Sigh... My CPU is not on the list. I wonder why not. The numbers for my CPU beat out some of the older ones that are supported, and all the security features they ask for work.
I DID however give windows 11 a (long) test drive at a friends.
1. Burying/hiding menus under menus so that it takes more clicks does not increase production or lighten my mood. It's a pain in the @$$.
2. NOBODY should need to do registry hacks on a new OS to get it to use commonly used features or designs that were in the old OS, or just to get the new OS to work the way they want.
The new OS needs registry hacks for features or usability that people are screaming for? ...REALY??!!!
3. It seems so locked down. Why? It also seems like this OS was designed for my grandmother, or the non power user. My guess is MS doesn't want users tweaking the OS so it actually is customizable for the way they work. I enjoy having an OS that is customizable and adapts to me, rather than being told by someone who THINKS they know better, how I should be doing things (THEIR WAY). Even Win 10 has issues in this regard. Win 11 (in my opinion) is worse. Regarding supported equipment; there is also the affordability issue for a growing number of people that are on a fixed income. I'm pretty sure that MS probably (briefly) considered this, and ignored the issue. (Not part of the target demographics.)
Yeah; all right; so far I'm a dis-liker. I wouldn't go so far as hater, but this edition bugs me almost as much as WIN 8 (Which only lasted a week on my machine.). It seems like MS is gearing more toward phones, tablets, and cooperate IT (who don't want employees changing things.). ME? I'm not allergic to change, or even a (Small) learning curve. I do object to going backwards in both usability and functionality. Gaining new functions that I don't use at the expense of loosing even one of the established functions that I do use is not an improvement. Having to go elsewhere to get the same functionality is just compensating.
Eventually. current users will find where MS hid their menu options, and adapt to the way someone else thinks they should work. If this OS survives longer than WIN 8; eventually there will also be a whole generation that will view this OS as normal, and never know what's missing. Perceived normal is not necessarily a good thing. It's just people who don't know things can be better accepting things they can't change. MOOOOOOO
Win 11 seemed to me to be more of a face lift than anything. Since my friend does not have a network (per se), I was unable to effectively evaluate that part of Win 11. I am hoping that MS has solved the horrible, horrible networking issues that have plagued Win 10 from the beginning. Almost every time I restart, and every time there is an Update, one or more of my computers will drop off of the network for no reason. They will also randomly disappear for no reason at all. The network will not stay stable for more than two weeks at a time. Sometimes only days. there is no apparent reason why computers continue to drop off the network. Perhaps it it's my fault. Any input on this would be appreciated. I have researched this, and it seems to be a common problem. Even in businesses that have IT pros a lot smarter than me.
Note: It is my belief that once I have my network up and stable it should stay that way.
MS has been blaming third party software running on the platform for these problems for a long time.
Along with a Windows tablet and two laptops, I have three streaming mini fanless PC's with that are connected wirelessly to a server in my office. The only software/apps on the mini's are for streaming services. Netflix, Disney Plus, and Amazon (No Hulu yet.). The mini's also drop off the network regularly. It's not a bandwidth issue across the LAN, as (Besides the server) no more than two pieces of equipment are operating at any one time, and no more than one is streaming or using vast amounts of bandwidth (No games at all.). Resetting the wireless adapters on any of the PC's on my network will not work. The network has to be totally reset on each of the affected PC's. I think MS may have forgotten that Windows is a platform. It works perfectly so long as you don't actually put software on it. heheeh. A stable network would be my only reason to switch to 11, and even then, I will not be buying three new computers and a tablet just for a face lift. As for the new(er) features; One mans good Idea is another mans bloat. I will continue to evaluate Win 11, but it still has a very long way to go before it will fit my needs.
Summary:
I'm pretty sure there are going to be a fairly large group of people who love the new look, and don't really mind getting third party software to replace lost functionality. Average Joe is not going to know how to do registry hacks, or research how to do them and will just "get used to it". Power users will complain to deaf ears until they too, "get used to it". Eventually apathy will win.
To those that love it; good for you. The world is a diverse place though, and not everyone works the same way or has the same needs. A decent OS needs to allow for this. Me, I'm not going to buy new equipment to switch. I just don't feel it's worth it. Especially for an OS that will need third party software and registry hacks to do what I'm already doing. I will continue to look for a solution for the networking issues that plague Windows 10, and hope power user complaints and suggestions don't get ignored, and are implemented into Windows 12.
SJM
(Bring back F8)
^^ One more reason to hate Monday's.
