Former Microsoft engineer (and retrocomputing enthusiast) Dave Plummer has done a video on what he thinks is wrong with Microsoft Windows <https://www.zdnet.com/article/why-windows-sucks-and-how-to-fix-it-according-to-a-former-microsoft-engineer/>. According to him, Windows should have a “Pro” mode, which turns off a lot of the handholding. Secondly, users need to be given more control over the telemetry data that Microsoft collects about their activities. And thirdly, Microsoft should restore the option to run a Windows installation without having to register a Microsoft account. Generally, Microsoft should avoid “dark patterns” -- trying to inveigle its users into accessing the company’s online services, whether they wanted to or not. And turn down the volume a bit on all this “agentic OS” malarkey. All I have to say is: “HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!”. Plummer may be an engineer, but he’s not a businessman. Perhaps he hasn’t noticed that Windows isn’t bringing in as much profit for the company as it used to. So all these changes are attempts to boost revenue -- necessary, in the company’s eyes. Because how else do you keep such an expensive-to-develop, expensive-to-maintain OS afloat? Does Microsoft think it can get away with such behaviour, in spite of the chorus of complaints? Of course it does. And the article admits as such: So does Windows really suck? Yeah, it does, at least in certain ways. Of course, I'm still using it after all these years. Maybe it's become like an old, worn shoe that still feels comfortable despite all the problems. Phrases like “boiling the frog” come to mind ...