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At the beginning of October 2021, the release of Windows 11 and its light version of Windows 11SE took place. The new operating system was the subject of endless controversy even before its release, and some of its features and requirements were criticized on the Internet.
However, most PC users were curious about the release of the final version of Windows 11, codenamed 21H2. If you look at past versions of the OS, then the interface of Windows 11 really looks fresh, but what is hidden in the technical part?
Operating systems from Microsoft traditionally remain the most popular solutions for PCs and laptops. According to market research1, in 2020, some version of Windows was installed on 70% of computers on the network. Of course, Microsoft does not want to lose such a huge market share and is constantly updating and improving its current operating system, released in 2015 – Windows 10.
On June 15, 2021, the first screenshots with the appearance of the Windows 11 operating system appeared on the Internet, and soon a certain developer from China posted an early version of the system on the network.2.
However, the question of “draining” the system is still open – it is likely that Microsoft deliberately posted Windows 11 on the network in order to stir up public interest in it before its developer conference. The event took place on June 24, and it officially introduced Windows 11 and Windows 11SE (lite version of the system).
Windows 11 and 11SE release date
The version of Windows 11 available to all users came out a little earlier than expected. The release date for Windows 11 and 11SE is Tuesday, October 5, 2021. Initially, the release was supposed to take place a day later, but Microsoft decided to unexpectedly postpone the date. According to Microsoft, automatic upgrades to Windows 11 will begin later this year and continue into 2022.
What’s new in Windows 11
New installation process
Innovations in Windows 11 begin from the moment you install or upgrade the system from a previous version of the OS.
The developers have radically revised the installer interface and added the ability to configure the PC right during installation. Also, users were given the opportunity to restore the operating system from a saved copy on the Microsoft One Drive service. With these changes, you can get a fully operational version of Windows 11 right out of the box.
Also, the first time you sign in, you will be required to sign in to your Microsoft account. The decision is controversial, especially for those who do not want to share personal data with a foreign company. It is possible that due to user complaints in the future this requirement may be removed.
New interface
A new type of operating system immediately catches the eye. The “Start” menu, familiar for decades, has moved to the middle of the desktop by default. Thus, the appearance of Windows 11 began to resemble macOS. All documents to the user in the Microsoft 365 office system are synchronized between devices – from a PC, recently opened files can be found directly in the new Start menu.
Windows 11 also got a new look. Now they got rid of sharp corners and acquired a more modern glossy design.
The location of the Start menu has also changed – now it has moved to the very middle of the desktop panel. By the way, the designers also changed the logo of the system itself – now it has become a geometrically correct cross framed by a white square. Of course, Windows 11 has added dozens of new desktop wallpapers.
Notification Center
Windows 11 has updated the notification center. In the previous version of the OS from Microsoft, it opened to the full height of the screen and took up too much space. Now the system opens a small window in which messages can be scrolled. If necessary, you can set a priority for notifications, then they will not appear too often or rarely.
Widgets and controls
It is understood that Windows 11 will be installed on laptops with touch screens. It is understood that Windows 11 will be installed on laptops with a touch screen, so the system will work correctly with such devices out of the box. Touch control is available now, and some features seem to be specially designed for touch control. For example, a panel of news widgets that replaced live tiles in Windows 10. Their content will be generated automatically based on user behavior.
Embedded Teams
The Teams communications service has received a major update. It was built into the system and made more convenient to use. Due to this, MIcrosoft wants to compete with popular instant messengers – WhatsApp and Telegram. It remains unknown why Microsoft chose Teams for development, and not the popular and well-known among all Skype – the American company acquired this service six years ago.
Game Features
Gamers will be pleased with the ability to automatically turn on HDR (an increased range of brightness that makes the picture richer) in standard games. The main thing is that the computer display supports this function. The system also integrates the Game Pass system with hundreds of free games and the “cloud” gaming service xCloud (with it, digital entertainment is launched on a remote server, and if there is a good Internet connection, the user can play without delay).
Support for DirectX 12 will provide more advanced graphics in games for Windows 11. Also, the system will work better with NVMe SSDs – now games will run even faster.
App Store and Android Support
Microsoft assumes that Windows 11 users will only install licensed software, so they seriously updated the built-in app store. It was made as convenient as possible for both ordinary users and developers. So, Microsoft will not prevent the installation of third-party browsers or applications with their own stores (for example, Valve’s Steam gaming service). What’s more, third-party developers are no longer charged a commission for listing their apps in the Microsoft Store, which will ultimately affect the final price of the software.
During the first presentation at Microsoft, they separately stopped at the moment with the installation of Android applications in their OS. It was reported that immediately after the release, they can be installed directly from the official Windows Store app store thanks to integration with Amazon services. But at the time of the release of Windows 11, this feature is not available – its launch was postponed until at least 20223.
Performance
The system from Microsoft began to work correctly with the automatic division of system resources into different applications. In simple terms, the system will throw all its forces into the applications running in the foreground, and it will “save” on the background ones. Due to new algorithms for calling hardware components, the system began to wake up faster from sleep mode.
Focus at work
Features to turn off unnecessary notifications appear in all operating systems, and Windows 11 is no exception. In the Microsoft product, it is called the Focus Session. The user is allowed to choose the time for which he will not be disturbed by messages from installed applications. It’s funny that the Spotify music service was built into the utility – melodies should help the user concentrate.
Android Apps on #Windows11 that will make me happy. 😃 pic.twitter.com/Czpb0L6V6b
— Akash Choudhary (@TheAkash08) June 24, 2021
Battery status
It sounds strange, but until now Windows did not have a built-in application for monitoring battery consumption. In Windows 11, this misunderstanding was finally corrected. Notebook users can track the “gluttony” of installed programs using the built-in system tools.
Windows 11 and 11SE differences
Let’s start with the fact that Windows 11SE is a logical continuation of Windows 10 Cloud. Despite the “cloudy” name, the system does not run on remote Microsoft servers. Its main difference from the full version of Windows is the inability to install software not from the official Microsoft store.
It is assumed that such light versions of the OS will be used for study or for other non-trivial tasks. For example, text editing or simple photo editing. Due to Windows 11SE, Microsoft plans to compete with Chrome OS, which is popular among Western students and schoolchildren.
System requirements for Windows 11 and 11SE
The minimum system requirements for Windows 11 have not changed since the system was first released to the public.
- Processor: 64-bit dual-core 1GHz
- RAM: 4 gigabytes
- Free memory space: 64 GB or more
- Video Card: Any compatible with DirectX 12
- Display: Any HD screen above 720p
If you doubt whether Windows 11 will work on your computer, install a special program from Microsoft4, which will test its capabilities.
The system requirements for Windows 11SE have not been named, but, apparently, they will not differ much from the “big” version of the OS.
Popular questions and answers
Where to download and how to install Windows 11 and 11SE?
A utility to check your PC and install Windows 11 can be downloaded from the official Microsoft website. The program will evaluate the power of your device and suggest further actions.
Windows 10 users can get an update to the next version of the OS through Windows Update. To start the PC assessment and update procedure, you need to click the “Start” button, then select the “Settings” menu, go to the “Windows Update” tab and follow the instructions.
We will immediately warn you that by downloading, distributing and installing any unlicensed version of WIndows, you violate Microsoft copyrights. It will also be unsafe to buy Windows 11 activation keys on unknown sites.
How much does Windows 11 and 11SE cost?
Given Microsoft’s pricing policy of past years, the new version of Windows will cost customers 8-9 thousand rubles. Windows 11SE will not be available for sale. It will be pre-installed on some models of PCs and laptops for work or study. Also on sale will be available laptops and desktop computers with Windows 11 preinstalled.
Which operating systems can be upgraded to Windows 11?
It has been officially confirmed that users of the latest versions of Windows 10 will be able to upgrade to version 11 for free if their computer allows it. Microsoft says updates will begin “sometime in early 2022”5.
Should you upgrade to Windows 11 and 11SE?
Updating to the latest version of Windows is definitely worth it. The system has already passed the procedure of closed preliminary and public testing. Even if the developers make some mistake in the operation of the OS, official updates will quickly fix it.
Sources of
- https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share/desktop/worldwide
- https://twitter.com/fakirmeditation/status/1405110227716894723
- https://www.xda-developers.com/android-windows-11-delayed/
- https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11#pchealthcheck
- https://www.microsoft.com/ru-ru/windows/windows-11