Something Happened ⭐

Microsoft has treated Windows as a second-class citizen since the Windows 8 debacle, and the problem has only escalated during Satya Nadella's time as CEO. Since the launch of Windows 11, this product has been drowning in enshittification, and it seemed like things were going to keep getting worse because that's what we came to expect.

And then something changed. Something ... happened.

Microsoft has begun making happy noises about Windows 11, first in isolated cases and then, recently, in a more organized and regular fashion. Microsoft's broader corporate ambitions and strategies had left Windows behind decades ago as the wider personal computing market shifted from computers to mobile, and as the software giant's core competencies forced a transition into an infrastructure provider, first with cloud computing and then with artificial intelligence (AI).

Through it all, Windows kept delivering. As a legacy business driven largely by inertia, there wasn't much growth to be had, even when Windows 10 exited support in late 2025. But thanks to its ties to the Fortune 500 and Microsoft's biggest business customers, Windows has consistently dumped several billion dollars into the company's coffers every single quarter. And yet Microsoft had ignored and even actively maligned the product and its users with enshittification throughout.

But there's change in the air. Something happened. Is it real? Will be it persistent? And what drove this change?
? The seeds of our discontent
This is a tough time to be a Windows enthusiast and I assume there aren't many left. To my mind, while the changes in the industry and to Microsoft specifically have had a negative impact on Windows, there was a silver lining, too. Today, most people do fun and casual activities on their phones and tablets, and that doesn't just diminish the need for Windows, it also allows us to focus on productivity and work when we use a PC.

Interestingly, this aligns with the needs of the customer base. Two-thirds or more of all Windows users are business customers, not consumers. And those consumers who continue to use Windows typically stick to productivity and professional creator use cases because that's when the PC's larger display and keyboard, and the sophistication of desktop apps, are so advantageous. Yes, Windows relinquished its dominance of personal computing. But it's also now a more optimal tool for productivity. I love that.

I would have loved it more if Microsoft had simply acknowledged this shift and then treated its customers with a bit of respect. But Microsoft relegated Windows to a backwater world led by B-teamers as the brightest minds at the company moved onto more lucrative career opportunities in Azure and AI. This was bad for Windows, but it was also bad for customers. And a knife in the back to any enthusiasts still holding out hope for a miracle.

I was not expecting a miracle, and I've tried to caution others to be realistic. As Cory...