In a notable shift, Microsoft is introducing a new feature called “Startup Boost” for its Office suite, which will enable applications like Word and Excel to launch automatically upon the booting of Windows. While this may sound appealing for those eager to dive into their documents and spreadsheets, it comes with a caveat: the overall performance of the computer may be compromised, leading to a slower experience for users.
Performance Considerations
Though the intention behind this feature is to enhance the user experience by reducing the load time of Office applications, it raises questions about the efficiency of the software itself. The announcement, made in the Microsoft 365 Message Center Archive and highlighted by The Verge, specifies that the Startup Boost will only be enabled on devices equipped with a minimum of 8GB of RAM and 5GB of available disk space. This requirement suggests a baseline for performance, yet some may argue that running Windows 11 with just 8GB of RAM is somewhat ambitious in today’s computing landscape.
One might ponder why Microsoft has opted for this approach rather than focusing on optimizing Office for better performance overall. The cynic in many users may wonder if this is merely a workaround rather than a genuine enhancement to the software’s efficiency.
Gradual Rollout
The rollout of this update will begin in mid-May, initially applying to Microsoft Word, with plans to extend to other Office applications in the future. Importantly, users will retain control over this feature, as it can be disabled within Word’s settings or through the Task Scheduler, allowing for a tailored experience based on individual preferences.
