 with a passion that I cannot even express. I was furious with Microsoft for ending support for XP before 10 was out forcing my company to buy windows 7 computers months before windows 10 came out. But the windows 10 insider program really made me love and be excited for windows 10. It was really different seeming for Microsoft – it felt like they really cared about making it right and were making it open to do so. It also felt great to be part of a community of users who were also dedicated to making windows better too. Since then I must admit I have fallen out of love. Everything added since seems to have made windows 10 worse – not better (candy crush, adds for Edge every time I open chrome, wierd WIFi password sharing). And they haven’t fixed the real problems (settings and control center, getting a functional store). So many people have to use windows, so improving windows would improve life for millions. Microsoft needs to focus on 1) gaming (but not trying to take down Steam) 2) improve productivity for power users 3) make a secure light, simple S mode that a real person could use so normal people can keep using Windows 4) allow backwards compatibility so the array of old X86 programs that support windows continues to insure its use. Clean, simple light. Make the store really work for virus free computing. Let users add the complexity of they want it, but leave it off by default.</p>

  • ErichK

    Premium Member
    03 July, 2018 - 2:20 pm

    <p>Although Microsoft has done some things wrong along the way, it bothers me that some individuals in this forum use words like "continual" to describe things like updates and patches. As far as I can tell, on my Windows 10 machines, I get updates on Patch Tuesday (once a month), and then feature updates twice a year. I don't see how that fits the definition of "continuous."</p><p><br></p><p>I use my refurbished Dell tower on which I installed Linux less, I admit — but it pretty much needs to update itself almost every time I turn it on as well, so I don't see how that's any better.</p><p><br></p><p>Could and should Microsoft slow down with the feature updates? I think you could argue, yes.</p>

    • Tony Barrett

      04 July, 2018 - 9:08 am

      <blockquote><a href="#288199"><em>In reply to ErichK:</em></a></blockquote><p>There are monthly security patches delivered via patch Tuesday that we all know about, but MS seem to issue regular out-of-band patches for Win10 too, especially before and after the bi-annual upgrades. These are often huge, and there *always* seems to be one pending. The linux updates you talk about are usually just security updates for packages/libraries with the odd kernel update, and I have never seen Linux updates break anything, and they're quick to install and don't force a reboot – which is more than can be said for Win10 updates, which are often very risky affairs and always require a reboot (didn't MS once say the constant patch/reboots wasn't going to be as prevalent in Win10 as in previous versions – that was a lie!).</p>

      • ErichK

        Premium Member
        04 July, 2018 - 12:14 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#288401"><em>In reply to ghostrider:</em></a></blockquote><p>Fair enough, because I can only provide my own anecdotal experience.</p><p><br></p><p>Although I *usually* don't have problems with Windows updates, right now printing is broken for me since I upgraded to 1803, so I use my Linux machine for that for the time being.</p><p><br></p><p>On the other hand, I just bought an Intel Compute Stick, and I had it upgrade to 1803 (which took a good two hours — yikes), but without any major mishaps.</p>

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