Today, Microsoft announced their new OS, Windows 11. With it comes a waterfall of new features and changes to the OS that most of world uses for it's desktops and laptops. Lets explore some of the things that make Windows 11 stand out and my opinions on them. 

Release

First off, the release of Windows 11. Microsoft has said that they will be releasing Windows 11 as a FREE upgrade this fall to devices. They don't say how long it will stay free but this is still good news. This is like how Microsoft released Windows 10 after the weird, red-headed step child that was Windows 8. I really love this as I always get nervous around releases of new OSes. You never know when a company like Apple, Google, or Microsoft might just decide to charge for a new OS. They already sometimes limit what devices can receive the updates. To check if your deivce is ready for Windows 11, Microsoft said to download the PC Health Check app. You can find it at the bottom of the Windows.com page where it talks about Windows 11. I'll link it in the resource section. 

For me personally, I'll probably be updating pretty quick if I can. I generally never do upgrades day one but within a week or so of the release I will upgrade. Also, the release will be a rollout so you might not have the option to upgrade for a while after release. 

Start Menu

This feature is going to be controversial. The start menu is now located in the center of the task bar, giving the desktop more of a Mac look. Here is a photo from CNET. Microsoft ran into issues with people when it removed the Start Up menu in Windows 8. They quickly brought it back later in Windows 8's life and it was in full force for Windows 10. I wonder how people will react to it being moved and retooled again. It also looks like they have moved the search bar into the Start Up menu, but also left the search logo on the task bar? Seems a little odd. 

Microsoft Store

To say that the Microsoft Store is useless is an understatement. I really don't know why anyone needs an app store on a desktop or laptop, doesn't matter if it is the Microsoft Store on Windows or Apple's App store on it's MacBooks. But for the people who do use the Microsoft Store for software or developers of software sold on the store, there is some big news! First, the Windows Store will have have Android apps! Windows will have an integrated Amazon App store for looking for Android apps. Also, Microsoft will now let developers keep 100% of revenue from app sales and apps can use their own third party commerce engines. This is a 180 from Apple and Google's stores where they charge 30% to developers and developers have to use those stores commerce engines like Apple Pay or Google Pay. 

This could be a game changer for Windows, who are trying to get more people using their ecosystem. Even though I do not use the Microsoft Store I can see how Microsoft can benefit from these changes. I could get more people into their ecosystem, kind of like their stance on their Xbox consoles and Xbox Game Pass. Getting people using your hardware and software is a must. 

Teams

A big focus was also on Teams, Microsoft's Zoom or Facetime competitor. It is going to be integrated, like Facetime is in Macs, and be located on the Task Bar. I am not big on video calls but some people love them. And that would have before the pandemic. Businesses might continue using video calls to conduct some business after the pandemic ends and Microsoft wants a bigger piece of the pie. They want to Zoom for business and be Facetime or Snapchat video call for people one phones or tablets. Again, this news doesn't do much for me at all. It sounds like something I will remove from the task bar honestly. 

Gaming

Microsoft again solidified to me why I have an Xbox and a PC. Windows 11 will have features like Auto HDR that are found on their Xbox consoles for gamers to easily move back and forth from console and PC. Combine this with Game Pass so you can take Xbox games and saves on the road and cloud gaming where you can stream games so you don't need a beefy PC to play games and you got a amazing ecosystem for gamers. Again, Microsoft is getting people into their ecosystem with these features which leads to revenue down the road. I am excited to see how gaming will look on Windows 11. 

Wrap Up

Today's news about Windows 11 are a great starting point for the hype around Microsoft's new OS. I like the direction Microsoft is going and I hope they can pull the release off. I am looking forward to more news about it as we get closer to the holiday release window. We might actually start hearing more about Windows 11 as there will be a Beta release starting in July.

But everyone should be hesitant when it comes to new OS releases. Especially with Microsoft with their record of 2 bad OS releases in the last 5. Even looking at the last two they are 1 for 2. 

What opinions do you all have about the news of Windows 11? Are their features that you open to see when it releases? Let me know!