Tech Talks Today
Windows 11 — An Evolution OS
Windows 11 Is Still Windows, And That’s How It Should Be
When it comes to operating systems, it is very rarely we need a complete revolution and redesign. The most important things are stability and compatibility, with performance in a close third.
A Short History
If you watch dozens of Windows reviews on the Internet, you will see that everybody likes to say that Microsoft has pretty much released a poor version of Windows after a great one. XP was great, Vista was awful, 7 was great, 8 was weird, 10 was great, and everybody is hoping 11 won’t suck.
While that might be true to a certain extent, I believe the refinement of the actual “revolution” is what made Windows XP, 7, and 10 grand. Vista came with a complete overhaul, and it felt different from what we knew in XP. I tried a lot to like Vista, and I used it for a good while, but the real downside was the performance. It felt real laggy and slow, and honestly, not too reliable.
I went back and forward at that time between XP and Vista, until, a bit under 2.5 years, Microsoft released the refinement, Windows 7. Out of the gate, it felt like a better-polished system. The speed seemed there, the search was better, there was less bloatware and a cleaner interface overall.
Windows 7 was so good that people saw no reason to upgrade to Windows 8. My experience with the OS was great and benchmarks also showed that it was faster, more secure, and somewhat less resource-intensive. However, people had an issue with the new “Metro” interface and the disappearance of the Start menu. That got a lot of hate, and I was not really against it until I used the Windows Server equivalent (Server 2012). It was getting on my nerves as the “new” Start window only seemed to complicate simple usage of the OS.
Microsoft was trying something new, a revolution of sorts, that eventually failed, their “Metro” interface with which they were trying to popularize on all form factors did not catch on.
So, skip Windows 9, because why not, and queue in the evolution, Windows 10.
Compared to Windows 8, or 8.1, everything was better in Windows 10. It was free to upgrade, it has a Start menu (an enhanced one, too), multiple virtual desktops, a virtual assistant, better security, and so on. It was great. There were even discussions coming from Microsoft that this would effectively be the last version of Windows. Enhancements and upgrades were going to arrive as “Service-Pack” type updates.
Updates did come as announced, and they continued to improve Windows 10, but this was not the last version of Windows. Honestly, I am happy this is not the case. Sometimes, there are just too many changes in the core functionality, requirements, and mode of operation to call it an update.
Hello, Windows 11!
I have installed some Beta versions in VMs, tested, and got accustomed to it for the last few months. Like never before, I wanted to upgrade my main PC on the official launch day, but I couldn’t.
I did not have Secure Boot enabled, which I tried to do, but, because I did not change my partitioning scheme from MBR to GPT when I last set up Windows 10, I had to install it fresh.
Download ISO, boot from a USB stick, convert to GPT, format, copy files, set up. It takes 5–10 minutes if you have a modern CPU and an SSD. It used to take hours when I used to do it in the Windows 98, XP days. Well, it still takes hours now to set up and configure all your apps, but that’s probably different for each one.
The “Requirements”
If your PC can run Windows 10, it can run Windows 11, with 2 exceptions and requirements:
- A CPU from this list.
- A TPM 2.0 chip.
I am ok with that if this means improved security. I know that lots of people won’t be able to upgrade or install the newer Windows version, but it is very likely, that until Microsoft ends support for Windows 10 in 2025, this will change drastically. More and more people will upgrade their PCs until then, with hardware that supports Windows 11.
I am sure that businesses and enterprise clients will prolong this update as much as possible. Changing older hardware when migrating from Windows 10 to the newer, shinier version will prove costly. Who knows, it is possible for Microsoft to further extend that support period beyond 2025. Time will tell, but at the moment, Windows 11 is not for everybody.
So, What About Windows 11?
A familiar and welcomed polish. Windows has always had a sort of duplicity. There are many examples, but the best one must be between the Control Panel and the Settings App. I mean, make a central Settings component that allows you to control all your functions.
To be clear, the Control Panel still exists in Windows 11, and you still need it for more in-depth adjustments, but at least you can do and comprehend more from the Settings application. It is not just a gateway to the Control Panel. It will probably take them another 3–4 Windows releases to get away from the Control Panel, but hey, at least we are on the right track.
There are 3 reasons I installed the new version. The OS comes with many other features, but those were just a bonus or a long-term curiosity.
My Change Reasons
- The Multi-monitor app issue
Recently I have added another screen to my setup as I required more real estate for some projects. I forgot what a mess Windows 10 makes by not remembering the screen on which the app was on. God forbid you ever close your screens. Windows 11 seems to sort the issue with the below option. So far, it’s had a good memory, and I don’t have to fuss about it each morning.
- The HDR Support
Finally, an HDR option that works in Windows. The Auto HDR option is just magical. I can finally view some HDR content on my screen without needing to constantly change the screen mode and hoping that Windows will see the content accurately. Thank you, Microsoft.
- The Search
The Search in Windows 10 was nowhere as bad as it was on 7, but, when comparing to Mac OS or Android, it is lacking. From what I tested thus far, it is again improved compared to the previous version. I do not believe it to be as good as its competitors yet, but much better in any case.
The Visual Changes
- The Start Menu
I think it is the best visual iteration of it. I like it, but the app pinning requires getting used to it. I dislike the fact that you cannot group apps as you previously did. Maybe a future update will fix that.
I have moved it back to the left as my hand seems to find it better there.
- The Taskbar
It feels modern. I love the notification badges on the applications, and I like the new “system tray.” It feels very Android, but I think they copied it right.
I don’t like that you can’t easily resize or change the placement of it. You can still do it by editing the system registry, but come on, why ruin something useful?
- The Context Menu
It could have been better, especially when it comes to the “Show More Options” selection. Please include all the choices in the context menu or make the “More” option feel like it is part of Windows 11.
- The Widgets
I used to care about them in Windows 7, but the ones that come with Windows 11 are still useless. Skip for now.
- The Welcomed Omissions
Goodbye Cortana, thank you for playing. You will not be missed. No more included Internet Explorer. May it rest in peace.
- The Updated Apps
Paint has finally received a fresh coat of, well, paint. So has the Snipping tool. They both feel integrated with Windows 11 now. The consumer Teams chat seems nice, but I still installed the required business version.
Also, the improved view and stats on your battery power and usage were necessary.
- The General Feel
The animations are smoother and more pleasing to the eyes. The Dark Mode is better integrated(still not perfect, though). The Windows sounds are subtle. The rounded corners are easy to get used to. So are the icons and colors. The updated notification panel also feels more at home. The improved Snap Assist is much better, as is the Microsoft Store. Or, at least, it’s different.
- Exciting Features
I am waiting for Microsoft DirectStorage and the possibility to run Android apps from Windows, even if they are only from the Amazon Appstore. Hopefully, we will not have to wait too long to get those.
The rest is much the same, on the surface, at least. New Windows tablets are supposed to get better touchscreen and pen support. Unfortunately, I don’t have any at hand so, I cannot pronounce myself on that. Hopefully, it’s as good as Microsoft envisioned.
My Windows 11 Experience
It has been great. Everything that worked on Windows 10, worked without an issue on Windows 11. I have not had any compatibility issues, I have not received any error or warning, and everything feels smooth. Maybe smoother than before, but that might be the placebo effect or the fact that it is a new Windows install.
Windows 11 feels fresh and clean. A bit more minimal and less cluttered. Hopefully, it is as reliable as Windows 10 was. Here’s me hoping for a good Windows version.
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