If you like Emacs so much, why don't you just use Emacs?
Not the point. Microsoft has had a blank-slate opportunity with things like calc and notepad but has squandered them. Why not make calc the world's best calculator? Why not make notepad the best text editor? Instead, those apps are just like the 1998 versions, while they've diddled with the meaningless start menu and control panel for probably 200 million dollars in man hours.
"Not capable" can have two meanings. First, you could mean that Microsoft engineers lack the skill and ability to make a better calculator or text editor. Second, you could mean that Microsoft's hands are tied by a variety of reasons (legacy support, antitrust concerns, etc).
I know it's popular to assume Microsoft's incompetency, but that's not the case here.
Many engineers internally have proposed changes and provided patches that could drastically improve the functionality. However, the gatekeepers are incredibly conservative. Not only do they have to consider the legacy issues, but they also have to consider all of the ISVs who would kick and scream about anti-trust. The subset of the customer base who would truly appreciate a better notepad do not justify the risks.
It is 100% the point. If you want a specific tool, go use that tool. There are probably more lines of code to handle indentation in emacs than in all of notepad.
Fwiw, since '98, notepad gained keyboard shortcuts and calculator had its backend rewritten to handle higher precision decimals. Both are simple utilities for simple tasks.
And you know what? The best calculator in the world, it has physical buttons. Or, it is Mathematica. Answering which is best depends completley on the question, and totally misses the point.
Microsoft has a high-end text editor, it is called Visual Studio. The express versions are available for free.
Microsoft does ship a more powerful calculator, also for free, as a "Power Toy". It is just about as powerful as you can get without competing against Mathematica or Maple. However, I'd assume they have not included it with the OS for fear of anti-trust complaints from Wolfram or Maplesoft. All that said, Windows 7 will include an upgraded calculator with a "programmer mode": http://www.online-tech-tips.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/w...
The funny thing is that NO ONE (that matters) complains about calc or notepad. Calc and notepad are completely inconsequential to IT decision makers and personal buyers. The start menu, however, has not scaled to support the shear number of applications the average user has. It is a pain point which IT administrators complained about on a routine basis. It also supports an insanely high level of customization which is 100% controllable by group policy and the like. The squeaky wheel gets the oil.
Not the point. Microsoft has had a blank-slate opportunity with things like calc and notepad but has squandered them. Why not make calc the world's best calculator? Why not make notepad the best text editor? Instead, those apps are just like the 1998 versions, while they've diddled with the meaningless start menu and control panel for probably 200 million dollars in man hours.