Who are Windows Insiders?

Testers? Co-Creators? Critics? Fans? Pessimists? Optimists? People?

These are entirely my views of the Windows Insiders program. I just wanted to share them.

On Twitter yesterday there was quite a lot of chatter about what it is to be a Windows Insider and what people think Microsoft sees its Insiders as. This got me thinking.

First things first, Windows Insiders are not testers and the Windows Insider Program is not a beta test. Not in the true sense of the words anyway. We are not expected to confirm to Microsoft that clicking A results in B. Microsoft has people and huge suites of automated testing for this kind of response to new features.

In Microsoft’s view we are co-creators in that we are helping to develop the product through raising concerns, sharing ideas and commenting on our experiences.

Of course, there are instances where Insiders encounter issues with a feature not working and that needs to be fed back to Microsoft but that’s not our true role but we might be like testers. For Microsoft Insiders don’t replace testers, not at all, the way I see it we replace the focus groups.

Microsoft can validate itself that clicking A results in B but we as users might really have wanted C. That’s where our value comes in. It’s what focus groups used to do but we as Insiders can do this on a massive scale.

So, coming back to the question in the title, who are Windows Insiders? Well we’re people. I don’t mean that to be flippant. Everyone is different, and with over 7 million Insiders there is a vast spectrum of differences, just like the users of Windows.

Some people might like to test the new features of Windows and aren’t too bothered about sharing new ideas; for others it’s the opposite. Equally, there is no requirement from Microsoft that being an Insider means you give any kind of feedback at all. Feedback is asked for but never demanded.

With each of us being different, expecting different behaviors from features, hoping for different functionality and sharing different ideas we are at times testers, creators, critics, fans, pessimists and optimists. But that’s the beauty of the being an Insider, we are able to be what we want.

If something doesn’t work correctly, hold Microsoft to account. If there’s a new feature that you like, let them know. If you’ve got an idea to improve Windows, share it with them. If you just want to see what’s coming in the next big update, install the latest build.

The great thing about being a Windows Insider is that Microsoft is happy for us to just be people, lets not let the labels get in the way. Being a Windows Insider is for each of us.