Windows 11 isn’t unhealthy.
Yes, we’ve called Windows 11 “unnecessary,” and nonetheless really feel that the typical particular person has no must make the transition to an unfamiliar, restrictive working system. But it will be unfair to say that Windows 11 hasn’t taken any steps forward, both — sure, past Windows 10. So we’re calling them out.
I actually use Windows 11 each day, as half and parcel of my protection right here at PCWorld. As a part of our “Windows 11 at six months” re-examination of Windows, about the one side of Windows 11 that I refuse to make use of is the Start menu. It’s merely poorly organized and affords little worth.
I do assume that finally, you’ll improve your PC to Windows 11 for those who haven’t already, so this piece places a highlight on a few of its greatest bits. Rest assured that this story isn’t making an attempt to listing all the options of Windows 11. Instead, these are the significant options that we predict justify an improve.
A productivity-first method
There is completely no method that anybody would attempt to work on an Xbox. That implies that Microsoft can design its sport console for video games, with an interface, Game Pass subscription service, and Auto Resume options all designed to purchase, play, and resume video games as rapidly as potential. Let’s face it: On the Xbox, the Edge browser is an afterthought (and an actual ache to make use of, by the way).
Windows itself suffers from a basic dichotomy: It’s an working system for work and play. Windows 10 leans extra towards enjoyable, and Windows 11 feels optimized for a piece setting. Why? Microsoft chief government Satya Nadella mentioned it greatest: Windows is the “socket” for Microsoft subscriptions, and Microsoft’s most profitable subscription is Microsoft 365, née Office. Windows 11 was subsequently designed round Microsoft 365, Q.E.D.
Mark Hachman / IDG
That’s greater than slightly cynical, however okay. If the Start menu wasn’t so ineffective, suggesting paperwork to work on wouldn’t really feel obtrusive. Creating a reasonably staid row of icons alongside the Taskbar and Start isn’t enjoyable, but it surely helps you focus. I assist that — in any case, I argued that no one really wants distracting animated emoji in Teams.
Microsoft’s chief product officer, Panos Panay, tends to introduce new Surface units within the context of “flow” and “focus”, and the redesigned Clock app’s “focus time” replicate that Microsoft is pondering exhausting about such issues. As a client, I believe it’s value pushing again towards this concept of “business first, fun second,” however you’ll be able to’t deny Microsoft’s efforts that can assist you grow to be extra environment friendly.
It’s most likely truthful to say that most individuals don’t purchase an working system to tinker with it below the hood. But for those who do must dive into the Settings menu for a tweak, the design of latest Windows 11 Settings menu actually makes it straightforward to search out what you want, make the change, and get out.
Settings not solely makes use of the usual Windows 11 sidebar navigation to leap forwards and backwards, however a brand new navigation system on the highest of the display screen lets you transfer up and down a “level” fairly simply. Each subsection additionally consists of its personal abstract display screen, with its personal graphical components, in order that “Network & Internet” reveals what community you’re related to and the way a lot knowledge you’ve used on the high of the display screen.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Windows additionally makes use of numerous visible components to permit you to dive down even additional, with drop-down menus, buttons, and caret menus main deeper into the Settings menu. Most of not all of those are appropriately labeled, so {that a} submenu like Settings > Bluetooth & units > Cameras tells you that you simply’ll discover connected-camera settings and default picture settings the additional you go. Microsoft is slowly making the legacy Control Panel out of date.
The “out of the box” (OOBE) expertise
Windows 11 affords a implausible expertise out of the field, with an environment friendly startup course of that visually introduces you to the Windows 11 feel and look whereas strolling you thru what Windows is doing and what info you’ll want to offer to assist it on its method. It’s additionally a simple method to immediately arrange your new PC with Office apps (offered you may have a Microsoft 365 subscription) and it facilitates connecting to your Android telephone through Phone Link (previously referred to as Your Phone), too.
Yes, you’ll must enter a Microsoft account to proceed, which some gained’t be comfortable about. But for anybody who’s complained that Windows 11 remains to be one thing of a hodge-podge of varied working programs previous, the OOBE belies that fully. If most customers had been polled about their perspective towards Windows 11 proper after setup, my guess is that Windows 11 would have the next approval score than it does.
The Action Center
I’ve come round on the Action Center, the small assortment of controls that lives within the backside right-hand nook of your main show. I nonetheless don’t like how non-intuitively the Action Center set off is inside Windows 11; in Windows 10, all the nook icons are primarily one collective “button” that you may click on to open the Action Center. In Windows 11, you need to know that an icon like OneDrive is one button, the clock/date one other, and the Action Center is itself opened by clicking the amount management or battery icon.
Mark Hachman / IDG
A lot of individuals nonetheless have quibbles with how Windows 11 represents particular person controls. For instance, the amount slider doesn’t inform you which gadget is getting used for audio except you click on the small “caret” menu to the fitting. Focus Assist can’t be tweaked with out opening its corresponding Setting menu. But the Action Center itself doesn’t require additional, er, motion besides in a small number of instances, and it’s aesthetically in keeping with the remainder of the Windows 11 OS. It’s a step ahead.
Snap View
This has been a small however essential enchancment to Windows 11 for the reason that starting, particularly essential as (hopefully!) an increasing number of individuals transfer to multiple large external monitors along with their main show. The improved Snap View lets you snap your window by hovering over the normal “full screen” icon within the higher right-hand nook of the window, then selecting which of a small variety of templates you’d just like the window to suit into. The the rest of your show can be utilized to accommodate the opposite home windows.
Let’s be truthful: Sites like PCWorld.com are designed to accommodate smaller shows, and there’s numerous further white area to the left and proper that can be utilized for adverts or left clean. Snap View could be an environment friendly use of that area. About the one factor Microsoft didn’t appear to anticipate with Snap View are ultrawide displays, which could profit from three or 4 vertical columns reasonably than the default two.
Windows 11 additionally eliminated Timeline (to the chagrin of some) which makes the entire expertise cleaner.
I’m not satisfied that lots of the updated Windows 11 native apps characterize enhancements, per se – simply visible updates and/or reorganizations. Windows Media Player is greater than that — it’s a real step ahead, no less than for this particular app. With Groove Music’s retirement, Media Player has stepped in to play again audio and video, and there’s even a long-awaited equalizer, in addition (!) The new Media Player will not be a part of Windows 10.
Yes, lovers are going to ask: is it pretty much as good because the iconic play-everything VLC app? No, it’s not. But whereas VLC will seemingly play nearly each codec below the solar, Microsoft has targeted on the most typical codecs…properly, we predict. We’ve by no means discovered a listing of file codecs particularly supported by the Windows 11 Media Player app.
Android apps
Android apps on Windows 11 are a little bit of a gimmick, in that you simply’re restricted to a restricted variety of apps from the Amazon Appstore, for now. Chances are that you simply already personal an Android telephone (and may load these apps in your telephone) or an iPhone, that means that you just won’t care.
IDG
Android apps are a bit just like the Linux apps that Microsoft allows as a part of the Windows Subsystem for Linux. They have specialised functions, which could be engaging to those that don’t wish to seek out a webpage or app. But the potential is there to enhance this, if Microsoft and its companions select to. How that’s managed, and what specialised benefits that may supply, nonetheless, have but to be seen.
DirectStorage and AutoHDR
We’ve been burned earlier than by Windows options that both didn’t ship or simply never showed up. But we’re cautiously optimistic about DirectStorage, which might promise some extraordinarily meaningful reductions in game load times for these with each the {hardware} and Windows 11. To be clear, DirectStorage is accessible on Windows 11, however there isn’t a single publicly launched Windows sport that helps it at press time.
Still, DirectStorage seems to be a comparatively protected funding, in that Microsoft can be a idiot to not push this as exhausting as it could. Windows players are Windows lovers, and if that bloc embraces Windows 11, it might properly be a tipping level for the OS—although Windows 10 will also support DirectStorage, albeit to a lesser extent. Auto HDR, a Windows 11 characteristic that lets older games simulate HDR visuals to great effect (sometimes), might additionally grow to be a really engaging cherry as HDR monitors become more common.
Some “new” options aren’t new
No one requested for Windows 11. Microsoft let shoppers imagine that Windows 10 can be the “last Windows,” and the emergence of Windows 10X and its transition to Windows 11 was met with perplexed expressions from expertise lovers. That identical perspective applies to a number of the adjustments made to Windows 11, which hearkens again to our “unnecessary” characterization. We’re not going to inform you that the mounted Start menu is value upgrading for, for instance, or Teams Chat. Others, like Windows dictation, already seem in Windows 10, as does the properly revamped Microsoft Store app. Widgets, too, is only a barely expanded model of the News & Information characteristic that’s on Windows 10 as properly.
What we’ve proven you above are a number of the actual variations between Windows 10 and 11. We’d completely encourage you to take a tough take a look at Microsoft’s latest OS for those who haven’t already. And for those who’re nonetheless slightly nervous, don’t be! Check out our story on how to roll back from Windows 11 to Windows 10 — we’ll present you what to do and the way rapidly it’s essential to act.