Windows 11 - What you need to know.
It’s official, Microsoft has announced Windows 11. This is the first major upgrade to Windows since Windows 10 was released in 2015, and there are definitely important changes you need to know about before upgrading.
Similar But Different
If you've used Windows 10, you will see many features that you are quite familiar with. However, what Windows 11 brings to the table are optimized features that are all-around more useful than they were previously. Rather than building an unrecognizable OS from scratch, Microsoft has improved the product it already had. Here are the five things you should know:
1. The Iconic Start Menu Has Moved
Perhaps the most glaring changes in Windows 11 features is the relocation of the Start Menu, as well as the Task Bar itself. We have all become accustomed to the Start Menu being on the bottom right-hand side of the desktop, but this is no longer true. It now finds its home in the center of the screen, just like macOS and Chrome OS do it. If you find this one step too far, you can always move it back to its legacy placement.
To go along with the relocation of the Start Menu, Live Tiles that used to live in the center of the desktop are gone. In their place are apps and your most recent documents. As in Windows 10, there will be a search field atop the menu, helping you locate any documents, apps, or settings you are looking for.
2. Widgets Have Returned
Widgets are nothing new to Windows, yet they never quite caught on. Microsoft is giving it another shot to see if they’re going to be popular this time. To access them, there will be a button located in the taskbar that reveals them. Alongside these widgets will be features like a calendar, local weather, to-do lists, and more. This is another one of the new Windows 11 features that is a nod to a successful macOS feature.
3. Translucent Windows Have Also Returned
If you remember Aero from the Windows Vista and Windows 7 days, you may be surprised to hear this feature is making a comeback. Translucent windows still allow you to see what was behind a window before you open it. Given how advanced computers have gotten since the Aero days, this should finally be a functional feature.
4. Multiple Windows Are Easier To Use
In the past, using two different monitors on the same system proved to be a bit of a challenge. With unwanted resizing and shuffling of things on your screen always occurring, it was a bit of a mess to use. Microsoft has finally fixed these issues, making the use of multiple monitors much easier and more enjoyable.
5. Highly Demanding System Requirements
While it’s great to learn about all of the Windows 11 features coming, all of it will be useless to you if you’re unable to run the OS in the first place.
In order to run Windows 11, your computer or device will need to have an Intel Core process from 2017 or later, or an AMD Zen 2 processor from 2019 onwards. Not only that but Windows 11 also demands a minimum of 4 GB RAM, along with 64 GB of hard drive space. That is tall order, even today. Even some of the desktop computers Microsoft has out on the market right now will be unable to run Windows 11.
Microsoft explains that these beefy requirements are due to enhancing the security of the OS. While this may indeed be the case, the fact of the matter is that some people will be unable to use Windows 11 on their current hardware.
Conclusion
These are the biggest changes coming to the new version of Windows. If you have been anticipating the upgrade to Windows 11, you have a good idea of what you can look forward to. It's not a massive overhaul of this legendary OS but there are enough features that make it appealing to upgrade. What's even better is that it's free to upgrade to if you already have Windows 10.
As promising as Windows 11 is with its new and updated features, you will want to make sure your device can run it properly so call Tri Tech today to get started on a quote to upgrade your hardware!