Why do Microsoft change things that work?

DJNelson · Nov 23, 2025

The flaw in George Bernard Shaw's logic, is the only way to "progress" is by acquiring power. When unreasonable men acquire power, crime rises and government invariably becomes tyrannical. Microsoft is no exception. There's a lot of power in having control over the personal data of billions of people, which is why they have no right to dig through people's personal files, regardless of what the TOS says.

hdmi · Nov 23, 2025

DJNelson said:
The flaw in George Bernard Shaw's logic, is the only way to "progress" is by acquiring power. When unreasonable men acquire power, crime rises and government invariably becomes tyrannical. Microsoft is no exception. There's a lot of power in having control over the personal data of billions of people, which is why they have no right to dig through people's personal files, regardless of what the TOS says.

AFAIK he has never given any guarantee that his logic wasn't flawed. Neither has Microsoft.

DJNelson · Nov 23, 2025

Perhaps "twisted" would be a better word. Twisted logic definitely will result in the kind of spaghetti code that breaks your network with an "update" to the start menu.

Winuser · Nov 23, 2025

Pablo56 said:
Suppermarkets do the same thing. You know where everything is so they change it all around.

That's because they know that a lot of customers will wind up buying things that isn't on their shopping list.

Marcus Vinicus · Nov 23, 2025

Some possible answers to the question raised in title of this thread.

Evidence from the 2025 Annual Report.
1. Satya Nadella likes continuous improvement.
2. It is in the Letter to Shareholders so it must be true.
3. And you get masterpieces of business waffle from Mr Nadella like this.

"Our growth mindset is essential to our ability to continue leading this AI era. It enables us to innovate both within Microsoft and with those we serve. We must be learn-it-alls, willing to experiment, guided by evaluations, and committed to continuous improvement. I am continually impressed by how our people do just that."

Doesn't that make you feel warm all over?

Ghot · Nov 23, 2025

If programmers don't stop changing things, they worry about future job security.
It's true for all software, not just Windows.

TraderGary · Nov 23, 2025

Ghot said:
If programmers don't stop changing things, they worry about future job security.
It's true for all software, not just Windows.

Microsoft programmers don't decide what to write or what changes are to be made. Those decisions are made by management far above them.

DJNelson · Nov 23, 2025

"In any hierarchy, people rise to their level of incompetence"

PhilB · Nov 23, 2025

glasskuter said:
While MS breaks some of their own stuff on the regular, for the most part the native OS is fairly solid. What users do not understand is that MS is under no obligation to consider 3rd party apps in the changes they make to the OS

Technically you are correct. However, IF MS has that attitude, it's a giant middle finger to all the software developers who helped MS cement their status as the leading OS vendor. Screw those developers often enough or bad enough, they will begin to look for other markets for their products.

PhilB · Nov 23, 2025

Steve C said:
Every MS software engineer is trained to follow the software design methodology if it ain't broke then break it!

Is that a version of Agile Development?

badrobot · Nov 23, 2025

Bill Gates has nothing to do with Microsoft. He owns a little share but he doesn't make the call anymore. MS is largely owned by institutional investors.
And it's boring to keep eveyrthing the same. Otherwise, there will be no forums like this. It's all fun.

abactuon · Nov 23, 2025

The gene pool is undergoing a process of purification, and the historical record is being revised. The fundamental question pertains to the deliberate nature of this phenomenon or its evolutionary origins.

Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes.

abactuon · Nov 23, 2025

DJNelson said:
George Bernard Shaw's logic

In the plays "Pygmalion" and "Caesar and Cleopatra," it is evident that this communist's unhealthy interest in underage commoners is present.

However, perhaps he was an MI6 agent, then I apologize for the unflattering comparison.

PhilB · Nov 23, 2025

abactuon said:
The gene pool is undergoing a process of purification, and the historical record is being revised. The fundamental question pertains to the deliberate nature of this phenomenon or its evolutionary origins.

Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes.

????? What does this topic have to do with Greeks bearing gifts?

abactuon · Nov 24, 2025

Microsoft Copilot, of course.

Why do Microsoft change things that work?

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