As the years passed, Windows became a very successful operating system with a wide market share, and Microsoft used its user base to promote its other products such as Edge and Bing. This created an irritating experience for many users, because they were flooded with unwanted information and advertisements inside the operating system itself. Then came Windows 11 and that hasn’t changed.
Although Windows itself has many advantages, such as broad hardware compatibility and a huge library of games, Windows 11 seems to prioritize the promotion of Microsoft services over the user experience. Many applications and devices are now designed to grab the user’s attention with “millions” of messages and notifications, which can create the feeling that the operating system is “boring” or too aggressive in its attempts to keep users within the Microsoft ecosystem, which annoys many.
A practical problem seen from the “plane” is the inconvenience of the Start menu or redirecting the search to the web instead of local search. Of course, such situations frustrate a lot of users who expect a simple and effective solution. While there are ways to turn off many unwanted features, most users may not have the time to do so or simply lack the skill or knowledge to do so. And why would anyone need to know something that developers and engineers expect “must be known”. And so, then we come to the famous “Windows 11 disaster”, writes TheVerge.
Some examples of why Windows 11 got the reputation of being “boring” could be:
– Pop-ups, pre-installed adware and bloatware, intrusive ads and notifications, and pre-installed apps cluttering the desktop and taskbar
– Edge browser and Bing browser forcing – constant pressure to use Edge and Bing as the default category of browser and browser that had to be intervened by states and state blocs like the EU
– Unnecessary Search – Windows search now favors web results (often using Bing) over local files, making it harder to find things on the computer itself
– Confusing documentation – support texts within settings now open in Edge, forcing the user to move away from their browser of choice
– Start Menu – the new Start Menu lacks customization and prioritizes promoted apps over those users already own
– Unreliable indexing – Windows 11 appears to have a problem indexing files, which can make it difficult to find programs and documents through the search bar.
Shutterstock / IB PhotographyIt’s understandable that Microsoft wants to promote its own services, but this tactic comes at the expense of the user experience. Perhaps the bloatware and forced features are a desperate attempt to lift Edge and Bing to a market share that is acceptable compared to other, popular options.
While there are guides for removing most of the bloatware, the average user shouldn’t go through that much trouble to end up with a clean and functional operating system. Microsoft probably knows (and certainly knows) that there is a difference between additional features and simply bombarding users with unwanted and unedited information.
Regardless, Windows has a solid foundation and we can expect Microsoft to listen to user feedback and prioritize user experience over aggressive marketing tactics in future updates.
