Already using Windows 11? If not, do you plan to upgrade to Windows 11 this year?
I want to know, so I have two unofficial, unscientific surveys asking what interests you most when it comes to Windows 11. The first survey focuses on your personal computer, including the operating system you're currently using, your upgrade plans and what you like. /I don't like Windows 11.
For reference, Microsoft has created a website that summarizes some of the things that excite you.
For example, the company promotes Microsoft Teams Chat to connect one-on-one with other PC users. (Note: If you already have Teams using a work or school account, you'll need a separate app for your work Teams account. It will actually say Microsoft Teams (work or school) and will have a solid icon. personal icon Microsoft Teams has a solid icon white). I don't want to be a Debbie Downer, but I'd be more excited if there was a single icon that rotated based on what credentials a user is logging in with.
Microsoft also claims that Windows 11 simplifies the user experience with intuitive navigation and easy organization. For those of us with 30 years of Windows experience or who switch between different versions of Windows at home and at the office, one of the first things to do is move the menu to the left of the screen. Remember that there are many third-party tools to customize and move the menu.
Microsoft also claims that Windows 11 brings "balance" to the desktop with the Snap Assist tool. "Easy to use: just drag windows to the edge of the screen to activate them with a few clicks," the company explains. I still believe that the best balance is to have more than one monitor. Even at home I have a main monitor and a portable USB monitor; having more than one monitor means i can split an app from one screen to another.
Also in the spotlight: the wonderful world of widgets in the form of photos, weather, world news, stocks and more. Note that Microsoft brought these same or similar widgets to Windows 10, and the company allegedly plans to open them up to third-party tools. But it reminds me of Vista Widgets, which were advertised as providing Vista-like information, but were later blocked and removed due to security risks. Whether Microsoft will allow the widgets to open remains to be seen.
Finally, Microsoft is touting improvements in touch, voice, and pen input, so it has brought some innovative devices and features.
In my own situation, I have a personal computer that supports Windows 11, so if I want to standardize on Windows 11, I'll have to upgrade.
At the office, things are a bit better, but I still have several computers that can't be upgraded to Windows 11.
If you manage systems in the office, this survey focuses on your implementation plans. Windows 11 22H2 has been described as the equivalent of "Service Pack 1" for Windows 11, so now is a good time for businesses to start testing and deploying Windows 11. With that in mind, the survey questions ask if is planning a big Windows 11 release now.
I saw some interesting early responses. One person saw the Windows 11 push as a way to force companies to upgrade their old IT systems. While they consider the hardware requirements of Windows 11 to be somewhat artificial, the CPU chip and Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 requirements mean that new systems are needed.
Many companies continue to use systems that should have been retired long ago. Typically, in my office, systems fail not because of the TPM 2.0, but because of the CPU. (Supported AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm processors exclude some computers I've deployed.) Other devices do not have a compatible graphics card to support DirectX 12 or later with the WDDM 2.0 driver. The move to Windows 11 will not only prompt me to upgrade my systems, but many companies as well.
Microsoft is testing tabs in File Explorer (currently in a recent Insider Preview). I find it interesting that Microsoft hasn't tweaked File Explorer to expose file extensions by default. This is one of the key things that I change every time I buy a new computer for a more secure operating system.
Tell me what excites you about Windows 11, if anything. I will recap the results later.
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