So, under this category, there are two main features that will be of the most interest to users. For now, we did not find ourselves too dependent on the Widgets functionality, but in theory, this looks like a neat addition, which perhaps in the future, may become central to our Windows 11 experience.Īnd before we get to test the performance of Windows 11, let's discuss the gaming-related features that Windows 11 brings with itself. Here you can add different widgets which show things like news headlines, weather, and your calendar. With this feature, Microsoft now offers tiles that can be accessed by clicking the Widgets button on the Taskbar. The other big change to Windows 11 is that it comes with Widgets.

Interestingly though, it does not duplicate apps and windows on all desktops. While you can set different wallpapers for each desktop, when it came to customisation, we realised that folders and shortcuts to apps remained shared between desktops. But in our time using the operating system, this feature didn't exactly work as I had expected. These desktops can be given a different name, however, since the feature is more cosmetic in nature than anything, you see the different desktops access the same files on your PC. Hover your pointer over it, and you’ll see a small preview of all the desktops you have open, as well as the option to set up a new one. This Task View button sits alongside the Start button and looks like contrasting windows over one another. This can be accessed by going to this new icon that all Windows users of the past will instantly notice on their home screens. It's a simple and easy feature to use, which when gotten used greatly improves ease of use. The search bar in the Start Menu is now displayed across the top, which depending on how you use your operating system could be an interesting addition.Īpart from this, Windows 11 also offers what Microsoft calls the Desktops feature that gives the user the ability to set up and manage multiple iterations of your desktop. This new Start Menu is built using Microsoft’s Fluent Design language and as such features rounded corners and big icons. This is a design change that makes navigating the operating system so much easier than before. This new Start menu comes with an updated Start button that is now positioned at the centre of the taskbar, instead of being placed in a corner. However, arguably the biggest change that's come to Windows 11 is the fact that it comes with a new, simplified Start menu. From the inclusion of improved multi-window multitasking to features that improve PC gaming, there's a lot to be excited about here. With Windows 11, Microsoft has brought in a number of changes that promise to change just how you interact with your Windows-based machines. We've spent some time with Windows 11 in the past few days, testing not only the performance vis-a-vis Windows 10 but also taking look at all the new features this operating system offers. However, before you upgrade, it will be important to remember that Windows 11 is still an operating system in the early stages of its life cycle and as such may throw up some bugs here and there - something that we expect to be fixed in the coming weeks and months. Interestingly, Microsoft is also sharing this new operating system for free with anyone who has a copy of Windows 10, so it is now giving its users very little reason to not embrace this new operating system. From new functionality to features, there's a lot that's going on with Windows 11, as it attempts to bring something for everyone. With the new operating system, Microsoft has introduced some major changes to the way users experience Windows-based computers. The new OS comes with a ton of upgrades.Īfter a long wait, Windows users have finally gotten the much-awaited Windows 11 update. Windows 11 offers comparable performance to Windows 10. And third, he believes it's not worth the retraining time for Windows 11 but is willing to move to Windows 11 when he buys new machines.HIGHLIGHTS Windows 11 comes with a set of new features. Second, some of his current machines won't run Windows 11 (at least, not without a hack). First, Windows 10 will be supported until 2025. Three of his observations form the foundation of this article. In this case, my correspondent goes on to list the reasons he's not upgrading to Windows 11. I got an email back that begins with 'listen, you idiot,' followed with detailed and useful information for solving whatever problem I was struggling with.

I can't tell you how many times I've posted about something. They're willing to provide feedback that more pleasant folks aren't willing or able to do. But I've found that many of my most cranky readers are what can be categorized as ' disagreeable givers.' These folks are golden. On the surface, it might appear that readers like this are unpleasant. Here are ZDNET's top picks for a variety of use cases.

Should we upgrade to windows 11