Poll: Windows 11 - Love it or Hate It?

Ghot · Jul 14, 2021

kado897 said:
I think most of the issues with W11 centre around the changed (lack of) functionality of the taskbar. I myself use a 3rd party program that relies on toolbar support, others hate not being able to reposition it. Even simple tasks like launching task manager are no longer supported.

For Task Manager... I just went to: C:\Windows\System32\Taskmgr.exe ...and right clicked it and chose: Send to > Desktop create shortcut. Then I pinned it to the Taskbar.

I do that for Control Panel, WMP, and elevated command prompt and elevated Power Shell, also.

C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe

C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe

C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe

The only icon I change is the one for Task Manager...

kado897 · Jul 14, 2021

Ghot said:
For Task Manager... I just went to: C:\Windows\System32\Taskmgr.exe ...and right clicked it and chose: Send to > Desktop create shortcut. Then I pinned it to the Taskbar.

I do that for Control Panel, WMP, and elevated command prompt and elevated Power Shell, also.

C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe

C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe

C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe

The only icon I change is the one for Task Manager...

View attachment 2910

Try ctrl+shift+esc

Ghot · Jul 14, 2021

kado897 said:
Try ctrl+shift+esc

LOL.

I type with three fingers bro.
Ctrl + Shift + Escape would cripple me. LOL

The only keyboard shortcuts I ever use are ctrl + alt + Delete, and ctrl + escape (to open Start Menu if it doesn't open with a mouse click). I don't even buy cases w/o a Reset button... so i hardly ever have to use ctrl+alt+delete.

If I have to, I also sometimes use ctrl + C and ctrl + V... but that's it for keyboard shortcuts.
And only for things that won't allow right click > copy or paste.

It only takes me like 5 mins to set up my program shortcuts. I do it once... then I can one - click things, forever.

One time I was sharing screen with an Oriental MS tech. She was doing things so fast, with so many keyboard shortcuts, I was astounded. I don't think she ever used the mouse.

Me... I'm the exact opposite. I love clicking on things. Only two things to remember... left click, and right click. I don't even use the scroll wheel click. :)

While I'm ranting... I also hate games with WASD movement keys. If they're gonna force people to use the keyboard to move... then it should be the arrow keys, like Doom.

kado897 · Jul 14, 2021

Ghot said:
LOL.

I type with three fingers bro.
Ctrl + Shift + Escape would cripple me. LOL

The only keyboard shortcuts I ever use are ctrl + alt + Delete, and ctrl + escape (to open Start Menu if it doesn't open with a mouse click). I don't even buy cases w/o a Reset button... so i hardly ever have to use ctrl+alt+delete.

If I have to, I also sometimes use ctrl + C and ctrl + V... but that's it for keyboard shortcuts.
And only for things that won't allow right click > copy or paste.

It only takes me like 5 mins to set up my program shortcuts. I do it once... then I can one - click things, forever.

One time I was sharing screen with an Oriental MS tech. She was doing things so fast, with so many keyboard shortcuts, I was astounded. I don't think she ever used the mouse.

Me... I'm the exact opposite. I love clicking on things. Only two things to remember... left click, and right click. I don't even use the scroll wheel click. :)

Lol, it's not the easiest of shortcuts but if you really want some doozies try Photoshop shift+ctrl_alt+E will really give your fingers some exercise.

Ghot · Jul 14, 2021

kado897 said:
Lol, it's not the easiest of shortcuts but if you really want some doozies try Photoshop shift+ctrl_alt+E will really give your fingers some exercise.

LOL... that's why I use Paintshop Pro. GIMP and PS are for people that are seriously bored. I mean they only have like a 10 year learning curve.

johnlgalt · Jul 14, 2021

Ghot said:
There's no NEED for a two tier menu. It's just stoopid.
MS is making things easier for the smart phone/ tablet types. That's fine by me.

Allow ME to turn it off though, I'm on a 30" screen, I don't need a two tier menu, and I definitely don't need added mouse clicks, for a device, I don't even use.

I spent half a day trying to turn off that two tier menu.... no joy. THAT is what bothers me. That I can't turn it OFF.

I do agree with the fact that users should get to choose which way it is going to work on their devices. I also agree that on a mobile device a long ass context menu will, inevitably, scroll off screen and make certain parts of it inaccessible, so I see the 'need' to make the change. But to enforce it, as you noted, is just shullbit.

Bree said:
We can argue the merits of the changed GUI layout (like the two step right-click menus) and find some who like it, some who don't. I have upgraded one of my laptops from W10 to W11 (keeping all my files and apps) and have been using it almost exclusively for over a week now, doing all the tasks I would have used it for in 10. There's nothing about the new style menus I can't adapt to, and some parts I feel are an improvement.

What gets me angry and frustrated is the complete removal of a function that has worked the same way in every OS since XP and which I frequently use in W10 - being able to click-and-drag a file, hover over a running app's icon in the Taskbar and have it open so that I can drop the file into it.

Doesn't sound like much of a loss? You can open a file from the app itself, so why complain? Maybe not an issue for a single file, but try selecting multiple files and opening them all simultaneously in that running app that's on the Taskbar. Typically I would have a group of twenty or more image files that I'd want to open in my PaintShop Pro photo editor. You may have half a dozen spreadsheets you'd want to open in Excel. Imagine how much longer that would take using 'File > Open' for every single file.

Yeah. I think we all know also that the taskbar being it's own separate process, that it is going to take time to develop it back to the level that it was before. I'm hopeful that they accomplish this sothat hte taskbar is every bit as robust as it was before, and slightly hopeful that it will be even more robust than before.

BUT! I ain't holding my breath over it, for sure.

Bree said:
Personally I've always preferred to have the taskbar at the bottom anyway, but yes - the new taskbar is the least 'finished' part of W11 and needs a lot more development to make it acceptable.

Exactly. We're 3 builds in. The best way to address these obvious shortcomings is in the Feedback App. Every single thing we don't like, report it, or find them already reported and upvote like a mofo, and provide clear and valuable feedback to Microsoft regarding exactly what they need to consider and why.

Although I replied to you directly, I'm not addressing this to you, but to all the readers of this thread.

Ghot said:
For Task Manager... I just went to: C:\Windows\System32\Taskmgr.exe ...and right clicked it and chose: Send to > Desktop create shortcut. Then I pinned it to the Taskbar.

I do that for Control Panel, WMP, and elevated command prompt and elevated Power Shell, also.

C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe

C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe

C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe

The only icon I change is the one for Task Manager...

View attachment 2910

Uh, wtf?

Every app that I have run thus far on my system I can then right click and select Pin to taskbar directly fro the running app - even portable apps.

Absolutely no need to make a shortcut first.

Cannot differentiate between CMD [admin] and CMD {user] though.

Ghot · Jul 14, 2021

johnlgalt said:
I do agree with the fact that users should get to choose which way it is going to work on their devices. I also agree that on a mobile device a long ass context menu will, inevitably, scroll off screen and make certain parts of it inaccessible, so I see the 'need' to make the change. But to enforce it, as you noted, is just shullbit.

Yeah. I think we all know also that the taskbar being it's own separate process, that it is going to take time to develop it back to the level that it was before. I'm hopeful that they accomplish this sothat hte taskbar is every bit as robust as it was before, and slightly hopeful that it will be even more robust than before.

BUT! I ain't holding my breath over it, for sure.

Exactly. We're 3 builds in. The best way to address these obvious shortcomings is in the Feedback App. Every single thing we don't like, report it, or find them already reported and upvote like a mofo, and provide clear and valuable feedback to Microsoft regarding exactly what they need to consider and why.

Although I replied to you directly, I'm not addressing this to you, but to all the readers of this thread.

Uh, wtf?

Every app that I have run thus far on my system I can then right click and select Pin to taskbar directly fro the running app - even portable apps.

Absolutely no need to make a shortcut first.

Someone has to remember the old ways... for after Armageddon. You folk are all gonna forget things like how to bang two rocks together.

johnlgalt · Jul 14, 2021

Doubt you'll be using a Windows anything after that.

I mean, just saying.....

Winuser · Jul 14, 2021

johnlgalt said:
Doubt you'll be using a Windows anything after that.

I mean, just saying.....

I'll be running the Windows Armageddon Dev build.

Bree · Jul 14, 2021

Winuser said:
I'll be running the Windows Armageddon Dev build.

Wynona · Jul 14, 2021

Bree said:
No, that one's still in the system tray, as are the icons my Core Temp puts there and the one from Macrium Reflect. I can't say I understand the MS statement, I know of no icons that have gone AWOL since upgrading to 11.

View attachment 2716

What I meant is that MS seems to be getting rid of obsolete stuff, and this one is definitely obsolete. I don't remember exactly when we were told we don't need it any more.

Wynona · Jul 14, 2021

unifex said:
I'm not sure you're interpreting this correctly. Right now, if you install Windows 10, these "apps" will be installed by default. The first thing I do is uninstall them (together with all other "Store apps" that allow themselves to be uninstalled). If they are not installed with Windows 11, it's a huge plus from my viewpoint.

That said, this does not mean that "they are dropping Skype". In fact, I do use Skype and OneNote almost daily. I just refuse to use the "Store apps". Instead, I use the desktop programs that can be downloaded from their respective websites (OneNote is part of Office 2019, for example, while Skype is a standalone program). However, if for some reason you want to use the Store, they are still there. So there is no problem here as far as I can see.

No, I'm not misinterpreting. I know exactly what I read . . . will still be available, but won't be installed. IOW, if you want it, you have to go out and find it for yourself.

Winuser · Jul 14, 2021

Wynona said:
No, I'm not misinterpreting. I know exactly what I read . . . will still be available, but won't be installed. IOW, if you want it, you have to go out and find it for yourself.

You mean that if I was to do a clean install that I won't get useless apps like Candy Crush installed. Sounds like a plus to me.

johnlgalt · Jul 14, 2021

Wynona said:
What I meant is that MS seems to be getting rid of obsolete stuff, and this one is definitely obsolete. I don't remember exactly when we were told we don't need it any more.

Technically, it is not obsolete, even though we do have the ability to right click on a drive and select eject.

By far, you should never remove a drive before running it through the eject process first. Some may think that the icon being there in the system tray is obsolete - but what about someone like me who turns off USB AutoPlay (because, IMO, that is obsolete, because I don't need my system being fooled by a malicious actor into running a program automatically upon insertion of a USB device)? Even Explorer doesn't automatically open. So, if I want to eject the drive, having the icon there is a necessity to me.

I'll take the security of AutoPlay being off and the slight (1 icon's worth of space being used in the system tray) inconvenience of this icon.

I believe that a lot of corps and enterprises also turn AP off, too.

SlicEnDicE · Jul 21, 2021

Disable "Hide protected operating system files" and you will see the junction.

sbal · Jul 21, 2021

I personally really like the new start menu. I like the cleaner aesthetic. I hate hate hate the Win10/UWP style menus, they are just awful and insanely byzantine to try and find what you want (Display settings are spread across no less than FIVE different options screens). Win11 make some positive step to make them better but they are still just awful. Why are you wasting a users time and computing resources showing me a square with a picture of a gear on it? And I can't turn that off. Thanks.

So while it looks nicer, Win11 continues Microsofts relentless march towards putting MORE barriers between the user and what they want to do. I really really really wish there was a "Pro" mode you could click which turned off all the pointless new junk that got in the way and just let you use the PC. I am happy to see Win11 moving in a more simplified visual direction for some things, at least, but you basically solved how to make an OS with Windows XP. Stock screwing up what you already solved.

Also stop it with the integrated features I am never going to use. If I play xBox, I will add on xBox stuff. Don't stick it in the OS for me.

Also sad to see the continued resistance for user created themes. User created themes should be easy to create, easy to share, and easy to use. There is literally no reason to lock down the presentation layer to approved themes.

Dru2 · Jul 21, 2021

Ghot said:
GIMP and PS are for people that are seriously bored. I mean they only have like a 10 year learning curve.

Disparaging those who learned to use photoshop and gimp is for people seriously jealous. I mean you only have to take the initiative learn

Dru2 · Jul 21, 2021

For those running Windows 11 on your laptop(s) are you noticing better battery performance?

I swear my 2017 Lenovo's (system specs two) battery performance seems to have gotten better - doesn't drain as fast.

Is it just me, or is anyone else seeing the same.

Ghot · Jul 22, 2021

Dru2 said:
Disparaging those who learned to use photoshop and gimp is for people seriously jealous. I mean you only have to take the initiative learn

What makes you think that I am "disparaging" folks that do take the time to learn PS or GIMP.
I think it's fairly clear that I am disparaging PS and GIMP.... and NOT the users of those programs. ^^