Windows 11 – My first look.

The more things change, the more they stay the same. (AKA, Stop moving stuff around!)

Windows 11 is the operating system that should never have been. With the latest development of version 11, Microsoft seems to have halted the “Windows As A Service” module. A once promised Windows 10 – would be the last desktop release, with that OS being regularly upgraded into infinity. Another broken promise for those who struggled to get on Windows 10 just a few years ago?

Be advised, this is a TEST version that I am reviewing. It’s the first, official public beta version of Windows 11. Things will change before the operating system is released (hopefully) near the end of 2021, so the conclusions reached here are only provisional at best. Who knows, they may scrap the whole thing!

The biggest thing we have noticed at Bastionpoint was the need for latest 7th and 8th generation processors. Why? TPM 2.0 – While it will repel certain malware and cyber-attacks, it makes Microsoft able to guarantee its newest selling point as the “most secure Windows yet.” The sad part about this is that most business users are on 6th and early 7th generation processors (unless you have purchased in the last year or so) which means “the most secure Windows yet” will not apply to many users in the united states because you won’t be able to upgrade without the latest and greatest processors.

The Taskbar overall gives you a look and feel of Windows 10 meets Mac OS (Did I say both of those companies in the same sentence?!) You will see a list of most used or “recommended” software at the bottom of the start menu, but for the most part it looks to just be icons of the software that I access the most. Yay for more shortcuts! (Sarcasm.)

All in all, I think it is mostly just a face lift of the current Windows 10 module so far. The best selling point for businesses and Windows 11 that I have seen is Pandemic related. Yes! COVID-19 has been VERY good to Microsoft, and in particular Teams. Keen to be the business leader and push users to their subscription based services, they want to keep the advantage here and are seemingly oblivious to competition concerns. Microsoft is now integrating Teams into Windows 11 (although it’s not yet done so in the tested beta build). This will eventually allow you to do things such as mute yourself and turn off your camera immediately with keystrokes or from the Taskbar, which is handy if you’ve been diverted to something else mid-meeting and don’t want to alert your colleagues.

The best news? GOOD BYE INTERNET EXPLODER. Why can’t we get rid of that pesky Edge too?

So far, my verdict is still out… remember what a FLOP Windows ME and Windows 8 were? XP sort of held it’s own, but 7 was by far superior until 10 came along. It’s hard to know what to expect by the final roll out in Fall 2021.