5 ms·

But what real enhancements does Windows 10 provide, which couldn't have simply been done as patches to Windows 7, keeping the same main structure and layout and

But what real enhancements does Windows 10 provide, which couldn't have simply been done as patches to Windows 7, keeping the same main structure and layout and overall design, but just continually improving it, the way Henry Ford did with the Model T for 20+ years? For that matter, one could for example take the Windows NT 4.0 source code, add in drivers for the necessary hardware, fix boot code, linking, etc to be compatible with late model computers, spruce up the UI with better font rendering, antialiasing, 24-bit color wallpaper, OpenGL rendering even--and in the end, you'd have something just as functional as Win 7/10 but at 1/4 of the bloat. This sort of thing would be technically very easy to do. It's much easier than the status quo of continually reinventing the wheel. So why, oh why, is there this overpowering desire to continually throw out good code and replace it with heavier, more bloated junk, which doesn't really offer any real increase in functionality?

zozbot234 7y ago
> For that matter, one could for example take the Windows NT 4.0 source code, add in drivers for the necessary hardware, fix boot code, linking, etc to be compatible with late model computers, spruce up the UI with better font rendering, antialiasing, 24-bit color wallpaper, OpenGL rendering even--and in the end, you'd have something just as functional as Win 7/10 but at 1/4 of the bloat. You've almost described ReactOS!
criddell 7y ago
The overpowering desire is to make more money for your shareholders. That sometimes isn’t going to align well with the interests of end users.
- zozbot234 7y ago
  Except that it also happens with internal software, where there's no separation between developers and end-users. It's second-system effect writ large. "We'll rewrite this old, outdated software and add plenty of bells and whistles! This time will be different, we'll finally be doing it right."
  - Wowfunhappy 7y ago
    See, to me, internal software may be the one place where "developer time" really is more valuable (depending on the size of the organization), because you're developing for far fewer uses. One second times five million users is almost two months. One second times five thousand users is less than 90 minutes.
    - shiftless 7y ago
      And what is the difference in productivity between using your custom built tools in your business workflow, vs just sitting there with your dick in your hand instead, unable to work, or having to use Notepad and Excel? There's way more to life than just dollars and cents. Indeed, this really seems to be the larger point here. The bean counters and ladder climbers are now in control of everything, with disastrous consequences.
    - Wowfunhappy 7y ago
      ^ Bad typo, I meant to say "you're developing for far fewer users."
overgard 7y ago
My point isn’t that they couldn’t or shouldn’t be more efficient, it’s that there’s no market pressure. No incentives means no change in behaviour. The only way to fix it is to change the incentives, otherwise we’re just in “old man yells at clouds” territory. Besides, you could essentially do what you’re describing by piecing together a Linux desktop from a lean distro. It’s not hard to find efficient software, it’s just not really mainstream
deleted 7y ago
[deleted]

zozbot234 7y ago

> For that matter, one could for example take the Windows NT 4.0 source code, add in drivers for the necessary hardware, fix boot code, linking, etc to be compatible with late model computers, spruce up the UI with better font rendering, antialiasing, 24-bit color wallpaper, OpenGL rendering even--and in the end, you'd have something just as functional as Win 7/10 but at 1/4 of the bloat. You've almost described ReactOS!

criddell 7y ago

The overpowering desire is to make more money for your shareholders. That sometimes isn’t going to align well with the interests of end users.

zozbot234 7y ago
Except that it also happens with internal software, where there's no separation between developers and end-users. It's second-system effect writ large. "We'll rewrite this old, outdated software and add plenty of bells and whistles! This time will be different, we'll finally be doing it right."
- Wowfunhappy 7y ago
  See, to me, internal software may be the one place where "developer time" really is more valuable (depending on the size of the organization), because you're developing for far fewer uses. One second times five million users is almost two months. One second times five thousand users is less than 90 minutes.
  - shiftless 7y ago
    And what is the difference in productivity between using your custom built tools in your business workflow, vs just sitting there with your dick in your hand instead, unable to work, or having to use Notepad and Excel? There's way more to life than just dollars and cents. Indeed, this really seems to be the larger point here. The bean counters and ladder climbers are now in control of everything, with disastrous consequences.
  - Wowfunhappy 7y ago
    ^ Bad typo, I meant to say "you're developing for far fewer users."

overgard 7y ago

My point isn’t that they couldn’t or shouldn’t be more efficient, it’s that there’s no market pressure. No incentives means no change in behaviour. The only way to fix it is to change the incentives, otherwise we’re just in “old man yells at clouds” territory. Besides, you could essentially do what you’re describing by piecing together a Linux desktop from a lean distro. It’s not hard to find efficient software, it’s just not really mainstream

deleted 7y ago

[deleted]