Windows 11 explainer: Here’s what you need to know about Microsoft’s update

Microsoft officially unveiled its new Operating System, Windows 11, last week.  Below are the key details on this new version of Windows.  

What is it? 

Windows 11 is the next major release of Windows and contains significant UI changes as well as some new features. It is said to be faster than Windows 10 to boot and to browse. 

What’s different about the User Interface (UI)? 

• The Start menu is now centred , everything is rounded, softened, and transparent with easy snap-to layouts. The look and feel harken back to Aero with Windows 7 but done much better. 
• Tablet and 2 in 1 PCs automatically give more space and larger touch areas but the look and feel remain the same.  The feature is automatic and does not appear on devices without touch or tablet functionality. 
• Multiple desktops feature more strongly in Windows 11, so you can have different functional layouts for work, gaming, browsing, etc. 
• Teams is given prominence but is not actually built into Windows. 

What are the new features? 

• Widgets are back, they did not take off before in previous versions of Windows, so we will have to see how they fare in Windows 11. You can now pick a range of widgets to customise. For a taste of this feature look at the newsfeed option in Windows 10. 
• The Windows Store is now the Microsoft Store and has been made more commercially enticing for developers and content providers. It now supports ordinary Windows applications, so-called Win32 apps (older applications commonly in use in many businesses). Windows 11 is expected to run these legacy applications better than Windows 10. Lastly, the big change is Android Apps are now supported via the Amazon App Store. 
• The Docking experience is much better with layouts automatically remembered when you re-dock, using multiple devices you get to see the last thing you were working on automatically when you go to your next device. This reflects Windows 11’s focus on mobile and flexible working. 

When is it available? 

From the end of the year – Christmas. It will be a free upgrade and will be preinstalled on new PCs. 

 Have more questions about what Windows 11 will mean for your organisation?  Get in contact with us today with your questions.