Software King of the World, Microsoft cannot win. It sped up Windows 11 by briefly goosing CPU performance when apps and menus are opened, only to find users still moaning.
Windows Latest spotted that Microsoft VP and member of technical staff Scott Hanselman had waded onto X to defend the idea. Hanselman is part of the outfit trying to sort out Windows 11 this year, which is no small poisoned chalice.
The feature is called Low Latency Profile, and it has annoyed the usual online crowd. Some reckon Microsoft is taking shortcuts and fudging a performance fix rather than doing the job properly.
The trick boosts processor speed for about one to three seconds when opening an app or poking the Start menu. Early testing suggests it makes Windows 11 feel more responsive, but critics claimed Microsoft was cheating by calling on the CPU like this. Hanselman said the idea is standard stuff for modern operating systems.
One thread began: “What a disgrace MicroSlop boosting the processor performance right on time and briefly just to make apps open faster. No other company would dare to do the same.”
Normally, when someone uses the term slop in the IT world, they are having an imagination bypass and just feel cool about repeating something someone else has said. Hanselman pointed out that all modern operating systems do this, including macOS and Linux.
“It’s not ‘cheating’; this is how modern systems make apps feel fast: they temporarily boost the CPU speed and prioritise interactive tasks to reduce latency. Apple does this, and y’all love it.” Hanselman said.
This means there is a double standard among the great unwashed: they allow the Fruity Cargo Cult Apple and Linux to take these shortcuts, but do not give them quite the same kicking.
Another complainant dragged phones into it, saying: “Imagine your smartphone boosting max CPU every time you touch something to be responsive”
“Your smartphone already does this. Constantly. Every touch wakes cores, boosts clocks, renders a frame, then drops back to idle milliseconds later. You’ve discovered dynamic frequency scaling. Welcome to modern computer science. Come on in! The water changes temperature often,” Hanselman said.
Hanselman clearly felt some keyboard warriors needed a quick lecture in how computers work. He has a point, even if Microsoft’s habit of making Windows 11 feel like it is walking through treacle makes users less charitable.
