Why Windows does not give basic student apps free like apple to merge PDFs, create videos like IMovie, basic photo editing to fill the forms

Question

I dont want to rely on third party app but this is basic requirement.

Apple has Preview, IMovie etc.

I am not gamer. If windows can be made fast by releasing its another lighter version and gets all the student related apps free.

Answer 1

Hi Bharat Taneja,

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A!

Thank you for a reasonable concern, especially from a student perspective, and you’re not alone in feeling this way. However, the first thing to note is that Windows and macOS follow very different product strategies.

Apple controls both the hardware and the OS, so it can bundle different apps directly into macOS easily. Meanwhile, Microsoft builds Windows to run on various devices (HP, Dell… or even Macbook), making it difficult to bundle too many apps into the OS.

Hence, Windows focuses on being a platform so that a variety of applications can deploy. It also gives users more space for personalization. Plus, in a way, Windows already includes similar applications for what you’re asking for. They are just working differently:

1. Microsoft Edge includes built‑in PDF viewing, form filling, annotations, and printing. However, merging PDFs is not available.
2. The Windows Photos app supports basic photo editing: crop, rotate, filters, brightness, background blur, and simple adjustments
3. Video creation (iMovie equivalent): Microsoft Clipchamp, a free video editor designed specifically for beginners and students.

Another thing to note is that Apple sells hardware and OS together at high margins, so it’s reasonable for built-in “free” apps. Meanwhile, Microsoft releases Windows publicly for everyone to download, so advanced tools move to higher tiers or third-party.

Still, your feedback is 100% valid: PDF merging should be built-in and there should be a clearer workflow for students. Since this is just a peer-to-peer platform with no access to backend or product development, the most appropriate avenue for your request is Feedback Hub (press Win + F).

That is the official Microsoft channel, the only one that influences Windows feature decisions. Besides sharing your thoughts, you can also search for similar posts and upvote the to attract attention from the tech team!

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Answer 2

Windows does provide a range of applications and tools, but the availability of specific features like PDF merging, video editing, and photo editing may not be as integrated as in macOS. While Apple includes tools like Preview and iMovie for free with their operating system, Windows relies more on third-party applications to fulfill these needs.

However, Windows does support a variety of third-party applications that can perform these tasks, and many of them are available for free or at a low cost. Additionally, Microsoft offers its own suite of applications through Microsoft 365, which includes tools for document editing and collaboration, but these typically require a subscription.

As for the idea of a lighter version of Windows tailored specifically for students, Microsoft does have Windows 11 SE, which is designed for educational environments and focuses on providing essential applications and a simplified experience for students. This version may help address some of the concerns you have regarding the availability of basic applications.

Ultimately, the approach to software and app availability differs between Windows and macOS, with Windows emphasizing flexibility and a broader ecosystem of applications, while Apple tends to bundle more basic functionality into its operating system.