Windows 11 users are getting fed up with the performance of the OS including an ex-Microsoft senior engineer

Date:
Thu, 11 Apr 2024 13:36:04 +0000

Description:
Windows 11s performance levels dont meet your expectations? Youre definitely not alone.

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Windows 11 is receiving some flak for its reportedly poor show in terms of the performance of the OS on the desktop, where some interface elements are running pretty sluggishly or even getting to a comically bad state of
affairs as one user describes it.

This isnt just any user, but an ex-Microsoft employee, Andy Young, who was a senior software engineer at the company for 13 years, and shared some observations (noticed by Neowin ) about Windows 11 performance on X (formerly Twitter). The Windows 11 Start Menu is comically bad.This machine has a $1600 Core i9 CPU and 128 GB of RAM and this is the performance I often get.What is going on in Redmond? pic.twitter.com/hDvALHRB5q April 9, 2024 See more

As you can see in the above tweet, Young has published a video of some woefully bad Start menu performance on a PC bristling with high-end components.

The clip has received a lot of attention, prompting Young to add that : To be clear, I love Windows. I helped build parts of it. I want it to be as good as it once was. If data suggests the software you build frustrates a significant percentage of users, it means theres work left to be done.

And indeed, others chime in on that thread saying theyve encountered frustrating performance hitches, or indeed been mired in Start menu molasses similar to what Young has suffered. A common observation is the Start menu loading the wrong app (or no app at all) as performance is so bad when it opens, that the initial keystroke doesnt register (meaning instead of typing Notepad for example, you end up with otepad and a Bing web search for that term).

Albacore, a regular leaker on all things Microsoft, also chipped in here with an observation of delays when positioning windows or closing messaging boxes. 24H2 quality on my daily driver HW is not greatHow have we reached the point of window positioning taking a second, post-initial render evenI would love
to report this but this machine is cut off from FBH, if any MS folks want me to grab perf recordings or dumps please ping me pic.twitter.com/1nqQ4HNB0v April 9, 2024 See more Analysis: Time for a rethink, Microsoft?

It seems Microsoft is listening regarding the highlighted Start menu issues, and Young notes that Jen sent a DM regarding reproducing and addressing the performance slowdowns observed. Presumably thats Jen Gentleman of the Windows engineering team (who you may have seen introducing new Windows 11 test
builds on Reddit as they emerge).

As was also observed among the feedback to Youngs post, technically this is not an issue with Start menu performance itself, but rather, Windows search
as its integrated within the Start menu an important distinction at least
for the different teams in play with Windows 11 development here. Not that
the end user will care much, mind.

This is not just about the Start menu, though, but rather the overall perception of Windows 11 being somewhat wonky or slow across various parts of the desktop, when it really shouldnt be. In Youngs case, the likely culprit
is the Start menu searching the web (as well as the PC) for whats being
typed, and probably hurdles and delays therein related to the network (connection or configuration, or maybe both).

In fairness to Microsoft, when it comes to Albacores case, it is a test build of the 24H2 update, so unpredictable behavior and slowdowns are to be expected. Still, should the OS really be stumbling over elements as simple as closing dialog boxes, or moving the windows that are the very core of Microsofts OS by definition? No, it shouldnt, lets face it.

For us, what all this strongly suggests is that perhaps its time Microsoft made more of a drive to shunt off legacy bits of code (and ancient features still hanging around, like the rusty old Control Panel which is happening, just very slowly ), and to tidy up the Windows 11 codebase in general, along with smoothing over existing features to fine-tune performance.

If we had to pay a price in fewer new features being actively developed (and fewer adverts popping up here and there, ahem ), wed take that but sadly thats not a route Microsofts likely to entertain. As the company needs a constant parade of shiny new things to persuade folks that Windows 11 is the best thing ever (TM).

There is, clearly enough, still a good deal of skepticism to overcome about Windows 11, as struggling adoption levels for the OS underline. However, Microsoft best not forget that regarding the basics, theres work left to be done as Young makes clear, and maybe after 24H2 has released (and Germanium
is in place under the hood ) is the time to focus on that reality more. You might also like Watch out: soon some older PCs will lose Windows 11 support Windows 11 is getting a voice-powered ability many users have been longing
for Dont make these 5 big mistakes when using Windows 11



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/windows-11-users-are-getting-fed-u p-with-the-performance-of-the-os-including-an-ex-microsoft-senior-engineer


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