Every major OS, whether that's Windows or macOS or even Linux, has its strengths and its weaknesses. What one does well, another might not do so well. Where one struggles, another might excel.
That's been the case for decades and I don't think that'll stop any time soon.
But in recent months. Microsoft has made Windows 11 the laughing stock of the tech community with failure after failure.
So much so that finding an alternative seems like a smart move.
Recent Windows 11 bugs of note
KB5070311: Causes File Explorer in dark mode to show a full-screen white flash before files and folders appear.
KB5064081: Causes the login prompt on the login screen to disappear, making it impossible or difficult for users to log in.
KB5062553 or KB5065789: Cause Explorer, the Start Menu, Settings, the Task Bar and Windows Search to crash.
KB5067036: Causes Task Manager to refuse to quit and instead sit in the background stealing resources.
KB5063878: Caused some solid state drives and hard drives to fail or no longer be recognized.
KB5066835: Made the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) unusable.
That's a small sample of Microsoft's notable Windows 11 bugs in recent months.
I've been using Windows since Windows for Workgroups 3.11, and I've seen more than my share of showstopping Windows bugs. Every OS has bugs, and anyone who claims otherwise is either clueless or lying. But I don't remember Windows ever being this bad.
But anecdotally, I don't think I've ever had this much trouble with macOS. Even Ubuntu, which is completely free, seems more stable than this.
Doesn't Microsoft test their updates?
Having dealt with bad Windows updates over the years more times than I can count, this is a common question I hear from clients. "Doesn't Microsoft test these updates before they release them?"
The answer is, not to the extent they should.
Starting in 2014, Microsoft laid off a huge chunk of its staff dedicated to testing Windows, instead decided to lean on developers to test their own code and depending on Windows users as a whole to offer feedback if something breaks.
In other words, instead of spending money on staff whose only job it is to make sure that Windows updates don't break our systems, Microsoft expects you and me to let them know if anything goes wrong.
They treat you and me like guinea pigs, just crossing their fingers that nothing break catastrophically.
Neat.
Instead, Microsoft has pivoted to AI and automation, taking an AI-first stance to just about everything. And now, they're working hard to shove AI into every place they can. Even Notepad.
What did Notepad ever do to you, Microsoft?
We should be able to trust our computers
Having worked closely with computers for well over 30 years (as my hairline and back can attest), I like to think I'm well equipped to handle bugs and bad updates. But the point is we shouldn't have to put up with this sort of thing.
Most computer users, outside of weirdo enthusiasts like me, just want to sit down at their computers and work or play a game. They don't want to spend time reinstalling drivers or rolling back updates or worse, reinstalling Windows.
And frankly they shouldn't have to.
But Microsoft has turned Windows into a mine field of "what is this update going to break" instead of the solid, stable, professional operating system it once was.
It would be one thing if Windows were a free operating system that came with no real warranty beyond a "use at your own risk" label. I could live with the current "you test our updates" paradigm if that were the case.
But it's not. Windows is a commercial operating system that is relied on by home users, small businesses, large enterprises, and even medical and governmental organizations.
Every user, outside of those who've specifically opted in to the Windows Insider Program, ought to be able to expect rock solid stability from his computer. Yes, bugs happen, but they shouldn't be the norm.
Right now, it feels like they are the norm.
Making the competition look good
Microsoft's recent bug spree combined with their incessant forcing of AI into everything has given new energy to my desire to find alternatives.
No operating system is perfect, and they all have their share of bugs. I'll never sit here and tell you that macOS is bug free or that Ubuntu or Linux Mint are absolutely perfect. That'd be insane and wrong.
But I will say that in my experience, macOS feels so much more polished than what we're getting out of Microsoft right now. Apple actually has internal software testers and Quality Assurance engineers whose job it is to make sure that macOS updates don't create showstopping problems for users.
Frankly, the difference is night and day.
Having used Windows for over 30 years and supported it for family, friends and clients for over 20, I feel confident in saying that macOS looks and feels like the far more stable, far more polished operating system. So much so that if someone were to ask me to recommend a system I know would be stable and reliable for years to come, whether that's for business use or school or scrolling Facebook, I'd have no problem recommending a Mac.
I would have a problem recommending a Windows computer, especially if I'd have to be on-call tech support.
While Apple has certainly had their fair share of problems, macOS has most definitely not suffered from the same lack of quality Windows has lately.
How can Microsoft turn this around?
In my mind, Windows has a tarnished reputation right now. It's gone from what was a solid and stable operating system into the "bug of the week" platform. Laying off and canceling contracts with quality assurance teams in favor of external testing and AI has resulted in a buggy, problematic mess.
The best thing Microsoft could do for Windows and its brand as a whole would be to bring back their quality assurance teams and stop relying so heavily on you and me to be canaries in the coal mine.
Sadly, I fear that Microsoft is so laser focused on AI and automation that they don't mind a few bugs here and there if it means they don't have to spend money on testing personnel.
Microsoft has a solid grip on the desktop operating system market. They have the cushion to take a step back and focus on stability and optimization for a bit, instead of trying to pack more and more features into their OS. Apple has, from time to time, paused the innovation machine to work on fixing bugs and optimizing their software. I truly wish Microsoft would do the same.
Until that happens, I'll keep preferring macOS and Ubuntu to Windows, and if the trend keeps up, I don't think I'll be alone.