“I am quite disappointed in how the usability of Windows has been regressing and the program management groups do not generate usability problems,” wrote Bill Gates in an email in 2003 addressed to Jim Allchin, leader of Microsoft Platforms.
The same co-founder of Microsoft was complaining about his flagship operating system as he was facing problems installing an application on his computer. It was Windows Movie Maker.
Gates, in addition to complaining about the application, was raising concerns about the platform used to download programs, Microsoft.com.
“I decided to download Movie Maker and purchase the Digital Plus package, so I went to Microsoft.com. They have a dump place so I went there. The first 5 times I used the site, it timed out when trying to open the download page. Then after an 8 second delay I managed to get it to appear. This site is so slow it is unusable,” Gates wrote.
Bill Gates faced challenges when trying to download and use Windows Movie Maker, software that should have been easily accessible, especially for him, who led Microsoft. His experience, detailed in an email, highlights surprising usability difficulties on Microsoft’s website.
Searching for Movie Maker became a daunting task, with a list of confusing names that made file paths in Windows look simple in comparison. The site’s slowness added another layer of frustration, belying the efficiency expected from a leading technology platform.
The process did not improve over time; Instead of providing a download shortcut, Gates was directed to Windows Update, an alternative site that suggested an even more convoluted procedure that included downloading multiple controls.
Five years later, after that email was made public, Gates commented in an interview: “What do you think I do every day? Sending emails like that, that’s my job. That’s what we do. Our goal is to make improvements.”
Windows Movie Maker, part of the Windows Essentials software suite, was officially discontinued by Microsoft in January 2017.
This program, which allowed users to easily create and edit videos, was popular among home users for its ease of use and basic video editing functionalities. Over the years, it received several updates, adapting to new versions of Windows up to Windows 8.1.
After its discontinuation, Microsoft suggested users migrate to other video editing software alternatives, including the Windows 10 Photos app, which offers tools to create and edit videos in ways similar to Movie Maker.
Although it is still possible to find websites offering Windows Movie Maker downloads, it is important to proceed with caution as Microsoft no longer provides official support for the software and these downloads may not be safe or could contain malicious software.
Bill Gates began to gradually withdraw from his operational role at Microsoft in 2000.when he left his position as CEO and Steve Ballmer took his place.
However, Gates maintained an active involvement in the company, serving as chairman of the board and chief software architect. The transition marked the beginning of a gradual shift toward his philanthropic interests through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
On June 27, 2008, Gates left his day job at Microsoft to devote more time to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, although he continued as chairman of the board and an advisor on key projects.
This decision reflected his desire to focus on global challenges in health and education, areas where he saw the opportunity to make significant charitable contributions.
Finally, on March 13, 2020, Bill Gates announced his decision to resign from his position on the board of directors of Microsoft and Berkshire Hathaway to dedicate more time to his philanthropic initiatives.
