Windows 11 has been out a little over 2 months now, enough time to get initial feedback from those that have already upgraded.
Whenever a major OS upgrade comes along, it’s a wise move for companies to evaluate the timing of rolling out that upgrade to all employee PCs. The operating system used by everyone in your company is one of the most important foundational pieces of an organization’s technology environment.
Waiting too long to upgrade puts companies at risk should they wait too long and be running an operating system that loses vital security update support. But, jumping on board on Day 1 of a release, can mean problems that would’ve been avoided by waiting a few months for bugs to be worked out.
Now that Windows 11 has been out for several weeks, we’ve got details to share on how it has been received that will help you make an informed upgrade decision for your Charlotte business.
Reviews of Windows 11
Windows 11 has been a hit with most reviewers so far and is garnering positive reviews from sites like PC Mag and other major technology publishers.
Some of the reasons that the OS is getting so many high marks include that there are no major bugs or issues and that the upgrade has productivity-enhancing upgrades.
This OS update is not nearly as dramatic as the switch from Windows 7/8 to Windows 10, thus the learning curve is lower and users can just enjoy the new enhancements without getting tripped up on too many major interface changes.
Here is a sampling of different ratings being given to Windows 11:
- PC Mag: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars (“Excellent”)
- The Verge: 8 out of 10 rating
- Laptop Mag: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Some of the reviewers’ cons included the feeling that having Teams on the taskbar was somewhat intrusive and that the upgrade wasn’t a big enough change from Windows 10.
On the other hand, many reviewers liked the fact that Microsoft mainly focused on user productivity improvements and a decluttered interface rather than reinventing the whole desktop experience.
Know Bugs/Issues
In the summary of known issues on the Windows 11 status page, most of the found bugs have been resolved. A few have been mitigated, and there’s currently just one confirmed, but not yet resolved or mitigated.
Several of the resolved issues had to do with network printing compatibility. One of the yet to be resolved bugs is a compatibility problem with Oracle VirtualBox which might impact the ability to start Virtual machines (VMs).
The summary from the last 30 days lists the following:
- Resolved issues: 5
- Mitigated issues: 1
- Confirmed issues: 1
Helpful Features That Will Make You Want to Upgrade Now
Streamlined Start Menu
The Start Menu is one of the Windows components that has had the biggest change in this update. It’s been significantly streamlined, which makes it faster to use. There’s no extra clutter to get in the way, just a simple “pin to the top” action and the ability to search for any apps, settings, or documents you need in the top search bar.
All Windows 11 images are from Microsoft
Snap Layouts for Optimized Window Layouts
One common challenge that most PC users have is trying to size two windows on their screen so they can work in both at the same time. This often involves time spent trying to perfectly situate the windows, only to then have to do it all again if you need to maximize one for a minute.
Snap layouts in Windows 11 handles this type of workflow beautifully. By hovering over the maximize icon on any window, you can choose one of several layouts of between 2 to 4 windows. Pick the other open apps you want to include in the layout group, and all will snap together into an optimized view that allows you to easily get to menus and scrollbars.
And if you need to maximize one window, your layout group is saved. Just hover over the main window icon at the bottom to bring up the optimized layout again.
Text, Call, or Video Chat From Your Desktop
In an effort to make communication easier and promote Microsoft Teams for both home and business users, Teams now has an icon on the taskbar and the app is natively integrated into Windows 11.
You can click to call, message, or video chat without having to open the full MS Teams application. This makes connections much faster, and you can connect with anyone, not only Teams users.
Perhaps the most universally helpful feature for those that never were able to pair a phone with their Windows computer to enjoy SMS capabilities is the ability to use Teams for text messaging. No phone pairing needed! Just type in the mobile number of the person you want to text, and you can message back and forth from your desktop.
Schedule Your Professional Windows 11 Upgrade Today!
Rocky Knoll Technologies can help your Charlotte area business with a smooth and efficient upgrade to Windows 11 so your team can benefit from the productivity-boosting features.
Schedule a consultation by calling 704.594.7292 or reach us online.
