user choices Archives

Winsage

November 13, 2025

Why Windows sucks and how to fix it, according to a former Microsoft engineer

Former Microsoft developer Dave Plummer criticized Windows for prioritizing marketing over user experience, stating that it has become a convoluted platform filled with advertisements. He suggested introducing a "Professional" mode for power users to streamline their experience, similar to Adobe Photoshop Elements. Plummer expressed concerns about Windows' reliance on telemetry, advocating for a "privacy ledger" to enhance user trust. He also highlighted the diminishing choice between Microsoft and local accounts, arguing for a clearer option screen. Plummer noted that Windows often promotes Microsoft products at the expense of user autonomy, transforming the OS into a sales platform. Additionally, he mentioned skepticism towards Microsoft's vision of an "agentic OS," with many users desiring a return to the simplicity of Windows 7.

Winsage

October 3, 2025

Whoa! Windows 7’s market share surged, tripling in users last month

Windows 7's global market share increased from 3.59 percent in August to 9.61 percent in September 2023. In Asia, its market share surged from 5.64 percent in August to 18.67 percent in September, up from 2.32 percent in July. Windows 11's market share declined from 49.08 percent to 48.94 percent, while Windows 10 fell from 45.53 percent to 40.5 percent. Statcounter has not provided an explanation for the rise in Windows 7 users.

Winsage

September 30, 2025

Windows 11 could get a change to help banish Edge and Bing – but don’t get your hopes up too high

Microsoft is considering an enhancement to the Windows 11 taskbar search box that may allow users to open search queries in their preferred default web browser instead of being directed to Edge and Bing. This change aligns with recent regulations in the European Economic Area (EEA) that respect users' default browser and search engine preferences. If implemented globally, users could perform searches from the taskbar and have results displayed in their chosen browser, marking a shift from Microsoft's historical preference for its own products. However, these developments are still speculative, as the indications found in early test versions of the Edge browser are not yet confirmed.