We all hoped that 2021 would sign a return to normalcy, however that by no means fairly occurred. Microsoft’s {hardware} groups loved sturdy success this 12 months. But for Windows, software program, and companies? Not a lot.
Microsoft’s 12 months in evaluate has change into a vacation custom of kinds right here at PCWorld—recapping Microsoft’s strengths, failures, and moments that made us scratch our heads and mutter, “Seriously, what.” So if you happen to loved our recap of 2020, seize a glass of vacation cheer and calm down.
2021. What a 12 months, huh?
WIN: Hybrid work
A usually pathetic sports activities group just like the University of California Golden Bears can salvage a whole season’s price of futility with a win over a key opponent, similar to Stanford. And Microsoft made what wasn’t the happiest of years into a hit with an ongoing, huge win: Microsoft continued to facilitate working from house, and arguably led the way in which in doing so.
Some could favor Google’s Workspace, Zoom, or Slack, however Microsoft Teams has clearly advanced into an efficient assembly and videoconferencing device in addition to a collaboration answer. Microsoft has invested closely into partnerships for Teams hardware in addition to some very thoughtful ways of integrating in-office work with distant staff. Microsoft’s online conferences continued to set the bar. Microsoft 365 is now virtually vital for companies and customers alike, due to the worth all of those add. It’s been an unlimited success for Microsoft as a complete.
FAIL: Microsoft Teams for customers
It’s clear, although, that the victory occasion bought just a little out of hand. Some inebriated Microsoft M365 exec most likely shouted “Let’s make everybody use Teams!!” and Microsoft Teams for Consumers was born. Then some madman mocked up a Windows 11 taskbar with Teams Chat built-in proper into it. That was pushed to manufacturing, too! Only after the hangovers had worn off did somebody notice that no, nobody really needs to make use of Teams of their private lives. Unfortunately, by then the harm had been completed.
Microsoft
WTF: Microsoft’s social font-picking experiment
In April, Microsoft tried out a weird social experiment, letting customers vote on which new font would be used in 2022 inside Office, Windows, and extra. Microsoft inspired customers to foyer for Seaford (“organic and asymmetric forms!”), Skeena (a “humanist” sans serif), Bierstadt, and extra, most likely hoping a heated debate would polarize the Internet. Instead, there was… nicely, nothing. How can we go on with out correct closure?
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Months earlier than Facebook rebranded itself as Meta and made “metaverse” essentially the most overused time period of 2021, there was Microsoft Mesh, Microsoft’s virtual-reality platform and the shock reveal at its Microsoft Ignite convention. Looking again, it’s attention-grabbing to see how Mesh advanced over simply this 12 months: in March, when Microsoft launched Mesh, Microsoft technical fellow Alex Kipman characterised Mesh as a virtual-meeting platform, implying that the way forward for conferences was digital actuality.
Meta then adopted the identical method, to normal disgust. By November, Microsoft’s vision of the metaverse had been recast as virtual Teams avatars in preparation for a preview to be launched in 2022.
FAIL: Windows 11
To be honest, we’re biased: PCWorld’s review of Windows 11 concluded that Windows 11 was “unnecessary,” partly as a result of Windows 10 continues to be a superb working system, and partly as a result of Windows 11 launched with many, many tough edges. Statcounter, nevertheless, doesn’t even present Windows 11 in its desktop OS market-share list. AdDuplex says Windows 11’s share is 8.6 p.c. LanSweeper says that it’s 0.2 p.c. For no matter purpose, Windows 11 hasn’t taken off.
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While Windows 11 might not be succeeding but, Windows itself is. Microsoft most likely cares as a lot as extra about Microsoft 365 subscription income and month-to-month customers of Edge and Bing than the rest. To Microsoft’s bean-counters, Windows is only a gateway to these companies.
FAIL: Windows 11’s {hardware} necessities
It’s honest to say that we’ve got some TPM PTSD we’re nonetheless working by. For a number of weeks, Microsoft swung forwards and backwards on precisely which PCs could upgrade to Windows 11, and customers tried to determine what the hardware requirements of Windows 11 had been, and what they needed to do if their PC didn’t meet them. Microsoft could have had the very best of intentions in excluding tens of millions of PCs for safety causes, however all Microsoft needed to do was to easily sit down with reporters and clearly talk what was happening, what customers might anticipate, and the considering behind it. They didn’t.
This was clearly Microsoft’s worst communications debacle in years, and we will solely hope that some senior government was known as on the carpet for it.
FAIL: Windows 11’s lack of browser selection
Microsoft Edge is a strong browser, adding new features on a regular basis — which is why Microsoft screwed this up so badly. Windows 11 makes it a royal ache to arrange a third-party browser because the default, robbing customers of the selection between any of the excellent browsers which can be obtainable to Windows customers, from Brave to Vivaldi. If that call wasn’t legally anti-competitive, it positive felt prefer it. Even a way to redirect Edge-specific links was blocked. Taking steps to reverse the choice through a Windows 11 preview is a small step, nevertheless it’s one that ought to have by no means been made within the first place.
Mark Hachman / IDG
FAIL: Windows 10X
As we now know, Windows 10X was rolled into Windows 11. What we didn’t know when Windows 10X leaked in January was that it was going to interchange Windows 10 — it might have made a colorless however practical alternative for Windows 10 Home in S Mode (Windows 10 S) in Chromebooks. But nope, Windows 10X advanced into Windows 11, and the “true” alternative for Windows 10 S will probably be…
WTF: Windows 11 SE and the Surface Laptop SE
Windows 11 SE and the complementary Surface Laptop SE actually felt like Microsoft saying nicely, what the hell — let’s simply throw this on the wall and see if it sticks. Remember, there may be nonetheless a Windows 11 Home in S Mode, and Windows 10 S was initially designed to compete with Chrome OS. Now it’s Windows 11 SE, and the Surface Laptop SE is now the brand new Chromebook killer. Good luck with that, people.
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WIN: Surface Pro 7+ and Surface Pro 8
It was just a little stunning to see Microsoft announce two new tablets throughout 2021, even when the Surface Pro 7+ was technically for companies solely. But although each debuted amongst a crop of the best Windows tablets we’ve seen in years, our review of the Surface Pro 7+ in addition to our Surface Pro 8 review merely demonstrated that Microsoft continues to be on the high of its recreation the place full-sized Windows tablets are involved.
WIN: Surface Laptop Studio
While we could have anticipated a brand new Surface Book, Microsoft’s “Surface Laptop Book Pro” fusion consists of a powerful pull-forward design with comparatively high-performance CPU and GPU choices, as our Surface Laptop Studio review reveals. Can we proceed the push ahead and plan out an Xbox gaming laptop for 2022?
Mark Hachman / IDG
WIN: Surface Laptop 4
For essentially the most half, Microsoft’s usually sturdy Surface exhibiting continued to offset Microsoft’s struggles in software program and companies. Our review of the Surface Laptop 4 was a hit each for AMD’s Ryzen processor in addition to Microsoft itself. Note to Microsoft’s design group: deepen the important thing journey. Microsoft’s keyboards had been as soon as the very best within the business, and now they’re merely good.
FAIL: Surface Duo 2
I saved my private SIM within the Surface Duo 2 folding telephone nicely after we revealed PCWorld’s Surface Duo 2 review, however at the moment I merely discover myself instinctively grabbing different telephones as a substitute. Surprisingly, it was the Duo 2’s UI that pushed me over the sting. Not the bugs, however merely how the telephone retains separate columns of apps on both display screen, and there’s an excessive amount of ache wading by them to search out what I need. In all, the Surface Duo 2 was a good effort that fell quick.
Mark Hachman / IDG
WIN: Xbox Game Pass
While you continue to can’t discover Microsoft’s Xbox Series X recreation console in any affordable portions, two issues soothed the blow: the provision of the affordable Xbox Series S, and the success of Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass. Microsoft’s recreation subscription is mainly vital by this level, permitting avid gamers day-one entry to each Microsoft’s AAA titles (for the PC and the Xbox!) in addition to plenty of indie video games. Here’s how to get Game Pass for cheap.
WIN: Windows 365
This is completely a intestine name, however I think that the groundwork behind Windows 365 (Windows within the cloud) will finally repay. We have already got streaming sticks, and a way of tucking a PC in your pocket and plugging it into an obtainable HDMI port looks as if a viable future. The query will probably be how customers kind, contact, and work together with Windows, all issues that the modalities maestros at Microsoft will finally clear up.
WIN: The Financial Modeling World Cup, aka the Excel Championship
I by no means anticipated that tuning in on a Saturday morning to observe monetary modelers work by Microsoft Excel challenges could be essentially the most healthful Microsoft expertise of 2021, nevertheless it completely was. There’s a sure intersection of meme tradition, pessimism, sportsmanship, and good-natured trolling that defines trendy faculty soccer fandom, and the FMWC felt like a bunch of followers who had collectively tuned into the very best recreation of the day. Click on the YouTube hyperlinks in our FMWC story and also you’ll see what we imply.
The FMWC had every little thing: nerd tradition; insightful, dwell commentary (Tim Heng!), and even a educated fanbase who clearly loved themselves. This was Excel as esports, and it was stunningly compelling.
So that was 2021, from Microsoft’s perspective — plenty of head-scratching selections, some rage, however then pleasure the place none was anticipated. Here’s to a greater 2022 for all of us!
As PCWorld’s senior editor, Mark focuses on Microsoft information and chip expertise, amongst different beats. He has previously written for PCMag, BYTE, Slashdot, eWEEK, and ReadWrite.