Windows 11 – the one which the community didn’t hope, is finally here anyway. As Microsoft was looking for a big change to its Windows, it saw that developing features and making design changes aren’t the only way to excite users and update the name and give a refreshing experience altogether.
And this worked! People who had tried the leaked Windows 11 build before its official launch were impressed by the changes and seek more from the maker. But before asking for more, here’s an overview of the Good, Bad, and the Ugly sides of Windows 11;
How Good is Windows 11?
Android Apps
Ditching the need for an emulator, Windows 11 now natively supports Android apps on its platform. This happens with the help of Amazon and Intel, says Microsoft.
With the partnership with Amazon, Microsoft brings all Android apps from Amazon App Store onto Windows 11, making them available through Microsoft Store. And Intel’s Bridge technology is the one bridging the gap between these two platforms.
Design
Microsoft has revamped most sections of the Windows OS in its new iteration, with regular apps like Settings, Start Menu, Taskbar, Action Center, File Explorer, etc. Getting UI changes inspired by Fluent Design.
All these are now having rounded corners and align with the background theme. They now seem light and more appropriate than the previous Windows versions.
Performance Improvements
All the structural and design updates made in Windows 11 have indirectly resulted in performance improvements. The makers, too, have announced speed improvements from booting to app animations and others.
Microsoft Store
Glad that Microsoft has finally cared about its own app store. Microsoft made stunning announcements to Microsoft Store in its launch event, like the ability to upload Win32 apps, updating them directly through developers’ own CDN, using third-party payment means, thus keeping 100% revenue to developers!
All these can now threaten Apple’s Appstore and Google’s Playstore, which are charging a flat 30% fee from any transactions made through them.
Free Upgrade
As usual, Microsoft wants everyone to run on its latest version of the product – Windows 11. As it’s moving more away from charging Windows than subscriptions on in-OS apps, making Windows 11 free makes sense.
Also, it makes the development easy and the deployment of updates quickly in case of emergencies. Those running on Windows 10 can get upgraded to Windows 11 for free in few weeks.
How Bad is Windows 11?
Mandatory Microsoft Account
Until now, on Windows 10, having a Microsoft account is optional. Users will be asked to sign in to their Microsoft account (free though) while setting up the OS, which can be skipped with a local account.
But now, with Windows 11, it’s mandatory. Microsoft has removed the option of a local account and forces users to sign in with a Microsoft account while setting up. Well, there’s a simple trick of dodging that too.
Integrating Native Apps
Microsoft Teams, the company’s native video conferencing app, will now be shipped default with Windows 11. While it’s good for quick set-up, leaving the option to users is good, as many be using other similar apps from Google, Cisco, Zoom, etc.
How Ugly is Windows 11?
Hardware Requirements
Microsoft has bumped the basic system requirements for running Windows 11 up, where most mid and budget PCs won’t make it. As per the list, installing Windows 11 needs TPM v2.0 – a security chip with a motherboard.
While it’s good that Microsoft cares about security, not all PCs have it by default. Thus, users need to buy the concerned component and install it to experience the new Windows. This need could bar most from entering the new ecosystem.
Others include bumping the RAM to 4GB, storage to 64GB, mandatory HD Webcam, a 64-bit processor, and Secure Boot. While checking all these can be a hassle, try the official PC Health Check App from Microsoft to determine if your PC can run Windows 11 or not.