Microsoft Windows 11 review: what’s new in the operating system and is it worth upgrading
Discover the latest features of Microsoft Windows 11. Explore seamless multitasking, enhanced productivity, and a fresh user interface. Upgrade to Windows 11 today!”
Windows 11’s sleek design and more consistent interface belie what it truly represents as an evolutionary update to the world’s most popular laptop and PC operating system. To discover what’s new in the latest OS update, visit the official release notes on the OS provider’s website.
After six years of Windows 10, the most popular operating system for computers is getting a major update to Windows 11. Although Microsoft has stated that Windows 10 will be the last version of this OS.
True, besides the interface, there are few important changes in Microsoft Windows 11. Yes, the corners of the windows are rounded, and the dialog boxes have become more stylish, but this time you won’t experience much of the same feeling as after switching from Windows 8 to 10.
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How to get Windows 11 and system requirements
Windows 11 will appear only in the fall of 2021 – the release is planned for October, although minor delays are likely
For now, only ISO images (Beta, Dev) of the official Windows 11 Build 22000 are available… for participants in the special Windows Insider program . The operating system update will be free for all Windows 10 users, although the official price for everyone else is not yet known.
System requirements have also changed, but they are relatively low: a 1 GHz processor, 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of hard drive space. The computer must have a TPM security module and the Secure Boot feature.
Minimum System Requirements
Processor: At least two cores with a clock frequency of 1 GHz on a compatible 64-bit processor or System on a Chip (SoC)
RAM: 4 GB RAM
Internal memory: at least 64 GB on disk
System Firmware: UEFI, Secure Boot Support
TPM: Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0
Graphics adapter: DirectX 12/WDDM 2.x compatible
Screen: from 9 inches HD resolution (720p)
Additionally: Windows 11 Home requires a Microsoft account and internet connection to install.
It may seem like there are a lot of restrictions, but they have long become the minimum standard for any modern computer. The problem may be the processor if your model came out more than 4-5 years ago. However, everything is not scary here – participants in the Windows Insider program install Windows 11 on PCs with 7th generation Intel Core i5 processors, although the requirements indicate the 8th generation. Perhaps after the release there will be support for older processors.
If you’re not an Insider, the standard system update may not be available until 2022. Microsoft probably doesn’t really want users to update to the new version – the company is more interested in you buying new computers with Windows 11.
After the update, you can return to Windows 10 within 10 days if you don’t like the new version. At the same time, Microsoft promises support for Windows 10 until 2025.
Interface and appearance
Microsoft Windows 11 is more of a design update to Windows 10 than a new operating system.
In many ways, the eleventh version is similar to Chrome OS, although you can still freely place shortcuts and files on the desktop. The corners of all windows are rounded, like in macOS, making the interface look nicer. However, some changes will seem unfortunate to some.
Task bar
Task barTo move the Start icon and other icons back to their original position on the taskbar The Start icon, along with other icons, has moved to the center of the taskbar. Previously, it was always in the lower left corner.
The arrangement of taskbar elements now depends on the number of program icons that you have pinned to it. By adding another icon, you move Start a little to the left, to a new position. Fortunately, in the settings you can move the button to its usual place.
The icons on the taskbar have also shrunk, becoming less informative. In previous versions of Windows, you could instantly tell which programs were running. Now it’s not so obvious. At least, when you hover over the icon, a preview of the program window will still be displayed, and when you right-click, a list of recent and pinned files will still be displayed.
Start Menu and File Explorer
The Start menu in Windows 11 now looks completely different, although the mini-tiles remain at the top, with frequently launched and new programs and documents displayed below them.
Explorer has also been updated – the icons look more modern, with far fewer elements located at the top of the Quick Access Toolbar. The “New” button in the upper left corner enables you to swiftly create a new folder or document.
On-screen keyboard and widgets
Much has been done in Windows 11 to make working on a tablet easier.
The on-screen keyboard has been updated, you can even set your own background. Tablet mode is similar to the PC interface, although there is more space between icons on the taskbar. Gestures have also been improved, with a corresponding menu appearing to make working with styluses easier.
One of the few new features in Windows 11 is the widget panel. However, Windows 10 also recently introduced a News and Weather widget that has a similar purpose. But, in Windows 11, third-party developers will be able to create their own widgets, which will be displayed in this new panel.
In an update for Insiders, Microsoft announced the Entertainment widget.The new update features a refreshed look for context menus, incorporating a transparent acrylic texture to align with Fluent Design . In the release (22000.120), a widget was added – Family, for those who use Microsoft Family Safety parental controls.
Notifications and quick settings panel
Windows 11’s Action Center is divided into two panels, much like Apple did in macOS.
However, the usual general window for all notifications and quick settings seems more convenient to me. But now you can immediately see a circle with the number of notifications, just like on mobile apps on a smartphone.
To open the Notification Center on the touch screen, you need to swipe from the right side. The quick settings panel opens by clicking on the Wi-Fi, sound or battery icon. By default, icons for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Airplane Mode, Power Saver, Focus, and Accessibility are shown. In this panel you will also find volume and brightness sliders.
The pencil icon allows you to change icons, you can add a new device connection (for external displays or audio devices), keyboard layout, options for sharing files, night light and projector mode.
Settings in Windows 11
One of the most annoying features of Windows 10 is the different types of windows in the settings.
Sometimes a program is uninstalled through a new application, sometimes through the old Control Panel. In Windows 11, this problem is (almost) solved. The contents of some windows like the “Volume Mixer” have not yet changed, but the interface of the windows themselves has already been updated.
The Dark and Light mode settings remain the same: you need to open “Options” – “Personalization” – “Color”. However, the modes themselves look much better, especially Dark, and the transparency effect is implemented as it should. Here, the new Windows is no worse than macOS.
Multitasking and window layout
Windows has long surpassed macOS in multitasking, but Microsoft’s new operating system has even more advantages. All thanks to the new Snap Layouts option.
To use it, hover over the button to maximize the window to full screen in the upper right corner. The method does not seem obvious, so we can only hope that Microsoft will somehow highlight the presence of this function.
After hovering the cursor, a panel for selecting the location of windows will open: two side by side, one large on the left and two small on the right, and so on. The active window will be in the area that you select in the panel, you can move it at any time in the manner mentioned above.
Windows 11 allows you to save a set of open windows with their location – the option is called Groups. Saved groups can be easily transferred even to a second monitor. Microsoft also left users with the function of multiple virtual desktops; it is convenient for dividing programs by task. On tablets, you can switch between desktops using a four-finger swipe. You can set different wallpapers for each.
Microsoft Teams chats and video calls
During the Windows 11 presentation, the chat and video conferencing app Microsoft Teams was at the very center of the taskbar, and for good reason.
The company clearly expects to firmly establish itself as the leader in video calling apps, especially as the number of active Teams users has grown from 20 to 145 million during the pandemic.
However, Microsoft is still not sure that Teams will become the main main application of this kind. Although an instant chat icon recently appeared on the Windows 10 taskbar, it did not become popular. Perhaps after the distribution of Windows 11, everything will change.
Android app support
One of the new and most interesting features of Windows 11 will be the ability to run Android applications.
However, you will have to install them through the Android Store, or using APK files. Although the Microsoft Store interface has already become much nicer, you cannot launch applications now. In addition to applications, movies, TV shows and games are available here, and standard programs remain: Photo, Groove player, Paint 3D, Mail, Calendar and all others.
Games and new technologies
PC gaming on Windows has always received a lot of attention, and the new version of the OS is no exception.
The Xbox app built into Windows 11 gives Xbox Game Pass subscribers access to a collection of games. You will be able to play Halo Infinite, Twelve Minutes, Age of Empires IV and many other titles. The cloud gaming service Xbox Cloud Gaming is also available to users.
Windows 11 will not be without new technologies – users will have technologies such as Auto HDR and DirectStorage. The former increases the color range, delivering sharper, more vibrant colors even in games without HDR. The second speeds up the launch of games – the video adapter will be able to load resources bypassing the central processor.
The Dynamic Refresh function adjusts the screen refresh rate to optimize performance and reduce power consumption when necessary This will save battery power on laptops and tablets. Yes, Windows 11 will indeed support Wi-Fi 6E, which is designed to provide faster and more efficient wireless connectivity.
Special abilities
Microsoft has announced new accessibility features in Windows 11, in addition to the existing ones: Narrator, Magnifier, Teletext and speech recognition.
Teletext will be updated in the system and contrasting themes will appear, along with voice recognition technologies using AI . APIs will be added for all of the applications listed, and even WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) will have accessibility features.
What is deleted and will disappear
A number of not the most popular features of Windows 10 will disappear in the new OS, for example: Aero Peek and Aero Shake.
The Cortana voice assistant remains for now, but Microsoft says that the assistant with elements of artificial intelligence will disappear from the final version in the future. There will be no Live Tiles left – their work is now done by Widgets. Without a doubt, several other features will disappear from the final version of Windows 11. Which ones? Not yet known.
Bottom line
I’m glad that Microsoft has finally paid attention to its operating system for laptops and PCs. The focus on the successful Azure cloud platform is understandable, but Windows has long needed change. Although Windows 11 will in many ways be just a cosmetic update, users will get some interesting features.
Perhaps Microsoft will be able to lure many Chrome OS and even Mac users to the new operating system. The release date of Windows 11 is scheduled for the end of 2021, but already the new version of the most popular operating system looks promising.