Thoughts on Windows 11

Hazel123 · Oct 18, 2021

I think maybe both. For touch users who are used to tablets and phones - and to compete with mac/mac users. Who might decide to buy a Windows machine instead of a macbook if function and look are similar and they can get a cheaper laptop. On the other hand read a few angry reviews about the requirements of TPM2 and 8th gen processor, who've said - not buying a new pc to run W11 - getting a macbook instead. All very interesting regarding market share outcome! So people who may have bought a macbook could get a new Windows 11 computer and people who refuse to upgrade to a new computer to run Windows 11 will buy a macbook. Lol.

tinmar49 · Oct 18, 2021

As time goes by I think a lot of the restrictions will have easy solutions, after all it is early days for W11. I would like the taskbar to be on the left side as it would waste less of the screen, but that alone will not put me off W11, I happen to like it, and am waiting for a second of my pc's to be offered the upgrade. My laptop is staying with W10 as the processor is a sixth gen i3, everything else in its spec would qualify

ThrashZone · Oct 18, 2021

tinmar49 said:
As time goes by I think a lot of the restrictions will have easy solutions, after all it is early days for W11. I would like the taskbar to be on the left side as it would waste less of the screen, but that alone will not put me off W11, I happen to like it, and am waiting for a second of my pc's to be offered the upgrade. My laptop is staying with W10 as the processor is a sixth gen i3, everything else in its spec would qualify

Hi,
Yep if memory serves me even win-10 start menu started out pretty freaking lame
It took a while before you could make the width narrower after removing all existing icons and it became all apps list only.

Hard to believe ms is this lame though to repeat history lol

zooburner · Oct 18, 2021

Roban said:
Back to Windows 10. I want the taskbar on top without having to do a registry hack. I want folders on the taskbar without having to use 3rd party software. I want a fully transparent taskbar without using 3rd party software. I want a right-click menu that I don't have to click again on more options to see functionality that used to be there.

I thought I'd live with 11 for a few days and get used to it but, uh. uh. It's not happening for me.

I like windows 11, I agree with many of your points about how dumbed down it feels and the lengths you have to go to to get it to work the way you want. However I find 95% of what I want is actually there, just in different places, I'm getting too old (or grumpy) to spend a whole day making it work the way I like. Macrium Free though gives me a way to reinstall without reinstalling! I can do all the work once, i tend to backup in stages a basic install backup (windows only set up the way I like), another backup with all my favourite apps on, and a final backup with extras that i may choose to change like anti virus etc. So my reinstall now is more of a restore.

Maybe future updates will give more control over the start menu and taskbar, the only thing I really dislike is Edge (on both O.S.) I've tried so hard to like it, even used it for a few years in windows 10, but now it's messy and clunky and very aggravating.

I too wonder what Microsoft are thinking, maybe they hope a new generation will simply 'give up' and use it as it is ?

TraderGary · Oct 18, 2021

zooburner said:
Maybe future updates will give more control over the start menu and taskbar, the only thing I really dislike is Edge (on both O.S.) I've tried so hard to like it, even used it for a few years in windows 10, but now it's messy and clunky and very aggravating.

Have you tried the NEW Microsoft Edge? It is based on Chromium the same as Google Chrome and works the same way, only better. I had used Chrome for years and switched to Edge a year ago. Edge uses the same extensions as Chrome and can even use the Chrome extension library. Give Edge a try and see what you think.

Hazel123 · Oct 18, 2021

I'm still using Firefox - have an account so all my passwords etc migrated. It installs really fast on W11 and gives you the option to make it the default straight away. I keep Edge as a back up.

tinmar49 · Oct 18, 2021

I have Firefox and the new edge on this W11 beta machine, and they both work ok for me. I had no idea that the edge is now based on Chrome, having never used Chrome.

Hazel123 · Oct 18, 2021

zooburner said:
I like windows 11, I agree with many of your points about how dumbed down it feels and the lengths you have to go to to get it to work the way you want. However I find 95% of what I want is actually there, just in different places, I'm getting too old (or grumpy) to spend a whole day making it work the way I like. Macrium Free though gives me a way to reinstall without reinstalling! I can do all the work once, i tend to backup in stages a basic install backup (windows only set up the way I like), another backup with all my favourite apps on, and a final backup with extras that i may choose to change like anti virus etc. So my reinstall now is more of a restore.

Maybe future updates will give more control over the start menu and taskbar, the only thing I really dislike is Edge (on both O.S.) I've tried so hard to like it, even used it for a few years in windows 10, but now it's messy and clunky and very aggravating.

I too wonder what Microsoft are thinking, maybe they hope a new generation will simply 'give up' and use it as it is ?

You don't need to use Edge

. As for the new generation - the teenager here didn't like the look of the start menu. I think they'd be fine with it on a touch screen but maybe not happy about the changes if using a gaming PC.

Edwin · Oct 18, 2021

I'd use Edge if you could sign in with a Google account!

Mystere · Oct 18, 2021

Edwin said:
I'd use Edge if you could sign in with a Google account!

You kind of can. You can create a Microsoft account using any email address, including a google one.

A MS account doesn't have to be tied to a MS email

Quandary · Oct 18, 2021

tinmar49 said:
As time goes by I think a lot of the restrictions will have easy solutions, after all it is early days for W11. I would like the taskbar to be on the left side as it would waste less of the screen, but that alone will not put me off W11, I happen to like it, and am waiting for a second of my pc's to be offered the upgrade. My laptop is staying with W10 as the processor is a sixth gen i3, everything else in its spec would qualify

An interesting poll with a prediction on what MS will do with Win 11 over the next 2-4 years would be interesting. My Opinions (MO):

Will restrictions on CPU's be eased (lowering the bar). MO: no, why should they as this would be counter to the security and performance architecture
Will there be enhancements released that cannot run on unsupported PC's running Win 11. MO yes
Will updates stop to unsupported PC's running Win 11. MO yes (will not deliver an update that knowingly will causes the PC to crash)
Will MS continue to provide security updates to Win 10 after 2025. MO yes
Will there be an option to move the TaskBar to the left. MO yes

The-Hive · Oct 18, 2021

Roban said:
Back to Windows 10. I want the taskbar on top without having to do a registry hack. I want folders on the taskbar without having to use 3rd party software. I want a fully transparent taskbar without using 3rd party software. I want a right-click menu that I don't have to click again on more options to see functionality that used to be there.

I thought I'd live with 11 for a few days and get used to it but, uh. uh. It's not happening for me.

Fair comment. I am staying with Win 11 everything I want to change can be done with just one 3rd party tweak, I think if you have too many they may interfere with each other. At least you tried it and made your choice

Edwin · Oct 18, 2021

Mystere said:
You kind of can. You can create a Microsoft account using any email address, including a google one.

A MS account doesn't have to be tied to a MS email

Yeah sorta..., I will sign in to a Google page on Edge, it just won't sync everything.

gmemore · Oct 18, 2021

"I'm a PC, and Windows 7 was my idea..."

I totally get the frustration from the OP. User experience is a huge factor.
I skipped Millennium, Vista (though I had to use it on a work machine - it was torture), and 8. I had 8.1 on a laptop for about two days before I upgraded it to 7. It was painfully too slow for Windows 10, so it became a Linux Mint machine which I gave away.

I am more creativity oriented, no gaming, a little editing, home entertainment networking and such. I'm retired so I get to play a lot more than I used to :).
I really like Windows 11, the speed and the eye candy are really nice, I like the new settings layout and the updated photos app, I can still use a lot of software I have from Windows 10, but the Start menu... sucks. Sorry, it does. And it did in the beginning of 10 also.
I imagine the "Recommended" section will be altered or optional at some point but I am adjusting to it. I have moved the installation to my second drive and W10 is my default once again for now because of some apparent driver issues. I'm looking forward to it being offered in Windows update for me. Neither my 2021 desktop nor my 2020 ENVY 360 are ready yet.

As others have said - in my experience - it doesn't really feel finished enough. At least it isn't for my hardware, which is all new, save for the new graphics card coming next week. I'm running Beta. I have been kinda surprised and disappointed that ASUS hasn't updated any drivers for their 2021 mobos since April, so I have spent a fair amount of money so far for a subpar experience. I must have been lucky in the past, with all of the beta testing since the windows 7 program, I have never had the issues of changing an OS on new hardware or old that I have had here. Even running 7 with xp drivers or 10 with 7 or 8 drivers or onboard graphics not performing decently in the day in day out, it all worked for me or it was resolved with a couple of tweaks. I don't do 3rd party masks with the exception of Translucent TB.
Not complainin', just explainin'.

I am sure it will all work out in the coming months. And then 11 will become my daily driver. I am too stubborn to give up trying to outsmart the machine :wink:

.
I definitely like it enough to switch when it works on my stuff.

Mark Phelps · Oct 18, 2021

I've been using Win11 since the earliest preview -- and in all honesty, I'm not impressed with it! I thought after all these years, that MS would come out with something really different -- but all they did was some really minor UI changes and dumbing down. I am using Win11 daily, but that is because it was a free upgrade. I would NOT have paid for it.

I also use Start11 because I detest the MS default start menus and start screens -- as I had also used Start10 from the beginning on Windows 10. With Start11, I'm back to the older style start menu so Win11, apart from rounded corners, looks and behaves much like Windows 10.

Plus, even though I have a Ryzen gen3 process, victim of the now infamous L3 speed issue -- but the link to the German site on this forum provided stuff that I ran to fix that -- at least somewhat. So my performance in Win11 is nearly the same as Win 10 now.

My one disappointment with Win11 is really not MS's fault -- that the new Nvidia drivers will not install on my PC. The ones that came out recently will -- but this is disappointing because I switched to Nvidia card because AMD stopped supporting my AMD vide card a few months ago. I was pleased to then see that Nvidia had a Win11 driver for my EVA video card.