Microsoft released its newest operating system, Windows 11, on October 31st. The new OS is available for free download and has a number of features that people are excited about. However, there are some downsides to upgrading to Windows 11.
Microsoft has released Windows 11, but should you upgrade? There are some people who feel that the new operating system is worth it. However, there are also many others who believe that they’re better off sticking with Windows 10.
The Go-Getter is number one. You slam the update button quicker than a Whac-A-Mole champion, eager to see what Santa Satya and his merry elves have delivered.
#2: The Procrastinator. As if it were a trip to the DMV, you put it off—sometimes for years—until you’re sure it’s safe to make this life-changing decision. (Wait, I’m talking to you, Windows 7 skeptics!)
With Windows 11, which was released on Tuesday, you’d be better off deferring it for at least a few months. Microsoft’s newest operating system seems more like Windows 10.5 than what the firm promised at its June press conference. And if you have an older computer, you may not be eligible for, or even want, an upgrade.
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Don’t get me wrong: I think it’s great. I like the new look and the additional productivity tools, but the most interesting features, such as Android app compatibility, third-party widgets, and global mute control, are missing. Besides, I’ve concluded that Windows 11 is mostly about Microsoft MSFT 2.00 percent and its hardware partners selling more PCs, not about giving your old one a fresh lease of life.
The Start menu is prominently shown on the taskbar in Windows 11.
Photo courtesy of The Wall Street Journal’s Joanna Stern.
In fact, Windows 11’s minimum hardware requirements are greater than those of Windows 10. To check whether your computer is selected for the team, download Microsoft’s PC Health Check app. Microsoft is adopting a step-by-step approach, releasing upgrades to eligible devices one at a time. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update to discover whether it’s installed on your device. (Windows 10 will be supported by Microsoft until October 2025.)
The results of my Windows 11 testing on three laptops from various years were predictable: A 2019 Dell XPS 13 was sluggish, but a similar-age Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 performed well, albeit with a few tweaks; and the spanking new $1,600-and-up Surface Laptop Studio for Windows 11 performed admirably.
I believe that, like Windows 10, Windows 11 will ultimately be wonderful for all of its users, but for now, even if you’re eligible for an update, you should consider the possible problems that may arise right away. To assist you in making your decision, I’ve sketched out my experience with the new features.
The redesigned Start menu, which has been relocated to the middle of the screen, and a Microsoft Store with Android applications are among the many new features in Windows 11. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella talked with Joanna Stern of the Wall Street Journal in an exclusive interview about the software, the impact of the epidemic, and his plan for competing with Google and Apple. Mr. Nadella’s name was erroneously transcribed in a previous version of the closed captions. Alex Kuzoian/The Wall Street Journal photo illustration
A Redesign with a Purpose
Consider Windows 11 as a remodeled version of your favorite eatery. It now has a new coat of paint, a revamped bar (taskbar), snazzy new polished tables, and gleaming new cutlery. However, the cuisine you like stays unchanged. Everything has been updated, from the icons to the menus, but you may come across a pop-up or settings menu that hasn’t been changed since George W. Bush was in the White House.
You’ll sometimes come across portions of Windows 11 that haven’t been updated.
Photo courtesy of The Wall Street Journal’s Joanna Stern.
What is the most noticeable change in terms of appearance? The Start button and other taskbar icons have been repositioned at the bottom center of the screen. This may appeal to MacOS or ChromeOS users, but worry not, Left Corner aficionados: In the taskbar settings menu, you can simply relocate it back there. Thankfully, you can easily delete new default taskbar icons (ahem, Microsoft Teams Chat). You may keep pinning your favorite applications. The Start button moves to the left as you add more.
An Increase in Productivity
When you hover your mouse over a window’s Maximize button, the operating system will allow you to rearrange it and other open windows.
Microsoft image
Snap Layouts, my personal favorite feature, enables you to quickly arrange several windows on the screen. When you hover your mouse over the maximize button, you’ll see a variety of window layouts depending on the size and orientation of your screen—two side by side, a grid of four, and so on. When you choose a choice, the tool moves the current window to one of the suggested locations, then recommends where additional open windows should go.
Users of external displays will love this: Windows 11 keeps track of the windows you had open and where they were. Instead of stacking up on your remaining screen when you disconnect your monitor, they all minimize. When you rejoin, each window returns to its original position.
One of Microsoft’s most lauded features, the global mute button, is still absent from the initial version of Windows 11. This is intended to put an end to the game of “Can’t Find the Silence Button” by allowing you to mute your mic at the system level. Microsoft has said that it will implement this functionality at a later date.
Several Widgets
This interface is launched via a new widgets icon on the taskbar.
Photo courtesy of The Wall Street Journal’s Joanna Stern.
Widgets have long been referred to be “apps for the lazy.” Widgets are constantly there, giving information at a glance, rather than forcing you to launch an app or, God forbid, surf the internet. They have the potential to be fantastic. They aren’t here, though.
There are some standard widgets, such as weather and stock quotes, but I yearned for ones that were linked to the applications I use often, such as Spotify or Twitter. Microsoft has said that it would begin offering widgets to third parties at a later time. Furthermore, Microsoft’s existing choices are just half-baked. I tried a few, including OneDrive, but they all directed me to websites rather than applications. Moreover, despite personalization choices, the news suggestions have been very inaccurate. (Perhaps a part of me wants to read about pandas who aren’t interested in sex.)
A Potential App Store
The Microsoft Store’s TikTok app is just a website.
Photo courtesy of The Wall Street Journal’s Joanna Stern.
The new shop is more than just a place to buy applications for Microsoft. Satya Nadella, the company’s CEO, positioned his store as an open market in June, in contrast to Apple and Google’s. It will be available to online applications, won’t take a share if developers use their own payment methods, and will even host third-party app stores, unlike the others. The Amazon Android Appstore and the Epic Games Store will be the first to launch.
The new shop makes it much simpler to find applications, and the search function has been enhanced. Even yet, it’s a perplexing environment. For example, I downloaded TikTok only to discover that it is nothing more than the TikTok website in its own window. Unless you consider the furious reviews, there is no notice in the shop explaining this. Other applications, such as Instagram and Reddit, have this it’s-just-a-website problem.
Android applications will be available in Windows 11 in the next months, according to Microsoft. It would be helpful if the different program kinds were clearly labeled so that you knew what you’re getting.
a few of hiccups
As my story of laptop testing reveals, I had varied experiences with Windows 11 on three different PCs. Despite its 10th-generation Intel CPU and 8 gigabytes of RAM, the Dell XPS 13 seemed sluggish. Even after shutting off Slack, which was gobbling up RAM like a ravenous, hungry hippo, the machine wasn’t as snappy as it had been on Windows 10. If your older machine is still operating well under Windows 10, you may want to hold off on upgrading.
The screen of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is unusual in that it can tilt forward and fold over the keyboard.
Microsoft image
On a Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 with comparable specifications, I had a far better experience. With the exception of the microphone and speaker settings, everything was fast and most of my things was exactly where I left it. The audio on both this and the Dell wouldn’t function until I fiddled with it.
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Technology for Individuals
The Personal Technology team, led by Joanna Stern, evaluates new goods and technology.
When the Surface Laptop Studio entered my life, I had a much better grasp of Microsoft’s vision for Windows 11. My $2,700 test system, which has an 11th-generation quad-core Core i7 CPU, Nvidia graphics, and 32GB of RAM, performs like a Lambo on a newly paved road. The 14.4-inch, 120Hz touch screen, which you can fold over the keyboard to make it a tablet, keeps everything moving. What’s the greatest disadvantage? The machine is a little cumbersome to transport.
That is my main takeaway: Windows 11 works very well on the latest computers, and Microsoft seems to be focused on marketing them. The epidemic kept people glued to their computers for longer than ever before. What better way to lure them away from their old computers than with a fancy new operating system designed just for fancy new hardware?
“We want people to have a say in how they use computers.” That’s why Windows 10 is available now, and Windows 11 will take you ahead with the technology you need right now,” Microsoft Chief Product Officer Panos Panay told me, adding that he’d urge his 89-year-old father to upgrade his Windows PC as soon as it arrived.
That is one customer who will not be sorry for his choice, particularly since his son is in control of Windows. Everyone else with a Windows 11-eligible computer, on the other hand, may be better off being a Put-It-Off-er, at least until the bugs are ironed out and all of the promised features are available to test.
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Joanna Stern can be reached at [email protected]
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Microsoft released Windows 11 on October the 6th, but it is not for everyone. The operating system is still in beta and has some bugs that need to be fixed before release. Reference: windows 11 release date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Windows 11 a free upgrade?
Yes, Windows 11 is a free upgrade for all users.
Do you have to buy Windows 11 if you have Windows 10?
Yes. You have to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 in order to get the latest features and updates.
Is Windows 11 update available now?
No, it is not. Microsoft has not released the Windows 11 update yet.
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