Time sure flies. It seems like we just got used to Windows 10 and now its successor is about to be released later this year. Windows 11 comes just as Windows 10 reaches about four years before retirement.
Microsoft overlaps OS releases to give people plenty of time to upgrade before the end of support is reached. People will often take a while to upgrade, but that might not be the case for Windows 11 for two key reasons.
One is that this is a free upgrade for anyone with a compatible Windows 10 PC. So, price won’t be a barrier for individuals and companies upgrading to the new OS.
The second is that Windows 11 is not as dramatic an upgrade as the leap from Windows 7 to 10. Leaving a familiar environment for a completely alien one is another reason that people put off upgrading their OS.
With the upgrade due out this year, it’s important to be ready, especially because an OS upgrade is a major transition for a business. You don’t want to do it without a business IT strategy to guide you.
Some of the things that Connect2Geek can help with are:
- Review your current computers to see if they have the minimum system requirements for an upgrade.
- Review of your software and applications to ensure they’re compatible.
- Scheduling your upgrade to be as easy as possible with minimal impact on your operations.
What can you expect from Windows 11? We’ll go through some of the popular features next.
Designed for Doing Things in Less Time
The main focus of Windows 11 is to reduce the time it takes users to accomplish common tasks. For example, there’s a feature we’ll mention below that reduces the frustration with multi-tasking. Another feature is designed to make online connections simple.
Throughout the entire user interface, you’ll find themes and other features that have been streamlined to make work easy and more distraction-free.
All Windows 11 images are from Microsoft
Simplified Start Menu
Another big difference you’ll notice is the uncluttered Start menu. Microsoft has stripped this down and added pinned items at the top along with the Windows master search bar.
It’s designed to get users where they need to be faster through the use of the search rather than looking through a long list of apps.
The Windows icon has also been moved from the far left of the taskbar to the middle.
Texting & Fast Video Calls with Teams
Microsoft has been positioning Teams to be a major player in both the online work hub world and the video conferencing market. Just before the pandemic, it created a free version of Teams and began marketing that to everyone, not just businesses.
It has also just retired Skype for Business, as of July 31, 2021, and recommended those users transition to Teams. Additionally, several add-ons have been added to Teams to facilitate a remote workforce.
Teams gets a huge boost in Windows 11 by being natively integrated. A Teams icon is included on the taskbar by default, and you can use it to quickly connect to others via chat, video, or audio.
It also includes cross-platform chat capabilities, including connecting to SMS messaging.
Snap Layouts
Multi-tasking can be frustrating. If you try to position two windows up side-by-side, you often end up struggling to get the frames just the right size, and being able to still reach the scroll bar also gets tricky.
Most users end up clicking back and forth between windows, which can take as much as 30 minutes daily in productivity time.
Snap layouts provides users with six pre-set layouts for between two to four windows to be visible at the same time. You can simply add the windows you’d like into each pane, and they’re instantly snapped into an optimized view.
These are then saved as “snap groups” so you can use the same configuration again.
Customize an Information Feed
Another helpful feature added in Windows 11 is a customizable information feed that’s powered by widgets. You can access this feed from the taskbar to get quick looks at things like your calendar, to-do list, and more.
Some of the widget items that you’ll be able to use to customize your feed include:
- Weather
- News headlines
- Web search bar
- Calendar
- To-Do list
- Photos
- Watchlist (for current stock values)
- Tips
- Sports
- Traffic
- Entertainment
- Esports
Improved Microsoft Store
The Microsoft Store is getting a facelift in Windows 11 to make it easier to find helpful apps. There are also going to be more options as to the app developers and types of applications you can find there.
Some of the ones that Microsoft has highlighted include:
- Adobe Creative Cloud
- Disney+
- TikTok
- Zoom
- Android games & apps
Pre-Schedule Your Windows 11 Upgrade Now
Get priority timing when Windows 11 rolls out by scheduling your company’s upgrade now with Connect2Geek. We’ll help your Treasure Valley business with a smooth and successful rollout.
Schedule your free consultation to learn more today! Call 208-468-4323 or reach out online.