Highlights

• Ex-Microsoft engineer highlights sluggish Start Menu responsiveness.
• Performance concerns raised despite testing on a high-end system.
• Users share experiences of sluggishness across basic operations.
• Microsoft faces pressure to address and resolve these performance issues.

A former senior software engineer at Microsoft has ignited a heated discussion around the performance issues plaguing Windows 11.

Andy Young, who previously worked on the operating system itself, has taken to X (formerly Twitter) to highlight the “comically bad” speed of basic user interface (UI) elements, particularly the Start Menu.

In a series of tweets, Young demonstrated the sluggish responsiveness of the Start Menu on his high-end system, featuring an Intel Core i9 processor and a whopping 128GB of RAM.

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

— Andy Young (@anerdguynow) April 9, 2024

Despite the powerful hardware, the Start Menu took nearly a second to load, a baffling delay for a crucial component that should be instantaneous.

Unfinished Product or Underlying Issues?

Naturally, Young’s observations have sparked a conversation about the overall quality and optimization of Windows 11.

While acknowledging his affection for the operating system he helped build, Young has said that he is concerned that Windows 11, in its current state, feels unfinished and potentially rushed to market before it was truly ready.

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 there’s work left to be done.

— Andy Young (@anerdguynow) April 10, 2024

This criticism has resonated with many users who have experienced similar performance hiccups and sluggishness when performing routine tasks.

Some have even shared videos showcasing Windows 11’s tendency to crawl during straightforward operations, further fueling the debate.

Microsoft has consistently encouraged Windows 10 users to upgrade to the latest version, even announcing the impending cost of Extended Security Updates for those reluctant to switch.

However, Young’s comments and the ensuing discussion have cast a shadow on the upgrade process, potentially deterring some users from embracing Windows 11 until its performance issues are addressed.

Microsoft will likely face mounting pressure to acknowledge and rectify the performance concerns one of its former engineers raised.

Whether the solution lies in further optimisation, addressing underlying issues, or acknowledging the operating system’s unfinished state remains to be seen.

FAQs

What specific performance issues were highlighted by the former Microsoft engineer?

Andy Young, a former senior software engineer at Microsoft, pointed out the slow responsiveness of Windows 11’s Start Menu, even on a high-end system with an Intel Core i9 processor and 128GB of RAM.

His critique underscores a significant delay in basic UI elements, raising questions about the overall optimization of Windows 11.

Why are these performance issues concerning for Windows 11 users?

The performance issues are particularly troubling because they affect fundamental aspects of the operating system, such as the Start Menu, that should operate seamlessly.

For an OS that Microsoft promotes as the latest and most advanced, these lags and delays disrupt the user experience and raise doubts about its readiness and efficiency.

How has the community reacted to the reported Windows 11 performance problems?

Following Andy Young’s revelations, many users have echoed his sentiments, sharing their own experiences with Windows 11’s sluggish performance during routine tasks.

This community feedback has amplified the conversation about the need for Microsoft to address these concerns promptly.

What implications do these issues have for Windows 10 users considering an upgrade?

Reports of performance issues could hinder Microsoft’s push for Windows 10 users to upgrade to Windows 11.

With Extended Security Updates for Windows 10 becoming a paid option, users may be reluctant to switch to a newer system that appears to struggle with basic functionality, pending assurance of improvements.

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