Summary
Windows 11 is now available for installation on many newer compatible computers that meet the basic system requirements. My advice for most people is to wait until at least 2022 before installing Windows 11. This document explains why.
Find Out if Your Computer Can Run Windows 11
Microsoft offers a free software utility called the PC Health Check App that will tell you if your computer can run Windows 11. If it can’t run Windows 11, then you don’t need to read the rest of this document. [Get the PC Health Check App]
If your computer can run Windows 11, this document can help you consider whether or not to upgrade at this time.
You may not need to use the PC Health Check App if you check under Settings (the gear icon from the Windows Start menu) and go to Update & Security. There may be a notification regarding your computer’s ability to run Windows 11 and an option to upgrade to Windows 11 may be offered.
Reasons to Avoid Windows 11 For Now
- ADOPTION — Windows 10 was widely adopted and considered an improvement over Windows 8. Many people with older computers running Windows XP, Windows 7, or Windows 8 found that they were able to run Windows 10, and their computers were faster. Because of this, Windows 10 was installed on many millions of computers around the world. However, Windows 11 is not going to become a standard as quickly. Special computer hardware is needed to run Windows 11. This means that Windows 10 will continue to be the standard operating system for many years. Because of the slow adoption of Windows 11, it may be best to continue using Windows 10 for a while.
- COST — If your computer hardware is not compatible with Windows 11, the only way to run Windows 11 will be to purchase a new computer. That’s an unnecessary cost for an upgrade that won’t really change your computing experience much.
- HARDWARE — While your computer may meet the minimum system requirements for Windows 11, it may run slowly or not provide you all the benefits possible for the operating system. Many people with older computers will find they simply aren’t able to run Windows 11 at all.
- INTERFACE — For some people, the Windows 11 interface will seem like an improvement. Other people will see it as a big change that they don’t like. More about this is explained below under the heading “Adjusting to the Windows 11 Interface.”
- SECURITY — Windows 11 is considered to be secure. However, it’s not being used broadly around the world, so we’ve not yet had an opportunity to fully test it ‘in the wild’ by people in various tech environments. There is a much larger tech industry workforce focused on Windows 10 security than available to study Windows 11 security issues.
- STANDARDIZATION — The very strict hardware requirements of Windows 11 are going to create a split on our society. Some people will have nicer, newer, more powerful, more secure computers that can run Windows 11. Others will not be spending hundreds of dollars to upgrade their hardware. In an individual household, it means people won’t as easily be able to help one another with tech problems because their devices and operating systems will be different.
- SUPPORT — While Microsoft and some vendor partners may be ready to support Windows 11, the tech industry in general hasn’t had much experience with Windows 11, so support will be limited initially. When you’re having trouble with a printer, or software program, it may take more effort to find solutions until Windows 11 is more broadly adapted. Considering the limited adoption of Windows 11, mentioned above, the user base will be limited and thus support will be a bit limited.
Why Wait Until 2022?
I’ve selected 2022 as a somewhat arbitrary year when people may want to upgrade their existing Windows 11 compatible computers, or replace their older computers with Windows 11 capable new systems. This waiting period of a few months to a year will help alleviate the concerns listed above under the heading, “Reasons to Avoid Windows 11 For Now.”
For those planning to replace an older or failing computer anyway, purchasing a Windows 11 system will help ensure future compatibility.
As mentioned below under the heading “Consider Getting a Windows 10 Rescue Computer” there are some benefits to purchasing a used but newish Windows 10 computer.
Consider Getting a Windows 10 Rescue Computer
When people are looking for an animal companion, like a dog or cat, rather than going to a puppy mill or animal breeder, people look to animal shelters where they can find animals in need of adoption. This reduces the demand for the profit-driven industry of manufactured animals.
Similarly, when seeking a computer, it is possible to get a reliable, fast, fully functional Windows 10 computer that can last many years. Rather than letting older used Windows 10 computers sit in warehouses or get dumped into landfill, consider putting them to use and holding off on buying a newer Windows 11 compatible computer.
Adjusting to the Windows 11 Interface
Because I’m a tech enthusiast, and regularly using different operating systems like Android, Apple macOS, Apple iOS, Ubuntu Linux, Raspberry Pi, and Windows 10, adding Windows 11 to my work environment isn’t a disruption. I’m comfortable with these different systems.
For many people, even slight changes to layout and color in their existing Windows 10 installation will cause confusion. A change to Google Chrome or desktop icon placement can feel disruptive.
I think if a person can ease into using Windows 11, perhaps by first replacing one of their devices with a newer Windows 11 compatible system, that would help ease the transition and they could keep using their Windows 10 computer with the familiar appearance, files, and programs while they slowly learn Windows 11.
Each person knows their general personality and preference when it comes to changes. Some people embrace change and look for the positive. Others don’t like change.
My Own Windows 11 Experience So Far
I’ve been using Windows 11 installed on an Apple computer for several months. It’s helped me become familiar with the new operating system. I like the look and feel of Windows 11. I believe it offers some nicer visuals than Windows 10, but it doesn’t presently offer any essential ‘must-have’ capabilities over Windows 10.
The Massive Global Cost of Windows 11
Usually when a new operating system is released, for Windows or Apple users, most people can install the new operating system and continue working. This makes it easy to have standardization when everyone adopts the newest operating system.
As mentioned above, the strict hardware demands of Windows 11 will result in a fractured and splintered computing world. This will have more of an impact than the gradual phasing out of older hardware that naturally occurs with an OS upgrade. This is a sudden and abrupt wave of new computers running a new operating system, with many older computers unable to upgrade.
This becomes a much bigger problem for large organizations or companies where an enterprise-wide complete adoption of the new operation system won’t be financially feasible.
User guides, documentation, and owners manuals will become twice as time consuming and costly to develop since there will need to be instructions and screenshots for Windows 10 and also for Windows 11 users.
Companies will need to recuperate the cost of expensive support documentation. That will materialize as more costly products and services which will result in what seems like world-wide inflation. It isn’t inflation, it’s just an unfortunate additional cost impacting billions of people on every continent in every industry sector.
Help desk employees and customer service representatives will need to be fully trained in two operating systems.
Companies striving to avoid the cost of having non-standard computers will purchase new hardware capable of running Windows 11. This will result in shipping containers and trucks full of old computers needing to be refurbished.
Leila Gharani Windows 11 Review Video
Below is the Windows 11 review video from Leila Guarani.
