Windows 11 review: The start of a new era
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Updated February 2022Windows 11 review: The outset of a new era
Microsoft is dorsum with a new version of Windows that's designed to feel modern and easy to utilise. 
Source: Zac Bowden | Windows Key
It'south been six long years since the last mainline version of Windows shipped, and a lot has inverse in the Bone space since then. Microsoft is back with a roaring passion to create a modern version of the Windows user experience that'due south elementary to use, beautifully designed, and well-continued, all in an endeavour to brand you more productive in your professional or creative workflows.
In a world where more and more people are back using PCs in their day-to-twenty-four hours lives, Microsoft thought it was important to deliver a fresh OS designed from the ground up for working from home, while besides catering to a new generation of people who have and are still growing up with smartphones and tablets as their main "computer."
I've been using Windows 11 since information technology outset went into preview back in June on all my PCs. I've loved my time with it, and I think it's the showtime of a great new era for the OS. That said, this is the first release of Windows 11, significant there is certainly room for improvement in a number of areas. So, with all that in mind, let's dive in to the details.
As 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. Nosotros've updated this review to include those features.
Windows 11
Bottom line: Microsoft is back with a new version of Windows, featuring an updated design, new features, and a renewed involvement in modernizing the desktop UX, at the cost of some classic Windows functionality.
Compatibility: Generally, whatsoever PC released from 2022 onwards should be fully compatible with Windows 11.
Highlights:
- Make new design and interface
- Simplified Start menu and Taskbar
- Improved Microsoft Shop
- Great productivity enhancements
Windows xi: Availability
Source: Microsoft
Windows 11 is now mostly available every bit an update for eligible Windows 10 PCs. Microsoft is taking a measured and phased approach to the rollout, withal, meaning not everybody will be offered the update immediately. When your PC is set up, a big popup will appear in Windows Update that volition allow yous to initiate the download and install process, and Windows volition do the rest.
Your PC must see the following requirements to be eligible for the Windows xi upgrade:
- A compatible CPU
- At to the lowest degree 4GB of RAM
- At least 64GB of storage
- UEFI, Secure Boot, & TPM two.0 enabled
Windows xi is likewise bachelor on new PCs starting October 5, including on the new Surface Laptop Studio, Surface Pro eight, and Surface Become 3. More than devices from other PC makers are expected to begin aircraft from October 5 onwards as well, all with Windows 11 preloaded.
Be sure to check out our list of best Windows eleven PCs if you're interested in seeing what new PCs are ready for Windows 11.
Windows xi: What's new
Windows 11 focuses on 3 key areas: a fresh and modern UX designed to make using Windows simpler, new features and tweaks built around making you more productive, and a renewed focus on the Microsoft Store.
Well-nigh of the acme-level user interfaces have been updated with a fresh look with new animations, iconography, and sounds. Everything from the Start carte and Taskbar right downwardly to the context menus and in-box apps take been updated to look more consistent with the balance of the new Windows 11 design.
One of Microsoft'due south goals with Windows 11 has been to declutter and simplify the user experience (UX) where possible. Microsoft is trying to make the Windows UX easier to use for casual PC users who may exist more than familiar with mod Bone experiences such as iOS and Android, but this comes at the cost of simplifying some mutual features or behaviors that some old-school Windows die-hards may struggle to accommodate to.
The good news is, for those who prefer simplicity over complication, Windows 11 is going to exist a great release for yous. Information technology's an absolute joy to utilise, with a fluid UX that is almost perfect. Windows 11 is a jiff of fresh air for those who enjoy the spectacle of software design, and a groovy release for those who value productivity enhancements and "getting to work" over everything else.
Windows 11: Starting time things to do
Source: Windows Central
Windows eleven has a brand new out-of-box experience, which walks yous through setup. Gone is the former Cortana-driven installer, and in its place is a make clean and simplistic pattern that takes y'all through setting upwardly Windows 11 with ease. That said, Microsoft has made some policy changes hither that you need to know about.
For the showtime fourth dimension, Microsoft is making it mandatory for PCs with Windows eleven Home to be signed in with a Microsoft Business relationship and connected to Wi-Fi during the out-of-box experience. I don't find this to be much of a big deal, as I actually like the integration and benefits you become with signing into a Microsoft Account. However, I know at that place are many people out there who refuse to utilise i, and this is going to be a problem for those people.
Once yous're up and running on Windows 11, the first thing you lot need to practise is head to the Microsoft Store app and bank check for updates to ensure that you 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 bank check for updates there to ensure you take the latest drivers designed for Windows 11.
The Review
Windows eleven: Beginning menu
Windows 11 introduces new interfaces in almost every area of the desktop experience, and that includes the Start menu. Offset has been a staple part of the Windows user experience for decades, so information technology'due south e'er a big deal when it changes significantly, as it has on Windows eleven. At present, this isn't a "Windows 8-level" modify, just it's however 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 menu abode to a completely customizable layout of app tiles; it'south now 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 name beneath it. This is basically exactly how other mod OSes practice things these days, so it's no surprise to see Windows joining the fray.
The Get-go carte offers three rows of six icons that you can have pinned, with the ability to scroll through "pages" if you have more apps that you demand to pin. In that location'southward also a full apps list that shows you lot all your installed apps that can be accessed via the "all apps" push button located just higher up your pinned apps.
Along the tiptop of the Start carte du jour is a search bar, which really but acts equally a shortcut to the dedicated Search function you can access via the search icon on your Taskbar. Search and Start are still divide up on Windows 11, which is fine, but not my favorite mode of doing things. In that location's a very clear disjointed experience when opening Outset and commencement to type, as there'due south no animation involved when switching between the ii interfaces.
Source: Windows Central
Below 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 an Office document, it volition appear directly in this Recommended area for quick access. It's very handy, but I've found it becomes chaotic very quickly every bit it has no filter controls at all. That ways any documents, whether they be photos, Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, or even random files in some cases, tin can evidence up in that location.
I'd love to see filter options get available in the future. For example, I'd dearest to be able to set how long certain file types really show up in the Recommended surface area as a recent file, or filter out certain file types altogether. I rarely, if ever, utilize Excel, so if I'chiliad opening an Excel spreadsheet, I already know I'yard probably non going to need to access it once again. Being able to hide Excel file types from the Recommended feed, in this case, would exist expert, also.
Additionally, you can't disable the Recommended expanse if it'southward something y'all know yous're not going to utilise. Fifty-fifty if yous clear information technology and plow the characteristic "off," a big empty infinite that cannot be collapsed or hidden will remain. This makes the whole UX look a little silly, as you can't use that extra space to prove more pinned apps if that's something you'd want to do.
Windows 11: Taskbar and Action Center
Source: Windows Central
A big area of change on Windows 11 is with the new Taskbar, which has essentially been rebuilt from the ground up with simplicity at its cadre. You'll immediately discover that Microsoft has changed the layout of the Taskbar then system buttons and pinned or running apps are centered. This is a big alter to the Taskbar, which has e'er been left-aligned.
I would've thought this change would take a long time to get used to, but I adjusted to it almost instantly. In fact, I really like the new Taskbar layout, and after just a few hours of using Windows eleven, came to prefer my icons beingness centered. They experience more immediately accessible, and I no longer have to turn my head all the way into the corner on my massive ultrawide monitor. Things only look cleaner, which is a big deal for me personally.
All of the system icons (those being Outset, Chore View, Search, Teams Conversation, and Widgets) have cute little animations that play when you click on them. And your pinned or running apps too take subtle pulse animations that play when you click on them. These pocket-size animations get a really long mode to making Windows 11 experience like a fluid experience, which is leaps and bounds over the user experience on Windows x.
As of February 2022, Microsoft has updated the entry-betoken for the Widgets feature. Once setup, the Widgets push button will shift over to the far left of the Taskbar where the old Start button used to be, and volition present up to date weather data directly on the Taskbar. This is a really nice feature, even if you don't use the Widgets panel much. Being able to see the conditions as glancable info directly on the Taskbar is a nice addition.
There's besides a couple of new behaviors for Microsoft Teams users. When in a call, you lot tin now nowadays an app window directly when hovering over an open app icon on the Taskbar, and yous can also mute and unmute your microphone direct from the Taskbar. Microsoft says these features are bachelor to other communication apps, as long every bit developers update their apps to support these additional Taskbar features.
Source: Windows Central
Microsoft has done everything it can to simplify the Taskbar UX to the point in which it might be somewhat problematic for long-time Windows users. For example, you can no longer configure the Taskbar to appear on the left, right, or summit of your display. At that place are also no additional Taskbar options in the right-click menu, with everything now moving into the new Settings app.
Microsoft has also 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 driblet it into that app, but that feature is gone on Windows 11. Without it, multitasking becomes a little trickier. The Taskbar is also worse if you use multiple monitors, too, as things like the engagement and time no longer show up on your other displays, just the main one.
While I actually like the new design of the Taskbar, the functionality of it has certainly taken a step back on Windows 11. If you're the kind of person who never actually touched the Taskbar outside of clicking it to launch apps, you won't have whatsoever issues here. Withal, if y'all're used to utilizing some of the Taskbar'due south more advanced features on Windows ten, such as toolbars, multitasking shortcuts, and more, nigh of those are gone now on Windows 11.
Source: Windows Central
Elsewhere, the System Tray has been re-done on Windows 11 in an attempt to simplify it as much equally possible. Microsoft has split the Activeness Heart into ii separate flyouts: one for notifications and the other for quick settings. Clicking on the date and time button volition open up your calendar view and notifications, and clicking on either Wi-Fi, Volume, or Battery will open the new Quick Settings console.
I really similar this new Quick Settings panel, equally you lot can now configure things like Wi-Fi without beingness sent into the Settings app first. Some of the toggles have boosted menus that let you lot configure them direct within the Quick Settings panel, which keeps y'all in your flow and doesn't make it the style of your currently open up app. That said, not all of the toggles tin can be configured straight from the Quick Settings panel, such equally Bluetooth, which still takes you to the master Settings app.
I do like how this implementation reduces the amount of flyouts that come straight from the Taskbar. Having all these options in 1 panel makes the UX feel much less chaotic and convoluted, which is the whole bespeak of Windows 11.
Source: Windows Central
A new feature that Microsoft is trying to push on Windows 11 is "Widgets," which exists as a hidden panel that flies out above your desktop from the left side of the screen. In that location's a dedicated button for it on the Taskbar, or you tin admission information technology by swiping in from the left edge of your display. The panel consists of a widgets expanse at the top that has a scattering of customizable widgets to choose from, and your Microsoft Start news feed below it.
As of February 2022, Microsoft has updated this feature with a new entry point on the Taskbar. As mentioned above, Information technology's now attainable via a "weather" button placed in the far left of the Taskbar where the Get-go push used to be. This button will present y'all with the electric current weather condition, and clicking it volition open 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 always available to you for at a glance info, simply I oft forget it even exists, partly because I have no employ for about of the widgets, and considering the console itself often has to first reload after not existence opened for a few hours. Here's a full listing of the available widgets in this first release of Windows eleven:
- Weather
- Photos
- To Do
- Calendar
- Sports
- Family Safety
- Watchlist (Stocks)
- Tips
Of all the widgets present, the Weather widget is the one I've plant most useful. The Photos widget is dainty, simply information technology's non something that makes me want to open the widgets panel to begin with. I'thousand also not a huge fan of how the widgets panel will force you 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 panel and opens Microsoft Edge. This makes the UX feel actually disjointed and jarring, equally it throws you out of one UI and into some other just to bring you an extended weather view. What's worse is that you tin't even configure the widgets panel to open in a browser of your choice; information technology'due south Edge and that'south information technology. This is a really lame option on Microsoft's office.
Overall, I am not a fan of Widgets on Windows eleven. This is one of those things I recall you'll check out for five minutes, and then never use once more. The introduction of the weather push in the far left of the Taskbar is a nice addition, only information technology's non going to brand me utilise the Widgets panel itself any more. Conditions on the Taskbar is the most I need, and I'll never need to click on it unless the Widgets feature as a whole improves.
Windows 11: Snap Assist and Task View
Source: Windows Central
One area that Microsoft has focused a lot of endeavor on is the multitasking and productivity aspect of Windows 11, which has seen lots of great improvements that almost make upgrading to Windows 11 worth information technology on their own. We'll brainstorm with improvements to Snap Aid, which builds upon the classic Aero Snap feature first introduced with Windows 7.
In addition to being able to elevate an app to the left or right of your display to snap it side-by-side, you tin at present hover over the maximize button with your cursor to run into a drop down of all the unlike snap layouts available to you lot. This makes it super piece of cake to snap two or more than apps without needing to move your mouse to the very edge of your brandish, which is great if you're using a large display 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 iii apps in a row, which makes much better apply of that extra screen real manor. All of the fluid animations present here make using Snap Help on Windows 11 a complete joy to utilize. This entire UX feels excellent, and I call back it's ane of Windows 11's highlight features.
For tablet users, Snap Assist will 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 likewise updated the switching orientation animation so that it'south much more fluid, and too remembers where your apps were positioned when switching between landscape and portrait way.
Source: Windows Central
At that place are also made several key changes and improvements to the Chore View UI, which is where many go to see an overview of all their running apps. On Windows 11, Microsoft has removed the former Timeline feature, instead prioritizing your open up apps and Virtual Desktops, which now announced along the bottom of your display. Virtual Desktops are much more customizable now, with abilities such as renaming and even setting custom wallpapers for each desktop.
You can also reorganize your desktops by clicking and dragging, and they'll even persist across reboots meaning you lot tin can actually set up your PC so that you accept a different virtual desktop for each of your workflows. For example, I have one for working and one for gaming. I still think there'due south room for improvement hither, all the same. I'd like to exist able to customize pinned apps on the Taskbar and in Showtime separately across virtual desktops. Right now, that'southward not possible.
Windows xi: Teams Chat
Source: Windows Fundamental
Windows 11 has a new chat function that ties itself direct with the consumer-facing version of Microsoft Teams. Yes, Microsoft has a version of Teams that it intends for you to employ with your friends and family exterior of work. This chat service is still in its infancy, which explains why Microsoft is edifice it into Windows 11 in an attempt to kickstart the network and get people chatting.
Unfortunately, its integration with Windows 11 feels a little rough around the edges. The flyout on the Taskbar feels native enough, but chat windows pop out into their ain window in the corner of your display, non where the conversation flyout is. This also 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 non my favorite implementation.
Source: Windows Central
If it were up to me, I'd have those chats open inside the Teams Chat flyout on the Taskbar so that I don't accept to mouse around my entire display to find the chat window that merely opened up. The good news is that this new Microsoft Teams customer is much lighter than the Microsoft Teams client yous utilize for work. The bad news is that this only works with Microsoft Teams for consumer, meaning you cannot use it for your Teams work chat.
The chatting and audio telephone call functionality is elementary enough. It works as expected, and is cross-platform compatible with Windows, iOS, Android, and Mac, bold y'all accept the Teams app installed and logged in with a consumer account. That said, this Teams Conversation integration as a whole feels like a waste product of fourth dimension; why isn't this just Skype?
Skype just appear that information technology's getting a whole bunch of new features and is fully cementing itself every bit Microsoft'south flagship consumer chat and video calling service. And so, why is Microsoft Teams for consumers even a thing? I would much prefer if this Chat integration on Windows 11 was for Skype instead. Hopefully they give us the option down the line to change it.
As an aside, I also did not appreciate how Windows automatically set up Teams to auto-showtime in the background without asking me first. Just clicking on the Teams Chat icon will kick up the full client and and so place it into your auto-start list. No thank you.
Windows 11: Touch and Pen
Source: Windows Key
Microsoft has made several key improvements, and one notable regression, to the touch-get-go experience on Windows 11. Overall, I'd say Windows 11 is a much better experience when used on tablets and with a pen, simply it comes at the cost of a defended "tablet mode" that automatically opens apps full screen like you'd look on an 11-inch tablet.
Windows 10's 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 feel. I nevertheless wouldn't recommend a Windows tablet, but Windows on a ii-in-1 is in a much better position today. For example, Microsoft has added new gestures that can be initiated with either three or four finger swipes.
- Three or four finger swipe down to minimize an app
- 3 or four finger swipe left or right to switch apps
- Three or four finger swipe up to access Task View
- 4 finger tap, concord, and swipe left or correct to switch virtual desktops
There are too improvements to window management, with new subtle animations in identify that brand it easier to determine when you've successfully grabbed an app window with your finger to manipulate it. Microsoft has also increased the size of hitboxes around app windows so that they are easier to resize with bear upon too. Windows will as well automatically increase the spacing of touch targets on the Taskbar and place a button for the touch on keyboard in the System Tray too.
Source: Windows Central
On that subject, a new touch keyboard feel is present on Windows 11, and I think it's the star of the testify for tablet users. It's a fantastic bear on keyboard, complete with satisfying sounds, subtle animations, and accurate spelling correction thanks to SwiftKey being what powers information technology backside the scenes.
At that place's a number of dissimilar sizes for information technology, including divide view, a one-handed style, a simplified full width layout, and a more advanced full width layout for devices with larger brandish sizes. You lot tin too swipe blazon, and there's a new emoji panel along the top that yous can access for quick entering of your favorite emojis, gifs, and other media content.
Source: Windows Primal
For pen users, in that location's much to enjoy besides. Microsoft has finally updated the Windows Ink Workspace, at present called the "Pen menu" that gives y'all quick access to pinned apps that are designed with inking in mind. What's great is that it's finally customizable, so you can put whatsoever app of your choice in in that location. I've got OneNote, Paint, and Adobe Photoshop in mine. It's accessible via a button shortcut on a physical pen, or via the System Tray every bit a shortcut for information technology pops up when y'all begin interacting with your device with a pen.
Yous tin can now ink straight into text boxes, some other smashing characteristic if yous primarily use your device with a pen. No longer do you lot accept to switch between inking and tapping on the screen to insert some text into a search field, every bit Windows volition at present automatically popular upwards a handwriting panel for you to use when tapping on that text field with a pen.
Much of these improvements are really nice and put the Windows affect UX more in line with other modern touch-first OSes, just it'due south notwithstanding not perfect. Not being able to have apps automatically open up full screen is killer for a tablet UX, especially on smaller displays like the Surface Become. Information technology'south abrasive having to manually full screen every app you open for the get-go time.
Windows 11: Microsoft Store
Source: Windows Key
I think it's very off-white to say that the Microsoft Shop on Windows ten has been a disappointment at all-time, given that information technology's missing many apps that people actually utilise on their PCs. That was because Microsoft had strict rules around the kind of apps that could be submitted to the Store past developers, which substantially ruled out many of the nigh popular apps on the Windows platform.
With Windows eleven, that all changes. Microsoft is opening the floodgates and allowing developers to submit virtually Windows apps to the storefront at present. Microsoft wants the Microsoft Store to be a place to discover the all-time Windows apps, no matter the type. That includes apps like Visual Studio 2022, Adobe Artistic Cloud, and much more.
Source: Windows Central
Essentially, Microsoft has made it then that if an app y'all use isn't in the Microsoft Shop, it's because the developer is merely also lazy to submit it for listing. They no longer have to practise any piece of work on the development side to make their app "store-compliant," as pretty much all Windows apps can now be listed.
It'south nevertheless early days for the new Store, so non all the apps you'd look to encounter are in at that place. But Microsoft is confident that many more app developers volition be in the Store very soon, and that's a great matter. Being able to discover all of your apps from one place is convenient, and beingness able to observe new apps you'd have never throught about using is even better.
Windows xi: Android Apps
As of February 2022, Microsoft has started rolling out Android app back up on Windows 11, albeit in "preview" and in the U.s. only. Android apps on Windows 11 are an interesting idea, more than so thanks to how Microsoft has decided to go about providing Android apps to users. Instead of allowing app developers to submit Android apps to the Microsoft Shop, Microsoft has partnered with Amazon to deliver the "Amazon Appstore" on Windows eleven instead.
That, frankly, kind of sucks. The Amazon Appstore is probably the worst Android app shop out there as it has no apps, nonetheless it'due south at present the default storefront for Android apps on Windows 11. The Microsoft Store will display Android apps, but attempting to install them will start require the Amazon Appstore to be downloaded and installed. It'southward a real shame, and creates a disjointed user feel.
In my time using Android apps on Windows 11, I've come up across one or two apps that people might actually want to apply. Kindle is the standout, every bit it'southward the only skilful Kindle reading experience now, 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 desire to use, including things like controlling my smart lights and appliances, checking my bank statements, unlocking my car, all aren't available on the Amazon Appstore. Now, information technology'due south worth noting that you can sideload Android apps, which will bypass the Amazon Appstore and permit you install basically any Android app y'all similar, just this isn't a trivial task and I don't wait most consumers to practise this.
Regardless of the app situation, 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'due south a short load fourth dimension of about 5-10 seconds when loading up your first Android app, only one time that'south washed, launching subsequent Android apps volition launch basically instantly.
That said, the power to run Android apps does require a merely of power nether the hood. Non every PC will exist able to run these apps, as the overhead required is meaning. Microsoft recommends 8GB RAM at to the lowest degree, just says you'll have a amend experience with 16GB RAM, which I agree with. The Android subsystem is heavy, ofttimes eating up 2GB+ of RAM, more if you accept multiple Android apps running at a time.
Overall, I don't think I'm the target demographic for Android apps on Windows xi. It'due south great that information technology'due south here equally an option, and it works surprisingly well for what it is, merely I really wish Microsoft had just gone on its own and allowed developers to submit their Android apps directly to the Microsoft Store, instead of relying on the Amazon Appstore to handle it for them.
Windows 11: File Explorer
Source: Windows Central
The Windows File Explorer hasn't had a major UI update since the launch of Windows 8, and so it'due south refreshing to see that Microsoft finally decided to update information technology for Windows xi. Microsoft has given the File Explorer a modernistic and simplistic navigation header while maintaining all the legacy File Explorer features you'd await to observe on Windows.
Instead of a agglomeration of convoluted buttons, the acme of the UI now features make clean and spaced-out selection of File Explorer'south most common tasks. This includes things like creating a new file or binder, besides equally buttons for copying, pasting, renaming, sharing, and deleting files.
It'due south off-white to say that Microsoft took the whole "making Windows simpler" to heart when it comes to the File Explorer. That said, all the legacy File Explorer functions are still there if y'all need them. Microsoft hasn't removed whatsoever functionality in that regard. It's just cleaned up the tiptop-level UI so that it'southward easier to utilize for boilerplate users.
Source: Windows Cardinal
There'southward even a new, simplified context menu design which buries all the older legacy context menu options into a secondary card for those who may nonetheless demand access to information technology. This can really become quite annoying if y'all're using apps that put their options into that secondary menu, such equally seven-Cipher.
Developers can update their apps to put their options into the new modern context menu, but I've not come across whatsoever third-party app that has updated to practise this yet. Hopefully we'll see that show upwards over fourth dimension. For at present, it'south a minor inconvenience having to click through to a secondary menu.
The new context menus looks nifty, but it tin accept some getting used to. Microsoft has opted to use both 10 and Y axes for dissimilar options. The near common tasks such as copy, paste, cut, and delete, are represented every bit icons that menstruum horizontally forth the acme of the menu. Then, all the other options are presented equally a vertical listing. This is really confusing at start, and is the one thing that I've really struggled to get used to.
I also wanted to briefly mention that Windows eleven does nothing to really gear up the unfinished night mode theme that Windows has had for a number of years, and information technology's almost notable inside the File Explorer. Thing like the re-create, run, and file belongings windows are withal glaringly white, which really stand out and make the whole UX feel incomplete when night mode is enabled. If you employ light mode, this is a non-result, and everything feels much more coherent.
Windows eleven: Apps
Source: Windows Central
Many of the in-box apps on Windows xi have been updated with new designs, and in some cases, new features also. Apps similar Photos and Microsoft Paint have been updated with designs that continue them aligned with the rest of the new Windows eleven design, with additions such equally rounded corners around buttons and blur effects in context menus and headers.
At that place'due south too the new Notepad, which has also been updated with a brand new modern design that matches the rest of Windows 11. I actually like the new Notepad. It'southward clean and mod, and like Microsoft Pigment, is functionally exactly the same every bit the one-time version. The introduction of dark fashion in Notepad is going to please many developers and dark theme users out there also.
Source: Windows Central
The Alarms & Clock app has been updated with a new "focus sessions" feature which integrates with Microsoft To Do and Spotify to provide a 1-end store for setting up a workflow and completing tasks. You can set a timer of xxx minutes, select a playlist, and sync with Microsoft To practice and tick off all of your tasks every bit you go. It's a swell idea, though it's not something I've personally found use for.
Microsoft Edge is also getting an update that supports the new Windows 11 design, though this volition go far in an update before long after launch. The new design buts the aforementioned blur result in the header, likewise as modernizes the context menus with the same pattern language found in File Explorer.
Finally, the Groove Music app has been updated with a new name and new features. It'southward now called Media Player, and is doing double duty as a music and video role player now. It'll play local video and audio files, just like the archetype Windows Media Histrion app used to do. Previously, "Groove Music" was only for audio files, with local video files being delagated to the Movies & Television app. The Movies & TV app still exists, just that's at present just for streamed DRM content from the MIcrosoft Store.
Source: Windows Central
Microsoft Office is getting updated with a new design too, over again to improve align itself with Windows xi, though to a much lesser extent than other apps. Office notwithstanding has its own singled-out design language, but it's squeamish to see the new Part app adhering to Windows 11'south rounded corners.
Information technology's actually nice to see all of Microsoft'south product teams meeting to transport updates that marshal their apps with the new Windows xi look and feel. This is 1 trouble Windows x had, where different teams at Microsoft would just do their ain thing, regardless of whether it fit in on Windows. That appears to no longer be the instance with Windows eleven.
More of Microsoft's in-box apps are expected to be updated with new designs and features over time, and volition send on Windows xi equally updates through the Microsoft Store when set.
Windows 11: Settings
Source: Windows Cardinal
There are a whole bunch of new settings and options to comb through on Windows 11, and it starts with a make new Settings app itself. Gone is the onetime, somewhat confusing Settings app from Windows 10, and in its place is a much prettier and better organized Settings app that does a greater job at categorizing the most common settings that people actually go into the Settings app for.
Highlighting some of the new settings, Microsoft has finally added detailed bombardment statistics into the Settings app for you suspension down. You become an insightful graph that displays power usage over 24 hours or seven days, and can see which apps are using the near ability at any given fourth dimension of the day. It'southward a corking little feature that Windows has been missing for many years.
Source: Windows Fundamental
The Personalization category now places your themes are the very top for easy switching between, and pinnacle-level user interfaces are now attainable via their own areas, such as Taskbar, Get-go menu, and Lock screen.
The Bluetooth and devices surface area has as well been redone, at present showing connected devices at the very top of the page, with easy access to device info, settings, pairing a new device, and much more than. You've also got your access to things like Touchpad controls, Pen settings, and fifty-fifty Your Telephone set upwardly.
Source: Windows Cardinal
Interestingly, Microsoft has also added a feature that allows you to fully customize the gestures you can perform on the your Touchpad, which I've absolutely loved. Y'all can set your Trackpad to exercise things similar a 3 finger swipe up to maximize an app window, or a four finger swipe to the left to snap an app in snap assist. It'southward actually cool, and all the unlike options gives it the flexibility to fit nearly anyone's workflow.
The new Settings app isn't all not bad, nevertheless. Microsoft has made it unnecessarily hard to set your own browser defaults, with information technology now requiring yous to manually set up each spider web-related file type with the browser of your choice. It'south no longer able to be done with one click, unless you're trying to switch information technology to Edge of course, which feels really anti-competitive.
Microsoft tries to disguise this modify equally beingness "consumer friendly" equally technically information technology gives the user unlimited options in how your browser of choice responds to defaults, merely that's a actually weak alibi. The former way of setting browser defaults was more than convenient for almost everybody.
Windows 11: Miscellaneous
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
There's a few things new to Windows eleven that I've non been able to dive into for this review, though I did desire to requite them a mention. Beginning up, Windows 11 brings improvements to Windows on ARM-powered PCs, including the ability to finally run 64-bit Intel apps. This opens the floodgates to most apps now existence usable on Windows on ARM, though performance will depend on what ARM chip you're using.
Microsoft has too 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 operation while however emulating the rest of it. This is skillful for developers who can't completely recompile their app for ARM natively.
Another new characteristic on Windows eleven is back up for graphical interfaces powered by the Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 (WSL2) which will be a corking tool for developers who move between Windows and Linux apps on a regular basis.
There's besides lots of security and performance improvements, and in that location'south fifty-fifty new features for gamers including support for DirectStorage, DirectX12 Ultimate, and more.
Windows 11: Should you expect?
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
Windows 11 is what yous'd telephone call a "version 1.0" production, which means it'southward just getting started, and while in that location'due south lots of bang-up things here, there's too a lot missing (particularly effectually the Taskbar) that long-time Windows users may struggle with. Microsoft has achieved its goal of trying to simplify the acme-level Windows UX, but at the cost of functionality which many consider essential to their workflows.
If you've read this review and not considered any of the issues mentioned to be a deal-breaker, I think Windows 11 is going to be bang-up for yous. It's not deadening, unstable, or buggy in my usage. It feels ready for production use, and I've enjoyed every minute of using this OS. I'm never going back to Windows x.
However, if you usually accept your Taskbar at the height of your display, or don't like the sound of having to click a few extra times to access a function that was previously available in a single click, then Windows 11 is not going to exist for you lot at this moment. Windows 11 prioritizes simplicity, sometimes at the cost of burying functionality backside menus or inside the Settings app.
Windows eleven: The bottom line
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
I actually like Windows 11. Information technology'south a breath 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 think it does a skillful job at achieving this goal, though information technology'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'm sure Microsoft will add back some of the missing features and behaviors in hereafter releases, but I don't think information technology'll add back everything. I have a feeling that the vision for Windows eleven going forward is simplicity and ease of use, catering more than to the average user who is more familiar with how things are done on their telephone, and less to the die-hard Windows power users who want everything to exist accessible in a single-click.
If you are okay with that, Windows 11 is smashing. If you lot aren't, then hanging onto Windows 10 for some other year is going to be your best bet. Windows 10 is supported until 2025, so there's no immediate rush to upgrade. In a yr, or even ii years, Windows 11 will be in a much more "complete" state, and that's when it might be worth giving another try.
Windows 11 has the potential to exist the best version of Windows nevertheless, just some of the choices Microsoft has made effectually Teams Chat, Widgets, setting browser defaults, the incomplete dark mode, and functionality of the taskbar actually hold it back from existence that. Hopefully the next release of Windows 11 fixes these bug.
Windows 11
Bottom line: After 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 sectional coverage into the earth of Windows ten on PCs, tablets, phones, and more. Also an gorging collector of rare Microsoft epitome devices! Keep in touch on Twitter: @zacbowden.
Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/windows-10-sun-valley-features-everything-we-know
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