While Windows continues to be the most-used desktop operating system, not everyone is particularly happy with it. If you have used Windows for a while, you may have encountered bugs and issues, an infusion of ads and unpopular features, and more.
Former Microsoft-engineer Dave Plummer, responsible for development on core components such as the Task Manager, has published a video on YouTube about the state of Windows and how he would fix it.
His key argument for the statement that he makes — Windows “sucks” — is that Microsoft has optimized the operating system for median users and by doing so, has frustrated power users. Power users, while a minority, are influential and they do set the narrative for the most part, according to Plummer.
To address this, Plummer suggests that Microsoft adds a “professional mode” to the operating. Users should be able to enable the mode to turbo-charge Windows. Reduce verbosity and nudges, consolidate controls, pre-install major tools and give power users more control over their operating system.
He goes on to address several key issues that especially power users have regarding the current state of Windows:
- Telemetry: Is essential, but erodes trust. Solution: privacy ledger that logs all outbound data in plain-English explanations, with mute option and audits to build user trust.
- Local accounts: Restore the ability to make local accounts. Stop enforcing Microsoft accounts. While Microsoft accounts have advantages, like easier recovery and roaming, not everyone wants to use one and Microsoft should give users that option without any dark patterns.
- Control over updates: Users should have control over updates. While security updates are critical, pro users want more control, such as one-click rollbacks, staged kernels, deterministic scheduling.
- Ads and nags: Eliminate them, all, as they are disrespectful and turn the operating system into a sales channel.
- Address core technical issues: Plummer mentions native archiver support, move non-essential functions to user mode.
- Fix fragmentation and usability pain points. Consolidate Settings and Control Panel with redirects, don’t alter user-made changes without prompts or notifications, prioritize local, text-first search, ensure clean installs without bloat.
You can check out the video here:
Now You: what is your take on this? Do these suggestions align with your own or do you want to see something different? Feel free to leave a comment down below.
The first 4 points, at least, may interest non-professional users as well, such as myself when I find the video most valuable even if some technical stuff is beyond my knowledge.
The guy pretty much quoted my personal checklist though he left a few things out like, customizing the r-click context menu and removing the bloat I neither use nor want from explorer.
My #1 compliant, make it all work offline by default, not can haz your data by default
Plummer left MS back in 2003 and started his own venture–SoftwareOnline LLC. He was sued, successfully!
If someone wants a “power version” of Windows, there are plenty of tools to make one:
https://dtptips.com/how-to-create-a-custom-windows-iso-in-2025-tools-methods-community-projects-explained/
Wondering why Plummer hasn’t answered his own call for a better Windows system; he should have the technical skills.
He’d rather complain; isn’t it typical. People who want change would rather complain than do the thing it takes to eliminate the complaint.
Meanwhile, people “click” on his YouTube channel, and he makes some retirement income.
It all goes back to end-user control. Microsoft has lost its way since Satya Nadella took over. Every time Nadella’s Microsoft tries to fix something or add a new annoyance — er, feature — they take away one more element of end-user control. It needs to stop!
I don’t think telemetry is essential at all. If telemetry is so good then why is windows so crap?
Oh I know because telemetry is garbage designed purely to earn you money and firing the teams of people that were created to test things was a huge mistake but another cost cutting measure but don’t worry because AI will fix everything… right… right??
Bozo’s!
Local accounts: Is something Microsoft it desperately clinging to because it helps to further profile and monetize people. It’s central to their garbage so I don’t see them relenting any time soon to allow the average end user to install windows without a user account at all.
Control over updates: Agreed however Microsoft will be unlikely to roll any of this back and allow any of that. They simply like having control over everything and you.
There already are ways to control updates but not in great detail so whilst it would be nice I don’t see it happening.
Ads and nags: Absolutely not happening. Microsoft does not care about its user base and would rather monetize every little aspect of their user base as possible. Ads are only part of the story really. (Its connected to all of the above)
Address core technical issues: I’d just like a blank slate windows so I can add to it what I want.
Fix fragmentation and usability pain points: No doubt windows is in some ways becoming worse and worse as it goes along but I did notice that from windows 10 onwards things become significantly worse. Things required many more clicks to achieve what was easily possible before. Things are hidden in convoluted pages/windows of mismatched nonsense.
Windows settings is a joke and a huge mess. There is no cohesion at all between all the options, pages, windows. It’s a disaster and makes me long for longhorn.
On a side note I don’t think any of what this guy has said will ever happen nor do I think he goes far enough in his comments at all.
The link in the comments is wildly outdated and contains dead links.
Purging windows of all the garbage is becoming a huge chore and now we also have copilot and recall to add to that which is tightly woven into the OS.
It might not have been clear in my post but I am proocal accounts.
Microsoft is simply not going to relent on making it more difficult to create a local account because having an online account becomes deeply woven in the system and allows them to track, trace, monetize and data mine you.
The windows user base is being used to train their AI and also beta test their software to help refine it but also refine their malware/Spyware.
I am never going to stop seeing telemetry as anything other than Spyware no matter how many times they change the name or term. Fundamentally it is what it is… Spyware.
I have seen no improvements to Windows since its inception and if anything the entire experience has become worse.
How many updates are pushed to the public with often serious problems. I’m pretty sure it was only a few days or a week ago that one was mentioned.
Anyone trying to paint windows or Microsoft as anything other than the garbage they have become has sort of hidden agenda, vested interest or ignorant – be it willfully or not but ignorant non the less.