Windows 11 launched in October, with Microsoft bringing some changes to the operating system. It was the first name change in six years, and the rollout began on October 5. The rollout is being phased on eligible devices.
You can download it if you don’t want to wait for it to be your device’s turn.
Some businesses are opting to defer upgrades to Windows 11, as are some individuals. Others are excited to take advantage.
The following are some things to know about implementing changes to the operating system.
What is Windows 11?
The operating system was officially unveiled by Microsoft in June of this year, nearly six years after the introduction of Windows 10. Microsoft reported at the unveiling that Windows 11 would offer a simpler design to promote productivity, creativity, and ease of use.
Other benefits being touted were better PC gaming experiences, faster access to information, a new Microsoft store, and an ecosystem that’s more open, benefitting creators and developers.
Windows 11 is simplified but also modernized.
During the event to introduce Windows 11, the Chief Product Officer of Microsoft said the goal wasn’t to alienate long-time Windows fans with changes. The company wanted it to feel fresh but familiar.
Businesses Are Waiting On Windows 11
Now that we’re getting into December, we can see data on the adoption of the OS. Currently, data shows uptakes between 1% and 9%, but many enterprises are waiting.
AdDuplex has a figure of 9% on the uptake. However, another vendor released a figure showing less than a 1% adoption rate.
Analysts think one reason Windows 11 isn’t getting higher adoption rates is that there are a lot of requirements needed to make the upgrades. Plus, Windows 10 still has support until 2025. Upgrading to Windows 11 requires a system with 64-bit processors, the Trusted Platform Module, 4GB of memory and 64GB of storage.
While some might say it’s concerning for Microsoft that adoption rates aren’t higher for Windows 11, others point out it’s doing better than Windows 10 six years ago.
Microsoft released a blog post recently about Windows 11 adoption, saying it’s gotten mostly positive user feedback, and they were advancing the rollout pace faster than expected.
Microsoft did say they were still on track to continue supporting Windows 10 through 2025, giving companies a much longer time to make upgrades. That time could be important to plan and test the platform.
There’s not much incentive to move fast on this from the business perspective.
Enterprises are likely to see if there are kinks that need to be worked out, and they’re going to let that play out before they make a move.
Over the next couple of years, Microsoft will continue adding features to Windows 11 to take advantage of newer hardware and differentiate it from its predecessor. The company likely went ahead and released Windows 11 when it did because the PC market needed an upgrade to utilize newly available hardware, and they wanted to time it for the holiday season.
With the Alder Lake processors, which are from Intel, Windows can use the speed and battery features as an example.
If enterprises adopt Windows 11, they will have to determine which devices can be upgraded. Then they can develop a multi-year migration plan.
What Are the New Features?
Some of the features notable with Windows 11 include:
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The interface feels more like a Mac. For example, the Start Menu and Taskbar are centered, and the design is clean.
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Android apps are available through the Amazon Appstore, which you can access through the updated Microsoft Store. In the past, you could access Android apps if you had a Samsung galaxy, but now it will be native, although it’s not yet available with the initial release.
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Microsoft Teams is getting an update, and it’s going to be pinned to the Taskbar, similar to FaceTime.
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There will be features found in Xbox consoles that will improve the Windows PC gaming experience.
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Widgets can be personalized and accessed directly from the Taskbar.
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You can create virtual desktops. This can be a big one for some people, making it more similar to macOS. You can toggle between desktops for personal, work or gaming use for example.
We’ll go into detail about a few of these features below.
The Look
The Start button will remain to the left of the app icons, but the Taskbar icons are smaller and centered, like Chrome OS. Then, you don’t have to move your cursor across your entire screen to launch an app, which could be appealing to some users. The design and look represent an evolution from the Fluent Design System, which never ended up taking over Windows 10 as it was supposed to.
Widgets
Apple solidified its use of widgets in iOS 14 and Microsoft brought them in somewhat in Windows 10. Now, they’re going beyond those iterations with Windows 11. The new widgets are AI-powered and use Edge for rendering. They can expand on your entire screen, which content providers might take advantage of in the new design.
Snap Layouts
Snap Layouts will let you choose from different window layouts and configurations, and then you can populate them with the apps you choose. You can save your layouts, and they’re accessible from your Taskbar.
Speed and Security
There should be web browser speed improvements, and updates will be smaller and more efficient while occurring in the background. More efficiency will get you longer battery life.
Windows 11 is also the securest version yet. The OS will require PCs have the Trusted Platform Module 2.0 (TPM) security chip and Secure Boot capability.
Microsoft Store
Finally, the Store is getting a facelift, with better-curated content and more options for managing your purchased shows like mirroring them to a TV. The new Store leaves open the opportunity for other applications to come to Windows 11—even potentially iMessage.
