Windows Weekly 950: "Coding Makes Me Cry" (September 17, 2025)

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott (Richard Campbell out)
Theme: Windows 10’s looming end-of-life, Microsoft’s OS support policies, Insider builds, security features, MacBook rumors, Copilot, AI partner dynamics, new Windows search app from Google, Xbox/game news, and a candid discussion of the state of computing.

Episode Overview

This week, Leo and Paul dive deep into Microsoft’s plans to end Windows 10 support, the ripple effects for consumers and the industry, and the pressure from Consumer Reports to extend life for the aging but widely used OS. They discuss the rationale, business realities, and alternative paths for PC hardware. The show covers the latest Windows Insider developments, mounting integration of Copilot and security features, Apple’s rumored turn to touchscreen MacBooks, and the wider context of AI, subscription models, and the ever-complicated developer experience. The episode closes with app picks, security tips, and playful banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Consumer Reports’ Plea for Windows 10 Support

[02:03 - 23:00]

• Consumer Reports sent a letter to Satya Nadella asking Microsoft to extend Windows 10 support.
• Paul’s analysis: Historically, Microsoft has given 10 years support. They’re now adding a year’s grace, and three for paying business customers.
• The hardware factor: Many Windows 10 PCs may not be upgradeable due to stringent Windows 11 requirements (TPM 2.0, 8th gen Intel, etc.), leading to concerns over landfill and e-waste.
• Quotes:
  • “In reality, Windows is much more reliable than it’s ever been... Maybe it should be supported longer.” – Paul [04:22]
  • “If this is an absolute necessity, you can keep going with 10. If you’re a business, you can do this for three years... At some point, you get to where the computers running Windows 11 are so modern and so secure... it’s kind of a tough call.” – Paul [06:10]
  • “Most people running Windows 10, even after support ends, are just going to keep using it.” – Leo [07:49]
• Parallels: Apple and Google’s ecosystems force upgrades more aggressively; the PC is unique in its openness, alternatives (e.g., Linux), and longevity.

2. Alternatives for Old Hardware & Environmental Concerns

[11:18 - 15:15]

• Landfill worries: Unupgradable, still-useful PCs may be trashed. Leo highlights organizations like Digitunity (formerly Christina Foundation) for hardware donation/upcycling.
• Practical barriers: Installing Linux not feasible for most typical users.
• The digital divide: Those least able to upgrade face the biggest challenges.

3. The Business & Security Rationale for Ending Support

[15:21 - 23:00]

• Microsoft is a for-profit company—ending support aligns with commercial imperatives.
• Security: Many will keep using unsupported Windows 10, opening up vulnerabilities that risk the broader Internet.
• Leo: “It doesn’t just affect them, it affects the Internet ecosystem.” [19:48]
• Paul: “They’re pivoting to subscriptions and cloud—the OS is less central to their bottom line.” [61:55]

4. Windows Insider Builds & 25H2/24H2 Updates

[28:43 - 32:00]

• 25H2 ISO now available for x64; ARM version lagging.
• Tools like Rufus and Tiny11 are being updated for new builds.
• Release cadence: October (preview) and November (general) releases likely.
• Copilot, “Click to Do,” and improved controller/game navigation featured most in previews.

5. Quick Machine Recovery & Windows Reliability [36:30 - 38:28]

• "Quick Machine Recovery" is a new tool aiming to auto-recover PCs unable to boot into Windows, drawing fixes from Windows Update.
• Designed for community-wide issues (e.g., a bad driver update impacting many users).

6. Outlook on Touchscreen Macs & the iPad-Laptop Convergence

[45:33 - 55:02]

• Apple rumored to be prepping an OLED, touchscreen MacBook Pro.
• Paul’s nuanced take: While touch is additive, he personally prefers non-touch laptops. He admires the iPad’s progress:
  • “They’ve really achieved something magical with this new version of iPadOS... If you attach a Magic Keyboard, it works just like a laptop, yet it’s still an iPad when you want.” [48:09]
• Compares Apple’s approach (simplicity upwards) vs. Microsoft’s (complexity downwards).
  • “Microsoft has been trying forever to take this complicated thing and make it simpler... Apple started simple and carefully got more sophisticated.” – Paul [56:00]

7. State of Windows & Microsoft’s Shifting Priorities

[55:02 - 63:51]

• Windows is increasingly a “workstation/truck”—not the primary computing device for most.
• Microsoft’s business focus has shifted: now subscriptions, cloud, and AI.
• Leo: “There’s barely any money in Surface... or Xbox for that matter... they’re all about that monthly subscription now.” [62:10]
• Paul: “They don’t care what you use, as long as you pay for Microsoft 365, for Game Pass, for Copilot Pro.” [61:55]

8. The Candid Frustration of Modern Coding

[63:51 - 70:00]

• Paul and Leo swap war stories about the maddening state of dev frameworks, coding, and AI-based programming tools.
• Memorable exchange:
  • Paul: “I just want to cry. That’s what programming is.” [66:53]
  • Leo: “Coding makes him cry, ladies and gentlemen. I think that’s what we’ve learned today.” [67:08]
• Reflections on the satisfaction of solving problems, the need for peer recognition, and the challenges of open source.

Notable Quotes

• On Windows' End of Life Realities:
  • “You're taking the last version of Windows ever and putting it out of support. That doesn't ring true somehow, but I don't know.” – Paul [22:26]
• On Tech Nostalgia/Change:
  • “Windows is not the future of computing. I'm sorry. But you know, I love it and I'm super into it—always will be. But this isn't the future.” – Paul [24:13]
• On the shift to subscriptions:
  • “They don't care about the product. You're paying them for the service.” – Paul [61:55]
• On programming pain:
  • "I just want someone to understand it was work, and I solved it. Like, I'm happy with myself, you know? I just want it to matter somehow." – Paul [69:57]

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Time | Segment / Topic | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------------| | 02:03 | Consumer Reports petition to Microsoft | | 11:18 | E-waste and upcycling organizations | | 16:42 | Hardware security requirements: arbitrary or not? | | 28:43 | Insider builds and 25H2 overview | | 36:30 | Quick Machine Recovery and reliability features | | 45:33 | MacBook with touchscreen rumors & iPad laptop convergence | | 55:02 | Microsoft’s shifting strategies and subscription model | | 63:51 | “Coding makes me cry” – modern programming frustration | | 82:48 | Microsoft 365: Teams/Office bundling, Copilot in apps | | 96:58 | AI partnership with OpenAI, model orchestration | | 109:26 | Hardware news: chips, Snapdragon, game devices | | 114:32 | Xbox app adds third-party store visibility | | 127:31 | Security Tip: Hidden security features in Windows 11 | | 139:09 | App Pick: Google’s new Windows Search Lab | | 143:45 | Reflections and show wrap-up |

Picks & Tips

Security Tip of the Week

[127:34 - 139:09]

• Hidden Security Features in Windows 11:
  • Smart App Control: Uses AI/heuristics to block suspicious apps (off by default, must be re-enabled via a cumbersome workaround or registry hack).
  • Ransomware Protection: Off by default—should be enabled via Windows Security.
  • Administrative Protection: New UAC functionality for enhanced secure prompts; may be too intrusive for some.
  • Windows Hello Enhancements: Enroll multiple biometric scans for reliability.
  • Phone Link for Security Codes: Copy two-factor codes directly from Windows notifications.

App Pick of the Week

• Google Search for Windows (LABS)
  • An experimental floating search bar app for Windows offering web and Google Drive search, Google Lens, and Gemini integration.
  • “It’s like Copilot, but for Google people. If you can get it, try it out. It’s very interesting.” – Paul [144:19]
  • labs.google.com/search (requires personal Google account)

Final Thoughts and Show Banter

• The podcast's longevity:
  “We’ve been doing this for 19 years... The 1000th episode will probably hit during the 20th anniversary next year.” – Leo [152:53]
• Playful ribbing about mustaches, open source coding, and the pain/joy of “figuring it out.”
• Next week: Paul reporting from Hawaii (Snapdragon event), Richard likely back.

For Listeners Who Missed the Show

This episode is a must for anyone interested in Microsoft’s reasoning behind ending Windows 10 support and the broader implications for users, security, and the ecosystem. It’s also an honest look at how the role of Windows in personal computing is changing, with candid side discussions about hardware life cycles, open source, developer woes, and what the future holds—for tech and the industry’s biggest platforms. Paul and Leo keep it sharp, irreverent, and rooted in decades of experience, making it both insightful and entertaining.

Resources Mentioned

• Digitunity – Upcycle Old Computers
• Google Windows Search Lab
• Paul Thurrott’s Windows 11 Field Guide (LeanPub)
• Club TWiT

End of Summary