Windows 11 review: The start of a new era
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Updated Feb 2022Windows 11 review: The kickoff of a new era
Microsoft is dorsum with a new version of Windows that's designed to feel modern and easy to use. 
Source: Zac Bowden | Windows Central
It's been six long years since the last mainline version of Windows shipped, and a lot has inverse in the Bone infinite since then. Microsoft is back with a roaring passion to create a modern version of the Windows user experience that'due south uncomplicated to use, beautifully designed, and well-connected, all in an try to make y'all more productive in your professional or creative workflows.
In a globe where more and more than people are back using PCs in their day-to-day lives, Microsoft thought it was important to deliver a fresh OS designed from the footing up for working from habitation, while as well catering to a new generation of people who have and are nonetheless growing up with smartphones and tablets equally their chief "reckoner."
I've been using Windows 11 since it get-go went into preview back in June on all my PCs. I've loved my time with it, and I recollect information technology's the starting time of a great new era for the Bone. That said, this is the outset release of Windows 11, meaning in that location is certainly room for improvement in a number of areas. So, with all that in mind, let's swoop in to the details.
Every bit of Februrary 2022, Microsoft has updated Windows 11 with a handful of new features including improvements to the Taskbar such as weather info and muting your mic via the System Tray, support for Android apps, and updated Notepad and Media Player apps. We've updated this review to include those features.
Windows xi
Bottom line: Microsoft is back with a new version of Windows, featuring an updated pattern, new features, and a renewed interest in modernizing the desktop UX, at the cost of some classic Windows functionality.
Compatibility: Generally, any PC released from 2022 onwards should be fully compatible with Windows xi.
Highlights:
- Brand new design and interface
- Simplified Commencement card and Taskbar
- Improved Microsoft Shop
- Not bad productivity enhancements
Windows 11: Availability
Source: Microsoft
Windows 11 is now by and large available as an update for eligible Windows 10 PCs. Microsoft is taking a measured and phased approach to the rollout, however, meaning not everybody volition exist offered the update immediately. When your PC is ready, a big popup will appear in Windows Update that will permit you to initiate the download and install process, and Windows will do the residual.
Your PC must meet the post-obit requirements to exist eligible for the Windows 11 upgrade:
- A compatible CPU
- At least 4GB of RAM
- At to the lowest degree 64GB of storage
- UEFI, Secure Boot, & TPM ii.0 enabled
Windows 11 is besides available on new PCs starting October 5, including on the new Surface Laptop Studio, Surface Pro eight, and Surface Go three. More devices from other PC makers are expected to begin shipping from October 5 onwards equally well, all with Windows xi preloaded.
Be sure to bank check out our list of best Windows 11 PCs if you're interested in seeing what new PCs are ready for Windows eleven.
Windows 11: What's new
Windows 11 focuses on three fundamental areas: a fresh and mod UX designed to make using Windows simpler, new features and tweaks built effectually making you more productive, and a renewed focus on the Microsoft Store.
Almost of the top-level user interfaces have been updated with a fresh look with new animations, iconography, and sounds. Everything from the Start menu and Taskbar correct down to the context menus and in-box apps have been updated to wait more consistent with the residue of the new Windows xi pattern.
1 of Microsoft's goals with Windows 11 has been to declutter and simplify the user feel (UX) where possible. Microsoft is trying to make the Windows UX easier to use for casual PC users who may be more than familiar with modern OS experiences such as iOS and Android, only this comes at the price of simplifying some common features or behaviors that some old-school Windows die-hards may struggle to conform to.
The proficient news is, for those who prefer simplicity over complication, Windows 11 is going to be a cracking release for you. It's an absolute joy to apply, with a fluid UX that is almost perfect. Windows xi is a breath of fresh air for those who enjoy the spectacle of software pattern, and a great release for those who value productivity enhancements and "getting to work" over everything else.
Windows eleven: Beginning things to do
Source: Windows Central
Windows eleven has a brand new out-of-box experience, which walks you through setup. Gone is the sometime Cortana-driven installer, and in its place is a make clean and simplistic design that takes y'all through setting up Windows 11 with ease. That said, Microsoft has made some policy changes hither that you need to know well-nigh.
For the start time, Microsoft is making it mandatory for PCs with Windows 11 Home to be signed in with a Microsoft Account and connected to Wi-Fi during the out-of-box experience. I don't find this to exist much of a large deal, as I actually like the integration and benefits you go with signing into a Microsoft Account. However, I know in that location are many people out there who reject to use one, and this is going to be a trouble for those people.
One time y'all're upwardly and running on Windows xi, the first thing you lot need to do is head to the Microsoft Store app and check for updates to ensure that yous have the latest versions of all the pre-installed Windows 11 apps. Once that's done, you should as well head to Windows Update in the new Settings app and check for updates there to ensure you take the latest drivers designed for Windows eleven.
The Review
Windows 11: Start carte
Windows xi introduces new interfaces in virtually every area of the desktop experience, and that includes the Start menu. Start has been a staple part of the Windows user experience for decades, so it'south ever a big deal when it changes significantly, as information technology has on Windows 11. Now, this isn't a "Windows eight-level" modify, just it's still going to take some getting used to.
The new Start menu has taken the simplistic approach to doing an app launcher. No longer is the Start carte abode to a completely customizable layout of app tiles; it'south at present a grid of icons that yous can pin, unpin, and reorganize, and that's pretty much it. Live tiles are gone, with apps now displaying a static app icon and its proper noun beneath it. This is basically exactly how other modernistic OSes do things these days, so it's no surprise to come across Windows joining the fray.
The Start menu offers three rows of six icons that you tin can accept pinned, with the ability to scroll through "pages" if y'all have more apps that you demand to pin. At that place'southward besides a full apps list that shows y'all all your installed apps that can be accessed via the "all apps" button located simply above your pinned apps.
Along the superlative of the Start menu is a search bar, which actually only acts equally a shortcut to the defended Search function y'all can access via the search icon on your Taskbar. Search and Get-go are yet carve up on Windows eleven, which is fine, but non my favorite manner of doing things. In that location's a very clear disjointed experience when opening Showtime and outset to type, equally in that location's no blitheness involved when switching between the two interfaces.
Source: Windows Central
Beneath your pinned apps is a new "Recommended" area that acts as a recents menu for things like documents and installed apps. Whenever you lot install a new app or open up an Part document, it will appear directly in this Recommended area for quick access. Information technology'southward very handy, but I've establish it becomes cluttered very rapidly as it has no filter controls at all. That ways whatever documents, whether they exist photos, Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, or even random files in some cases, can show up in that location.
I'd love to see filter options become available in the futurity. For case, I'd love to be able to set up how long certain file types really show up in the Recommended area as a recent file, or filter out certain file types birthday. I rarely, if e'er, use Excel, so if I'm opening an Excel spreadsheet, I already know I'm probably not going to need to access it once again. Being able to hide Excel file types from the Recommended feed, in this example, would be expert, too.
Additionally, yous tin can't disable the Recommended area if it's something you know you're not going to use. Even if you clear it and plough the characteristic "off," a big empty infinite that cannot be collapsed or hidden volition remain. This makes the whole UX look a little silly, equally you tin can't use that actress space to testify more than pinned apps if that'southward something you lot'd want to exercise.
Windows eleven: Taskbar and Activeness Centre
Source: Windows Central
A large area of alter on Windows eleven is with the new Taskbar, which has essentially been rebuilt from the ground up with simplicity at its cadre. Yous'll immediately find that Microsoft has changed the layout of the Taskbar so organisation buttons and pinned or running apps are centered. This is a large change to the Taskbar, which has always been left-aligned.
I would've thought this alter would have a long time to get used to, simply I adjusted to it almost instantly. In fact, I actually similar the new Taskbar layout, and after simply a few hours of using Windows 11, came to prefer my icons beingness centered. They experience more than immediately accessible, and I no longer have to turn my head all the way into the corner on my massive ultrawide monitor. Things just look cleaner, which is a big bargain for me personally.
All of the system icons (those being Start, Job View, Search, Teams Chat, and Widgets) take beautiful lilliputian animations that play when you click on them. And your pinned or running apps too have subtle pulse animations that play when y'all click on them. These pocket-sized animations go a actually long way to making Windows xi experience like a fluid experience, which is leaps and bounds over the user feel on Windows ten.
As of February 2022, Microsoft has updated the entry-bespeak for the Widgets feature. One time setup, the Widgets button volition shift over to the far left of the Taskbar where the old Start button used to be, and volition present up to date weather information direct on the Taskbar. This is a actually squeamish feature, even if you don't use the Widgets console much. Being able to run across the weather as glancable info straight on the Taskbar is a nice addition.
In that location'southward too a couple of new behaviors for Microsoft Teams users. When in a call, you can now present an app window directly when hovering over an open app icon on the Taskbar, and you tin can also mute and unmute your microphone directly from the Taskbar. Microsoft says these features are bachelor to other communication apps, as long equally developers update their apps to support these additional Taskbar features.
Source: Windows Fundamental
Microsoft has done everything it can to simplify the Taskbar UX to the indicate in which it might exist somewhat problematic for long-time Windows users. For instance, you lot tin no longer configure the Taskbar to appear on the left, right, or top of your display. At that place are also no boosted Taskbar options in the right-click menu, with everything at present moving into the new Settings app.
Microsoft has too removed common functions that even I've struggled with in my daily workflow. On every version of Windows prior, you've been able to drag a file into an app icon on the taskbar to drop it into that app, only that feature is gone on Windows 11. Without information technology, multitasking becomes a little trickier. The Taskbar is as well worse if you use multiple monitors, likewise, as things like the date and time no longer bear witness upwards on your other displays, merely the main i.
While I really like the new design of the Taskbar, the functionality of information technology has certainly taken a step back on Windows eleven. If you're the kind of person who never really touched the Taskbar exterior of clicking it to launch apps, yous won't have any problems here. Withal, if you're used to utilizing some of the Taskbar's more avant-garde features on Windows 10, such as toolbars, multitasking shortcuts, and more, most of those are gone now on Windows 11.
Source: Windows Key
Elsewhere, the System Tray has been re-done on Windows 11 in an attempt to simplify information technology as much equally possible. Microsoft has split upwards the Activity Center into two separate flyouts: 1 for notifications and the other for quick settings. Clicking on the date and fourth dimension button volition open your calendar view and notifications, and clicking on either Wi-Fi, Volume, or Bombardment will open the new Quick Settings panel.
I really like this new Quick Settings panel, as yous tin now configure things similar Wi-Fi without beingness sent into the Settings app first. Some of the toggles have boosted menus that let you configure them direct within the Quick Settings panel, which keeps you in your flow and doesn't get in the style of your currently open up app. That said, not all of the toggles can be configured directly from the Quick Settings panel, such as Bluetooth, which nonetheless takes you to the main Settings app.
I practise like how this implementation reduces the amount of flyouts that come straight from the Taskbar. Having all these options in 1 console makes the UX feel much less cluttered and convoluted, which is the whole point of Windows 11.
Source: Windows Central
A new feature that Microsoft is trying to button on Windows 11 is "Widgets," which exists every bit a hidden panel that flies out above your desktop from the left side of the screen. There's a dedicated push button for it on the Taskbar, or you can access it by swiping in from the left border of your display. The console consists of a widgets area at the top that has a handful of customizable widgets to cull from, and your Microsoft Commencement news feed below it.
Every bit of Feb 2022, Microsoft has updated this feature with a new entry indicate on the Taskbar. Every bit mentioned in a higher place, It's now accessible via a "atmospheric condition" button placed in the far left of the Taskbar where the Showtime button used to be. This button volition nowadays you with the current weather condition condition, and clicking it will open up the full Widgets panel for access to all of the Widgets that are available to you.
I've not found this Widgets panel itself to be all that useful in my day-to-day workflow. The idea is that the Widget panel is ever available to you for at a glance info, only I ofttimes forget it even exists, partly because I have no utilise for most of the widgets, and considering the panel itself often has to first reload afterwards not existence opened for a few hours. Hither'southward a full list of the available widgets in this first release of Windows eleven:
- Weather
- Photos
- To Do
- Calendar
- Sports
- Family unit Safety
- Watchlist (Stocks)
- Tips
Of all the widgets present, the Weather widget is the one I've found most useful. The Photos widget is nice, simply it'south not something that makes me want to open up the widgets panel to begin with. I'm too non a huge fan of how the widgets panel will force y'all into Microsoft Edge at any given opportunity.
Clicking on a widget or news article doesn't open that content inside the widget panel. Information technology instead closes the widget console and opens Microsoft Edge. This makes the UX feel really disjointed and jarring, as information technology throws yous out of one UI and into another just to bring you an extended weather view. What's worse is that yous tin can't fifty-fifty configure the widgets panel to open in a browser of your pick; it's Edge and that'due south information technology. This is a really lame selection on Microsoft'southward part.
Overall, I am not a fan of Widgets on Windows xi. This is one of those things I recall you'll cheque out for v minutes, and and then never employ again. The introduction of the weather button in the far left of the Taskbar is a nice addition, but information technology's not going to make me use the Widgets console itself any more. Weather on the Taskbar is the most I need, and I'll never demand to click on it unless the Widgets characteristic equally a whole improves.
Windows 11: Snap Assistance and Task View
Source: Windows Primal
One area that Microsoft has focused a lot of effort on is the multitasking and productivity aspect of Windows 11, which has seen lots of corking improvements that well-nigh make upgrading to Windows 11 worth it on their own. We'll begin with improvements to Snap Assist, which builds upon the classic Aero Snap feature first introduced with Windows 7.
In addition to being able to drag an app to the left or right of your brandish to snap it side-past-side, you can at present hover over the maximize button with your cursor to meet a drop downwards of all the different snap layouts available to you lot. This makes it super piece of cake to snap two or more apps without needing to move your mouse to the very edge of your display, which is slap-up if you're using a large brandish such as an ultrawide.
Source: Windows Key
Speaking of big displays, Microsoft has also added new snap layouts that take advantage of bigger screens. There are now new snapping grids for three apps in a row, which makes much better use of that extra screen real estate. All of the fluid animations present hither brand using Snap Assist on Windows eleven a consummate joy to use. This unabridged UX feels excellent, and I call back it'south 1 of Windows xi'due south highlight features.
For tablet users, Snap Assistance volition at present intelligently snap apps above and below when using a device in portrait mode, a behavior that was missing in prior versions of Windows. Microsoft has also updated the switching orientation animation so that it'due south much more than fluid, and besides remembers where your apps were positioned when switching between landscape and portrait fashion.
Source: Windows Central
There are also made several cardinal changes and improvements to the Task View UI, which is where many go to see an overview of all their running apps. On Windows eleven, Microsoft has removed the old Timeline feature, instead prioritizing your open up apps and Virtual Desktops, which now appear forth the lesser of your display. Virtual Desktops are much more customizable now, with abilities such as renaming and fifty-fifty setting custom wallpapers for each desktop.
Yous can besides reorganize your desktops by clicking and dragging, and they'll even persist across reboots pregnant you can really set up up your PC so that yous have a unlike virtual desktop for each of your workflows. For example, I have one for working and one for gaming. I still retrieve there's room for comeback here, still. I'd similar to be able to customize pinned apps on the Taskbar and in Start separately across virtual desktops. Right at present, that's not possible.
Windows 11: Teams Chat
Source: Windows Primal
Windows 11 has a new chat function that ties itself direct with the consumer-facing version of Microsoft Teams. Aye, Microsoft has a version of Teams that information technology intends for you lot to use with your friends and family exterior of work. This conversation service is still in its infancy, which explains why Microsoft is building it into Windows eleven in an attempt to kickstart the network and get people chatting.
Unfortunately, its integration with Windows eleven feels a piddling rough around the edges. The flyout on the Taskbar feels native enough, just chat windows popular out into their own window in the corner of your display, non where the conversation flyout is. This too places a secondary Teams app icon on your Taskbar, so now I have two Teams icons for the same service. The actual conversation button the Taskbar is clearly only a launcher for chats inside the actual Microsoft Teams app, which is not my favorite implementation.
Source: Windows Central
If it were up to me, I'd have those chats open up within the Teams Conversation flyout on the Taskbar then that I don't have to mouse around my entire display to detect the chat window that merely opened up. The good news is that this new Microsoft Teams client is much lighter than the Microsoft Teams client you utilize for piece of work. The bad news is that this only works with Microsoft Teams for consumer, meaning you cannot use information technology for your Teams work conversation.
The chatting and sound call functionality is uncomplicated enough. It works equally expected, and is cantankerous-platform compatible with Windows, iOS, Android, and Mac, bold you accept the Teams app installed and logged in with a consumer account. That said, this Teams Chat integration as a whole feels like a waste product of fourth dimension; why isn't this simply Skype?
Skype just announced that it'south getting a whole bunch of new features and is fully cementing itself every bit Microsoft's flagship consumer chat and video calling service. So, why is Microsoft Teams for consumers even a matter? I would much prefer if this Chat integration on Windows xi was for Skype instead. Hopefully they give u.s. the selection downwardly the line to change it.
Every bit an aside, I too did not appreciate how Windows automatically set Teams to auto-commencement in the background without asking me first. Simply clicking on the Teams Chat icon volition kicking up the full client and and then place it into your machine-commencement list. No thank y'all.
Windows 11: Touch and Pen
Source: Windows Central
Microsoft has made several key improvements, and one notable regression, to the touch-start experience on Windows 11. Overall, I'd say Windows 11 is a much better experience when used on tablets and with a pen, but it comes at the cost of a dedicated "tablet manner" that automatically opens apps full screen like you'd wait on an 11-inch tablet.
Windows 10'due south tablet mode is gone, and in its place are a number of improvements to the desktop UX designed to make using Windows with touch a more pleasant experience. I still wouldn't recommend a Windows tablet, simply Windows on a 2-in-1 is in a much better position today. For case, Microsoft has added new gestures that tin can exist initiated with either three or four finger swipes.
- Three or four finger swipe downwardly to minimize an app
- Three or four finger swipe left or right to switch apps
- Three or four finger swipe up to access Job View
- Four finger tap, hold, and swipe left or right to switch virtual desktops
In that location are besides improvements to window direction, with new subtle animations in place that brand information technology easier to determine when you've successfully grabbed an app window with your finger to manipulate it. Microsoft has likewise increased the size of hitboxes effectually app windows and then that they are easier to resize with bear on as well. Windows will besides automatically increase the spacing of bear on targets on the Taskbar and place a button for the touch keyboard in the System Tray likewise.
Source: Windows Primal
On that subject, a new touch keyboard feel is present on Windows eleven, and I retrieve information technology's the star of the show for tablet users. It'south a fantastic impact keyboard, complete with satisfying sounds, subtle animations, and accurate spelling correction thanks to SwiftKey being what powers it behind the scenes.
There's a number of different sizes for it, including divide view, a one-handed mode, a simplified total width layout, and a more advanced full width layout for devices with larger display sizes. You can also swipe blazon, and there'south a new emoji panel along the superlative that you can admission for quick entering of your favorite emojis, gifs, and other media content.
Source: Windows Key
For pen users, at that place'south much to enjoy every bit well. Microsoft has finally updated the Windows Ink Workspace, now called the "Pen menu" that gives you quick admission to pinned apps that are designed with inking in listen. What'south great is that it's finally customizable, so you can put any app of your option in there. I've got OneNote, Paint, and Adobe Photoshop in mine. It'due south accessible via a button shortcut on a physical pen, or via the System Tray as a shortcut for information technology pops up when you brainstorm interacting with your device with a pen.
You can at present ink directly into text boxes, another great feature if you primarily use your device with a pen. No longer practice yous accept to switch between inking and tapping on the screen to insert some text into a search field, equally Windows will now automatically popular up a handwriting panel for you to utilise when tapping on that text field with a pen.
Much of these improvements are really prissy and put the Windows touch UX more in line with other mod touch-first OSes, but information technology's all the same not perfect. Not beingness able to have apps automatically open total screen is killer for a tablet UX, specially on smaller displays like the Surface Go. It's annoying having to manually full screen every app you lot open for the get-go time.
Windows 11: Microsoft Shop
Source: Windows Central
I retrieve it's very fair to say that the Microsoft Store on Windows 10 has been a disappointment at best, given that it'south missing many apps that people actually utilize on their PCs. That was because Microsoft had strict rules effectually the kind of apps that could be submitted to the Store past developers, which essentially ruled out many of the most pop apps on the Windows platform.
With Windows xi, that all changes. Microsoft is opening the floodgates and allowing developers to submit about Windows apps to the storefront now. Microsoft wants the Microsoft Shop to be a place to discover the all-time Windows apps, no matter the blazon. That includes apps like Visual Studio 2022, Adobe Creative Cloud, and much more.
Source: Windows Fundamental
Essentially, Microsoft has made information technology so that if an app you utilize isn't in the Microsoft Store, it's because the developer is just too lazy to submit information technology for listing. They no longer have to do whatsoever work on the evolution side to make their app "store-compliant," as pretty much all Windows apps tin at present be listed.
It's still early days for the new Store, then not all the apps you'd expect to run into are in there. Just Microsoft is confident that many more app developers volition exist in the Shop very soon, and that'due south a great matter. Beingness able to observe all of your apps from ane place is convenient, and being able to discover new apps you'd have never throught most using is even improve.
Windows 11: Android Apps
Every bit of February 2022, Microsoft has started rolling out Android app support on Windows eleven, admitting in "preview" and in the United States only. Android apps on Windows 11 are an interesting idea, more so thank you to how Microsoft has decided to go near providing Android apps to users. Instead of allowing app developers to submit Android apps to the Microsoft Store, Microsoft has partnered with Amazon to deliver the "Amazon Appstore" on Windows 11 instead.
That, frankly, kind of sucks. The Amazon Appstore is probably the worst Android app store out at that place equally it has no apps, yet information technology's at present the default storefront for Android apps on Windows 11. The Microsoft Store will display Android apps, but attempting to install them volition first require the Amazon Appstore to exist downloaded and installed. It's a real shame, and creates a disjointed user experience.
In my time using Android apps on Windows 11, I've come across 1 or two apps that people might actually want to use. Kindle is the standout, equally information technology's the only good Kindle reading experience at present, but everything else is either a rubbish mobile game or something that you can already do on Windows without requiring an Android app.
All of the Android apps I would want to utilise, including things like controlling my smart lights and appliances, checking my bank statements, unlocking my motorcar, all aren't bachelor on the Amazon Appstore. Now, it's worth noting that you can sideload Android apps, which will bypass the Amazon Appstore and allow you install basically any Android app you similar, only this isn't a trivial job and I don't expect about consumers to do this.
Regardless of the app state of affairs, the actual emulation of Android apps works surprisingly well. I've tested a few games and apps, and all run as if they were performing natively on my device without having to run Android in the background. There's a brusque load fourth dimension of nearly v-10 seconds when loading up your showtime Android app, merely once that'due south done, launching subsequent Android apps will launch basically instantly.
That said, the power to run Android apps does require a but of power under the hood. Not every PC will be able to run these apps, every bit the overhead required is significant. Microsoft recommends 8GB RAM at to the lowest degree, merely says you'll accept a better experience with 16GB RAM, which I agree with. The Android subsystem is heavy, oftentimes eating up 2GB+ of RAM, more if yous accept multiple Android apps running at a time.
Overall, I don't think I'm the target demographic for Android apps on Windows 11. Information technology'southward cracking that it's here as an option, and it works surprisingly well for what it is, just I really wish Microsoft had just gone on its own and allowed developers to submit their Android apps straight to the Microsoft Store, instead of relying on the Amazon Appstore to handle information technology for them.
Windows 11: File Explorer
Source: Windows Cardinal
The Windows File Explorer hasn't had a major UI update since the launch of Windows 8, so it's refreshing to see that Microsoft finally decided to update it for Windows eleven. Microsoft has given the File Explorer a modern and simplistic navigation header while maintaining all the legacy File Explorer features you'd expect to find on Windows.
Instead of a bunch of convoluted buttons, the acme of the UI at present features make clean and spaced-out pick of File Explorer's near common tasks. This includes things like creating a new file or folder, equally well as buttons for copying, pasting, renaming, sharing, and deleting files.
Information technology's fair to say that Microsoft took the whole "making Windows simpler" to middle when it comes to the File Explorer. That said, all the legacy File Explorer functions are still there if you need them. Microsoft hasn't removed any functionality in that regard. It's only cleaned upwardly the summit-level UI so that information technology's easier to utilize for boilerplate users.
Source: Windows Key
There'south even a new, simplified context card pattern which buries all the older legacy context carte options into a secondary menu for those who may still need access to it. This can actually become quite annoying if y'all're using apps that put their options into that secondary menu, such equally 7-Zilch.
Developers can update their apps to put their options into the new modern context menu, merely I've not come across whatever 3rd-party app that has updated to exercise this yet. Hopefully we'll see that prove up over time. For now, it's a pocket-size inconvenience having to click through to a secondary menu.
The new context menus looks great, but it can accept some getting used to. Microsoft has opted to utilize both Ten and Y axes for dissimilar options. The most common tasks such every bit copy, paste, cut, and delete, are represented every bit icons that flow horizontally forth the tiptop of the menu. Then, all the other options are presented as a vertical listing. This is really confusing at first, and is the i thing that I've actually struggled to become used to.
I likewise wanted to briefly mention that Windows 11 does nothing to really prepare the unfinished dark mode theme that Windows has had for a number of years, and it's well-nigh notable within the File Explorer. Thing like the copy, run, and file property windows are still glaringly white, which really stand out and brand the whole UX feel incomplete when dark style is enabled. If you lot apply light mode, this is a not-issue, and everything feels much more coherent.
Windows 11: Apps
Source: Windows Central
Many of the in-box apps on Windows 11 take been updated with new designs, and in some cases, new features too. Apps like Photos and Microsoft Pigment have been updated with designs that keep them aligned with the rest of the new Windows eleven design, with additions such as rounded corners effectually buttons and blur effects in context menus and headers.
At that place'southward also the new Notepad, which has also been updated with a make new modern design that matches the rest of Windows xi. I really like the new Notepad. It'due south make clean and mod, and like Microsoft Paint, is functionally exactly the same equally the former version. The introduction of nighttime manner in Notepad is going to delight many developers and dark theme users out there too.
Source: Windows Central
The Alarms & Clock app has been updated with a new "focus sessions" feature which integrates with Microsoft To Practice and Spotify to provide a 1-stop shop for setting upwards a workflow and completing tasks. You can set a timer of 30 minutes, select a playlist, and sync with Microsoft To practice and tick off all of your tasks every bit you get. Information technology's a neat thought, though it'due south not something I've personally found use for.
Microsoft Edge is too getting an update that supports the new Windows 11 design, though this will arrive in an update shortly after launch. The new blueprint buts the same blur issue in the header, every bit well as modernizes the context menus with the aforementioned pattern language found in File Explorer.
Finally, the Groove Music app has been updated with a new name and new features. It's now called Media Player, and is doing double duty as a music and video actor now. It'll play local video and sound files, merely like the archetype Windows Media Histrion app used to do. Previously, "Groove Music" was just for sound files, with local video files beingness delagated to the Movies & TV app. The Movies & TV app still exists, but that's now only for streamed DRM content from the MIcrosoft Store.
Source: Windows Central
Microsoft Office is getting updated with a new design too, again to improve align itself with Windows xi, though to a much bottom extent than other apps. Function yet has its own singled-out design language, just it'southward nice to run into the new Function app adhering to Windows xi'south rounded corners.
Information technology'south really nice to encounter all of Microsoft's product teams coming together to ship updates that align their apps with the new Windows 11 await and feel. This is one problem Windows 10 had, where different teams at Microsoft would just practise their own affair, regardless of whether it fit in on Windows. That appears to no longer be the case with Windows 11.
More of Microsoft'south in-box apps are expected to be updated with new designs and features over time, and volition ship on Windows 11 as updates through the Microsoft Store when ready.
Windows 11: Settings
Source: Windows Central
There are a whole bunch of new settings and options to rummage through on Windows eleven, and it starts with a brand new Settings app itself. Gone is the old, somewhat confusing Settings app from Windows 10, and in its place is a much prettier and improve organized Settings app that does a greater task at categorizing the most mutual settings that people actually become into the Settings app for.
Highlighting some of the new settings, Microsoft has finally added detailed battery statistics into the Settings app for y'all break downwards. You get an insightful graph that displays power usage over 24 hours or vii days, and tin can see which apps are using the nigh power at any given time of the twenty-four hour period. It'south a great picayune characteristic that Windows has been missing for many years.
Source: Windows Key
The Personalization category now places your themes are the very height for easy switching between, and top-level user interfaces are at present accessible via their own areas, such as Taskbar, Get-go menu, and Lock screen.
The Bluetooth and devices surface area has also been redone, at present showing continued devices at the very pinnacle of the folio, with piece of cake access to device info, settings, pairing a new device, and much more than. You've besides got your access to things like Touchpad controls, Pen settings, and even Your Telephone set up.
Source: Windows Primal
Interestingly, Microsoft has also added a feature that allows you to fully customize the gestures yous can perform on the your Touchpad, which I've absolutely loved. Y'all can set your Trackpad to do things like a three finger swipe up to maximize an app window, or a four finger swipe to the left to snap an app in snap assist. It's really cool, and all the different options gives it the flexibility to fit almost anyone'south workflow.
The new Settings app isn't all great, still. Microsoft has made it unnecessarily hard to ready your ain browser defaults, with it now requiring you lot to manually set each web-related file type with the browser of your selection. Information technology's no longer able to be done with one click, unless yous're trying to switch information technology to Edge of form, which feels actually anti-competitive.
Microsoft tries to disguise this change equally being "consumer friendly" as technically information technology gives the user unlimited options in how your browser of selection responds to defaults, but that's a really weak excuse. The erstwhile way of setting browser defaults was more convenient for almost everybody.
Windows eleven: Miscellaneous
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Fundamental
There's a few things new to Windows 11 that I've non been able to dive into for this review, though I did want to give them a mention. Start upwardly, Windows 11 brings improvements to Windows on ARM-powered PCs, including the power to finally run 64-chip Intel apps. This opens the floodgates to most apps now beingness usable on Windows on ARM, though performance will depend on what ARM chip you're using.
Microsoft has also introduced ARM64EC, a new application binary interface that increases the performance of apps to native speed while being interoperable with x64 apps. Essentially, this allows developers to compile bits of their app for ARM, increasing performance while still emulating the rest of it. This is practiced for developers who can't completely recompile their app for ARM natively.
Another new feature on Windows 11 is support for graphical interfaces powered by the Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 (WSL2) which volition be a smashing tool for developers who move between Windows and Linux apps on a regular basis.
There'south also lots of security and operation improvements, and in that location's fifty-fifty new features for gamers including support for DirectStorage, DirectX12 Ultimate, and more than.
Windows 11: Should you wait?
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
Windows 11 is what y'all'd telephone call a "version 1.0" product, which means it'south just getting started, and while at that place's lots of great things hither, in that location's also a lot missing (particularly around the Taskbar) that long-time Windows users may struggle with. Microsoft has achieved its goal of trying to simplify the top-level Windows UX, but at the price of functionality which many consider essential to their workflows.
If y'all've read this review and not considered any of the problems mentioned to be a deal-breaker, I think Windows eleven is going to be dandy for y'all. Information technology'south not tedious, unstable, or buggy in my usage. It feels ready for product utilize, and I've enjoyed every minute of using this OS. I'm never going back to Windows 10.
However, if you normally take your Taskbar at the meridian of your display, or don't like the sound of having to click a few actress times to access a function that was previously available in a single click, then Windows 11 is non going to be for you at this moment. Windows 11 prioritizes simplicity, sometimes at the cost of burying functionality behind menus or inside the Settings app.
Windows 11: The bottom line
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
I actually like Windows 11. It'south a jiff of fresh air for Windows that attempts to throw out much of the old UX in favor of a more modern, fluid, and simplistic interface. I remember it does a skillful task at achieving this goal, though it's not perfect. Power users and long-time Windows users will need to relearn some habits and get used to missing functionality in some areas.
I'grand sure Microsoft will add together back some of the missing features and behaviors in future releases, but I don't recollect it'll add back everything. I have a feeling that the vision for Windows eleven going forwards is simplicity and ease of use, catering more to the average user who is more familiar with how things are washed on their telephone, and less to the die-difficult Windows power users who want everything to be accessible in a single-click.
If you are okay with that, Windows 11 is great. If you aren't, and then hanging onto Windows 10 for another year is going to be your best bet. Windows x is supported until 2025, so there's no immediate rush to upgrade. In a yr, or even two years, Windows 11 will be in a much more "complete" state, and that's when it might be worth giving another effort.
Windows 11 has the potential to be the best version of Windows yet, simply some of the choices Microsoft has fabricated around Teams Conversation, Widgets, setting browser defaults, the incomplete night mode, and functionality of the taskbar actually hold information technology dorsum from existence that. Hopefully the side by side release of Windows 11 fixes these issues.
Windows 11
Bottom line: Later on half-dozen long years, Microsoft is back with a new version of Windows, featuring an updated blueprint, new features, and a renewed interest in modernizing the desktop UX, at the cost of some classic Windows functionality.
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Zac Bowden
Zac Bowden is a Senior Editor at Windows Central. Bringing you exclusive coverage into the world of Windows x on PCs, tablets, phones, and more. Also an gorging collector of rare Microsoft prototype devices! Go on in touch on Twitter: @zacbowden.
Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/windows-11
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