My View on the Windows System: What Hardware, What People
My Perspective on Windows Systems: What Hardware, What People
Having used Windows systems for years and studied their underlying principles for just as long, I’d like to share my overall view of Windows systems today.
What makes a good system? What makes good software?
On Windows Systems
A system is excellent if it possesses the following characteristics:
- Simplicity
- Power
- Efficiency
- Elegance
Simplicity
Simplicity isn’t just about the user interface—it also applies to the codebase.
Simplicity in the user interface means the design is intuitive, well-organized, and reduces the user’s cognitive load during operation.
Simplicity in the codebase reflects the technical skill of the developers. Clean code often translates to faster execution and better resource management.
Power
Achieving power while maintaining simplicity is no small feat. Power here means strong functionality and strong compatibility. It’s not just about having many features, but having top-tier ones. For example, Windows 11 offers more features than Windows 10, such as previewing and extracting 7z and RAR files directly in File Explorer. However, this feature is far from top-tier—it’s slow and underwhelming.
Strong compatibility means the system can run a wide variety of software and recognize diverse hardware. I know this is challenging because compatibility often introduces code redundancy and carries the heavy burden of legacy support.
Efficiency
Efficiency refers to both runtime efficiency and user efficiency. From the user’s perspective, runtime efficiency means the system runs fast and maximizes the use of all hardware resources. User efficiency means enabling users to find what they need in the shortest time and complete tasks with minimal steps. This ties back to the system’s simplicity.
Elegance
Elegance is purely about the user interface. Windows 11’s interface is indeed elegant, with its rounded corners and smooth transition animations. An elegant system is visually pleasing.
When a system becomes elegant enough, many users will tolerate its inefficiencies and weaknesses. Ordinary users tend to follow the crowd—they don’t know, and won’t know, what an efficient and powerful system looks like. For many, appearance is the only criterion: “looks good, so it’s good.”
On Software
You should admit that a system is also a type of software—both are written in code and compiled.
However, system software differs from ordinary software. A system provides a platform for other software to run and acts as a pipeline for interacting with hardware. Its primary function is to allocate and schedule hardware resources.
Therefore, for ordinary software, it should first possess all the characteristics of an excellent system: simplicity, power, efficiency, and elegance.
Additionally, for software running on Windows, I have further requirements:
- No ads. If software contains ads, it degrades the user experience, regardless of whether it’s the author’s source of income.
- Portability is king. When functionality is identical, I always choose portable versions. They don’t—or barely—write to the registry, whereas installed versions do. The leaner and lighter the registry, the better.
- Use shared runtimes. If Windows already includes a runtime, don’t bundle a full copy in your own folder. That wastes space.
- Maintain a reasonable update frequency. Updates that are too frequent or too infrequent are signs of poor software. Too frequent updates erode user trust in security; too infrequent updates speak for themselves.
- Write clear update notes. Tell users what features were added and what security vulnerabilities were fixed—not just “fixed some known issues.”
- Don’t leave traces everywhere. If software is installed on the D drive, avoid adding files or folders to the C drive unless necessary. This imposes a hidden burden on the C drive. Of course, some software must be installed on C (e.g., certain antivirus programs and Google Chrome)—that’s a technical limitation and understandable.
Final Thoughts: What Hardware, What System; What People, What System
People often ask: Which is the best system among Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1, Windows 10, Windows 11, or even Linux?
My answer is always the same:
There is no best system—only the system that best suits you.
The complexity of a system is far beyond our imagination. Anything that can be called a “system” has an internally rigorous operational logic and a self-preservation mechanism.
Consider the circulatory system, digestive system, nervous system, endocrine system, RAAS system, Windows system, Linux system. They may seem vastly different, but at their core, they are the same.
They all exist to maintain their own homeostasis, perform their functions, resist entropy, and prolong their existence.
When you hand me a computer from 2005, I’ll tell you without hesitation: Windows XP is the best system.
When you hand me a computer from 2026, I’ll look at its hardware specs and give you an answer based on that. In 2026, not every computer is suitable for Windows 11.
Forcing Windows 11 onto a 2005 computer, or Windows XP onto a 2026 computer—these are unnatural acts. What good can come from defying the natural order?
When you defend the merits of Windows 11 and face criticism from Windows 10 loyalists, you should realize: what system a person uses reflects who they are. You cannot sway their thinking, and they cannot sway yours.
All arguments are unnecessary. Once a debate begins, the outcome is already decided. On the internet, no one convinces anyone. Different paths, no shared plans. A gentleman seeks harmony but not conformity—and so it is with systems. Different flowers appeal to different eyes; beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Because technology is neutral. It’s the people using it who differ.
When you find yourself debating which system to use just to read a PDF, perhaps you should reflect:
“Am I serving technology, or is technology serving me?”