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Windows "SUCKS": How I'd Fix it by a retired Microsoft Windows engineer

3 videos recommended on HN
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3 HN users recommended this commentary3 months2025–2026 score 3
Years with an HN recommendation, 2007–2026

HN people share it in Windows 11 backlash threads as an even-handed insider's view of what is wrong with Windows.

Dave Plummer, a retired Microsoft engineer who wrote Task Manager, responds to the claim that Windows sucks. He describes how he would fix common annoyances, in what he calls a love letter to Windows wrapped in a rant.

“I find this take (from the guy who wrote the Windows task manager while at Microsoft) to be evenhanded.” (HN, 2026)

3 recommendations · 1 citations · Commentary · news from the time

4 Hacker News comments

From the HN archive; up to 20 kept per video, favoring different commenters. Recommendations first.

@noir_lord Nov 2025 Recommends
on HN thread Microsoft executive closes replies after Windows 11 "Agentic OS" backlash
Read more
That's an entertaining read. I binned Windows 11 recently (only kept it around for gaming) because I didn't like the direction it was clearly going (and has been for a while - including their shoehorning of AI into everything when I don't want it or need it) and don't game enough that I care much any more. For the first time since the 80's I'm not running a Windows OS on any of my machines. I doubt they'll care, I'm one user of hundreds of millions but I don't have to consider whether every update is going to turn on something I don't want/hate so I care. The linked video (via a linked post) from Dave Plummer does indeed sum up my feelings pretty well - [this video]
Retired Microsoft engineer on what is wrong with Windows
@pipes Dec 2025 Recommends
on HN thread 2025 was a disaster for Windows 11 as bugs and intrusive features erode trust
Read more
The average home user probably won't know what power shell and GitHub are. I can't run the scripts you are talking about on my work pc. I can sympathise with your point of view but it does feel a bit like "works for me because I know what I'm doing". Also how long before another Windows update that undoes what the scripts do. I used to be very pro windows simply because of backwards compatibility and hardware support was ridiculously good. I can't recommend Linux to relatives as they'd be utterly confused. Dave Plummer, ex windows kernel dev does a good job of explaining what the issues are: [this video]
Explains Windows 11 issues from a former kernel dev
@GeekyBear Jun 2026 Recommends
on HN thread Windows UI evolution: Clicking an unassociated file
I find this take (from the guy who wrote the Windows task manager while at Microsoft) to be evenhanded. > Windows "SUCKS": How I'd Fix it by a retired Microsoft Windows engineer. [this video]
Even-handed take from the author of Task Manager

Citations, criticism and jokes

@accrual Nov 2025 Cites it
on HN thread 1M Downloads of Zorin OS 18
Dave Plummer, retired Microsoft engineer from the early days, made a video on this 2 weeks ago: > Windows "SUCKS": How I'd Fix it by a retired Microsoft Windows engineer [this video]
Former Microsoft engineer's take on fixing Windows

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