But if ever there was a blog post that explained why I don't use windows this was it!
You have some random out of date software application installed on your machine and don't even know it? And you are a highly technical person?
I can't even imagine what it's like for a non technical person.
It has a unified place where programs can list themself, but the actual un-installation is up to the program. And it has no unified method of checking if programs are up to date.
However, for various reasons – a mix of cultural and economic I suspect – ridiculous hidden installations and other software showing a coldly calculated contempt for the user are a fact of life while using Windows, and are very rare indeed on other platforms.