As you surely have noticed, Microsoft recently released a new version of Windows — Windows 11. So the question arises – should I upgrade?
What is Windows 11? Windows 10 was released in July 2015, almost 6 years ago. Unlike earlier versions, it has undergone continuous evolution and upgrading. Windows 11, first available in October 2021, is the next major release of Windows. Many Windows 10 computers can be upgraded to Windows 11 through the normal upgrade process. All new PCs are shipping with WIndows 11 already installed.
How is WIndows 11 different? The main differences users see are largely cosmetic. Windows 11 looks pretty much the same as Windows 10, with the most visible differences being the Start menu and the taskbar. Not as obvious are security improvements. In the future, Windows 11 will support Android apps, and also contains Microsoft Teams, a collaboration system similar to Zoom.
Initial tests and reviews of Windows 11 have been generally positive. Recent tests have shown that Windows 11 is slightly faster than Windows 10 on the same hardware. On the other hand, users may find that Windows 11 takes a bit of getting used to, especially the menus and taskbar. It works pretty much the same as Windows 10, but looks different. If you have “muscle memory” in your use of Windows, you will need to retrain it when you switch.
So, what should I do? If you want to be on the leading edge, running the latest operating system, upgrade to Windows 11, if you can. If your computer is capable of running Windows 11, you will be prompted to upgrade via the normal Windows upgrade cycle. Otherwise, you can defer this upgrade for a while (“if it works, don’t fix it”). Microsoft plans to support Windows 10 at least through 2025, so there is no worry about near-term obsolescence. By 2025, you may be replacing a current PC anyway and any new machine will come with Windows 11.
Here at No Nonsense Help, we have machines running both versions of Windows. Windows 11 has worked just fine, while Windows 10 continues as it always has. Please let us know if we can answer any questions.
