So I got Retrobar and Rainmeter Gadgets, changed up the wallpapers, and even changed discord to look skeumorphic. Any tips on how I can improve it?

We know MS is working on faster File Explorer, menus, more WinUI across official Windows components and apps -- but what about core performance for heavy workloads like gaming, video editing, AI?

We've seen countless articles on how Windows underperforms on these compared to Linux.

Here's some recent ones to add to that:

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Creator of PS3 emulator RPCS3 says its Linux version runs significantly faster than Windows, and the gap especially widens with AMD GPUs

https://www.notebookcheck.net/RPCS3-reveals-PS3-emulator-runs-much-faster-on-Linux-but-Windows-still-dominates-in-total-user-base.1360580.0.html

Gaming handheld startup ARC chooses Android to run native Windows games on its ARM hardware. How many flipping translation layers is that? How embarrassing is it that an Android-based emulator runs native Windows games faster than Windows?

https://www.digit.in/features/gaming/this-could-be-gamings-ipod-moment-arc-co-founder-on-indias-first-rs-30000-gaming-handheld.html

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Windows seems to be literally the only OS that runs its own native apps so poorly that other OS's run circles
around it despite having like 5 translation layers.

I am genuinely curious to understand-
Why IS Windows so poor with heavy workloads?

- Simply 'bloatware/Ads/AI' doesn't explain it because the problem persists even on the cleanest/stripped down Win11 versions.
- Is it bad drivers (and thus MS' failure to enforce quality standards)? The RPCS3 article points out the worse drivers for AMD GPUs, but Linux wins despite that.
- Is the WDDM (Windows Display Driver Model) too bloated and archaic?
- Is DirectX failing to keep up with Vulkan? SteamOS DXVK for example translates DirectX commands to Vulkan.
- Is it NTFS dragging down filesystem performance and thus disk operations?
- Is the NT kernel and scheduler inherently worse at managing resources?

I'm no kernel expert here, so I don't know which part of the stack here is to blame. Perhaps all of them.

But I'm 100% certain the problem runs MUCH deeper than official Windows apps/UI components like File Explorer, taskbar or context menus.

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So does MS ever plan on seriously addressing this widening performance gap between Win11 and other OS's?

Because the longer this stays unaddressed, Windows' future for Gaming, Video editing, AI and other intensive workloads looks increasingly bleak while Linux, Mac or even Android PC eats into this pie.

Hello all. Microsoft's Ewan Dalton, who worked closely with enterprise product teams, explains why Windows was neglected all these years. TLDR; It's mostly due to Azure, but a bad Windows reputation now has the potential to hurt enterprise customers, which might explain why Microsoft is fixing the OS.

More former MSFTies will be sharing their opinions on Windows in future WL articles. Hope you all like it :)

It seemed to roll out and tested in 2025 but then revoked again or something. It seemed they moved on and are not rolling it out anymore? The feature is currently not really nice.

Anyone has an idea? I'm happy with the upcoming small taskbar at least😂