After Microsoft declared in 2015 that Windows 10 would be the operating system’s final version number, many people assumed there would be no Windows 11. New competition from Chrome OS undoubtedly prompted a more dramatic interface refresh, and Windows 11 significantly borrowed from Google’s lightweight desktop style. Despite its strikingly different appearance, Windows 11 is virtually identical to Windows 10 in terms of functionality, with the addition of a few additional features and conveniences. After six years of mediocre updates, a significant makeover of the world’s most popular desktop operating system is great news: Windows users can now look forward to something new.

Despite the fresh design of the OS, we were startled to discover that it feels very similar to Windows 10. It still runs all of the old apps, and much of the added functionality consists of reupholstering and rearrangement of the furniture.

With rounded corners for all windows, the taskbar icons in the middle, simpler icons, and more attractive settings dialogues, Windows 11 looks nicer than Windows 8, yet it doesn’t feel alien or require a whole new process like Windows 8. Although the new design is appealing, if you prefer the more familiar look of Windows 10, you may want to continue with Windows 10.

Requirements for Windows 11:

Windows 11 has fairly modest system requirements: 1GHz CPU, 4GB RAM, and 64GB storage. There will be no longer be a 32-bit version of the OS, therefore you’ll need a 64-bit processor. A PC with a TPM security chip and Secure Boot capabilities is also required. Because they’ve been standard on most PCs for the last six years or so, they’re less of a nuisance than the internet portrays them to be. The actual stumbling block is the CPU model, which must be within the last four years. Microsoft recently re-released the PC Health Check software, which examines your PC’s ability to run Windows 11, and revealed that more PCs will be able to update to it.

Windows’ new look

Let’s have a look at the new features in Windows 11. The majority of the time was spent revamping the user interface rather than developing new functionality. Windows 11 is more user-friendly than you might think. It takes concepts from Chrome OS, but it still allows you to set app icons on the desktop backdrop, which Google’s lightweight desktop OS does not allow.

Windowing and multitasking in Windows are also significantly more advanced. All windows in the UI have rounded corners (like in macOS), which is a minor modification that gives the OS a more polished appearance. The new design gives the Windows interface a refreshing new slickness and consistency.

Start Menu

The Windows start button has been in the lower-left corner of the screen for decades, so getting used to it being on the left border of centred icons could be one of the most difficult adjustments to make. One of the problems is that the Start menu has always been in the same location. However, if you run more programmes, it shifts to the left a little more. In Windows versions dating back more than 20 years, not having to think about the location of the start button was a big bonus. Fortunately, a taskbar alignment option allows you to restore the start button to its proper location in the left corner.

Taskbar

The new taskbar is also an enhancement, with its smaller, less informative buttons. If you don’t select to combine them in settings, the taskbar buttons for running apps are wider in Windows 10, making it very evident which programmes are active. Fortunately, you can still hover over the buttons to see a thumbnail of the app window and right-click to launch the jump list, which displays recent documents and other popular app operations.

Start menu

In Windows 11, the start menu has been completely redesigned. The top of the panel has pinned app buttons (which are larger than icons but smaller than Windows 10’s tiles). A section underneath them contains recent and frequently used apps and documents. The new mini-tiles in the start menu are still ideal for touch input, but you lose the information that live tiles provide, as bothersome as they might be. In addition, the redesigned start menu makes it more difficult to access the all apps view than Windows 10. As soon as you open the start menu in that version of Windows, you’ll find a list of all installed apps on the left, with tiles for your pinned apps on the right.

File Explorer:

File explorer, with its revised left panel controls and folder icons, is a nice illustration of Windows 11’s new style. The new file explorer has a simpler ribbon along the top that is significantly less crowded and distracting than the old version. The top-left ‘new’ button creates new folders or documents that are supported by your apps, and the same display choices (list, details, and different-sized icons) are available for files. File compression, selection, and properties settings, as well as the old folder options dialogue, are now available through the overflow menu. In Windows 11, the right-click context menus, which have gotten longer and longer over time, get shorter, smarter, and clearer. They now only show the most frequently used alternatives.

Windows 11 on tablets:

Unfortunately, Windows 11 removes a couple of its best tablet and touch-friendly features. Most significantly, you can no longer open the task-switching view by swiping in from the left. You can no longer close an app by swiping down from the top. This omission isn’t as significant because you can still close the window by clicking the X in the upper right corner, as you would in desktop mode. The down-swipe, however, is more straightforward and requires less skill for a handheld device. However, new three-finger swipe motions to expose task view and minimise an app on the desktop have been added. A three-finger swipe to the side changes between running apps. Of course, you can use the task view button on the taskbar, but it isn’t as quick as a thumb flick.

Conclusion:

Windows 11 keeps the majority of Windows 10’s extensive feature set while adding more appealing, modern interface elements and additional conveniences like snap layouts and widgets. As a result, despite some growing pains and the unfamiliarity it offers, Microsoft Windows 11 is a successful desktop operating system, albeit with a slightly lower four-star rating. Microsoft is anticipated to continue to develop its products.

Leave a comment