Dave W. Plummer, a seasoned Microsoft veteran and the face behind the popular social media channel Dave’s Garage, has made significant contributions to the Windows ecosystem, particularly with the Task Manager, Calculator, and even the classic pinball game. His journey through the tech giant has been filled with intriguing anecdotes, including a memorable incident where he nearly faced termination for introducing ZIP file support to Windows over three decades ago. Although Plummer departed from Microsoft in 2003, just before the launch of Windows Vista, his creative spirit remains vibrant.
Recently, he made waves on Reddit with a bold statement: “there should be nothing that TaskMgr can’t kill.” This declaration underscores his ongoing passion for the Task Manager, which has undergone numerous transformations over the years. Plummer took to his X account to unveil a concept design that imagines what the Task Manager might look like today had he continued to influence its development, as reported by PCGamer.
His envisioned dashboard, inspired by his Tempest AI project, showcases a modern aesthetic complete with various graphs, two speedometer-style gauges, and a striking cyberpunk theme. Notably, the concept also incorporates music, which PCGamer highlighted as both a delightful and divisive feature due to its “pounding synthwave/rave/glitch” vibe—an intriguing departure from the conventional soundscapes of modern Windows.
For those unfamiliar, Tempest is a retro arcade game released by Atari in 1981, renowned for its early vector graphics and challenging gameplay. Plummer has expressed that he selected Tempest for his AI project because it is a “beast to master with fast-paced action and complex patterns.” He holds the world record for the game on its most difficult settings, emphasizing its challenge: “Most humans are notoriously bad at the game, and it’s a tough challenge for an AI to crack, which is precisely why it’s perfect for this project.”
Plummer further elaborated on the technical demands of his project, noting that it utilizes approximately 75% of the GPU at 30 frames per second on his M2 Mac Pro, indicating that it is quite resource-intensive.
Over to you
Should Windows utilities like Task Manager get modern redesigns with AI and advanced visuals? Let me know in the comments.
Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.
Ex-Microsoft engineer says this is what Windows’ Task Manager would “probably” look like today — but it’s a “good thing” he stuck to his OS design lane
Dave W. Plummer, a seasoned Microsoft veteran and the face behind the popular social media channel Dave’s Garage, has made significant contributions to the Windows ecosystem, particularly with the Task Manager, Calculator, and even the classic pinball game. His journey through the tech giant has been filled with intriguing anecdotes, including a memorable incident where he nearly faced termination for introducing ZIP file support to Windows over three decades ago. Although Plummer departed from Microsoft in 2003, just before the launch of Windows Vista, his creative spirit remains vibrant.
Recently, he made waves on Reddit with a bold statement: “there should be nothing that TaskMgr can’t kill.” This declaration underscores his ongoing passion for the Task Manager, which has undergone numerous transformations over the years. Plummer took to his X account to unveil a concept design that imagines what the Task Manager might look like today had he continued to influence its development, as reported by PCGamer.
His envisioned dashboard, inspired by his Tempest AI project, showcases a modern aesthetic complete with various graphs, two speedometer-style gauges, and a striking cyberpunk theme. Notably, the concept also incorporates music, which PCGamer highlighted as both a delightful and divisive feature due to its “pounding synthwave/rave/glitch” vibe—an intriguing departure from the conventional soundscapes of modern Windows.
For those unfamiliar, Tempest is a retro arcade game released by Atari in 1981, renowned for its early vector graphics and challenging gameplay. Plummer has expressed that he selected Tempest for his AI project because it is a “beast to master with fast-paced action and complex patterns.” He holds the world record for the game on its most difficult settings, emphasizing its challenge: “Most humans are notoriously bad at the game, and it’s a tough challenge for an AI to crack, which is precisely why it’s perfect for this project.”
Plummer further elaborated on the technical demands of his project, noting that it utilizes approximately 75% of the GPU at 30 frames per second on his M2 Mac Pro, indicating that it is quite resource-intensive.
Over to you
Should Windows utilities like Task Manager get modern redesigns with AI and advanced visuals? Let me know in the comments.
Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.