If Microsoft really wants to fix Windows 11, it should do these four things ASAP
Senior editor demands Microsoft reform its Insider Program and decouple feature testing from quality.
In a pointed critique, ZDNET's Ed Bott responds to Microsoft's recent pledge to refocus Windows 11 development on "fundamentals" and quality. Bott argues that after the rocky receptions to Vista, Windows 8, and now Windows 11, Microsoft's latest promises from Pavan Davaluri, President of Windows + Devices, are long on aspiration but short on concrete deliverables. To prove it's serious, Bott insists the company must implement four specific fixes to its development and feedback processes.
First, Bott demands Microsoft make the Windows Insider Program useful again by reconnecting its Beta and Release Preview channels to actual public release schedules. He argues the program's deterioration since 2022, when channels became disconnected from releases, is a root cause of Windows 11's disjointed development. Second, he calls for decoupling quality testing from feature A/B testing within the Insider Program, stating that mixing the two is "profoundly counterproductive." The final two points emphasize the need for greater transparency on design decisions and tangible delivery on promises of a more responsive OS, reliable updates, and a thoughtfully integrated Copilot, rather than having AI "shoehorned" in.
- Reform the Windows Insider Program by reconnecting Beta/Release Preview channels to public release schedules, reversing a 2022 change.
- Decouple core quality and reliability testing from experimental feature A/B testing within the Insider Program.
- Increase transparency on design decisions and deliver concrete improvements to OS responsiveness, update reliability, and intentional Copilot integration.
Why It Matters
For over a billion users and enterprise admins, fixing these core development issues is critical for a stable, predictable, and user-aligned Windows experience.