Roger’s $0.02 - So Long Windows 10, Hello Windows 11

Windows 10 has been the dominant PC OS for almost a decade. Like its predecessors, Windows XP, Windows 7, and Windows 8.1, it has been both cursed and revered, and considered irreplaceable. Now that its end-of-service life has been reached, many have pondered what their options are for upgrading to Windows 11. Believe it or not, most systems that run Windows 10 can be upgraded to Windows 11 despite not meeting the system requirements of Microsoft’s flagship OS. It runs atop the same kernel as Windows 10. Windows NT 10.0. Yes, there are system improvements and additional features that come with Windows 11 that are not found in Windows 10, but the core foundation of the OS, the kernel, is the same for both. The advantages are simple. Application and driver compatibility, while also allowing for stricter hardware requirements for increased security, and enabling newer features like CoPilot for AI integration. A key element of that upgrade security is the need for a PC to have TPM 2.0 or Trusted Platform Module. The TPM is a physical security chip that performs cryptographic functions to securely store sensitive data like passwords, encryption keys, and certificates. Newer processors from AMD and Intel feature integrated TPMs in firmware. Without it, security tools like BitLocker won’t work without you rolling up your sleeves and editing your Local Group Policy Editor, and Windows 11 will not install. But thanks to tools like Rufus, you can bypass that requirement through the install customization options. Because Windows 10 and Windows 11 run atop the same kernel, performance-wise, users should have a very similar experience with both operating systems, although some users claim Windows 11 is noticeably faster in some tasks.

So why move to Windows 11? The most obvious reasons are support and security updates. Everything from device drivers to performance fixes, security updates, and developer support. So much of our lives is tied to the devices we use to access finances, government services, employment opportunities, and communication. Having a platform with regular security updates ensures you have some level of protection against emerging threats like malware and injection attacks.

The second reason is enhanced and robust support for AI technologies like LLMs and assistants. Even if you’re skeptical about your need for an AI tool, chances are that you’ll likely be using one regularly in the years to come. Windows 11 has been developed to integrate these tools, like CoPilot, into the UX. No glued-on solutions or weird workarounds.

Speaking of UX, the UI in Windows 11 promises increased productivity with features like Snap Layouts and Snap Groups. Personally, I haven’t found much of a use for them, but I work with a relatively small team. Users in an environment needing a much greater number of open windows or across multiple teams would find it more valuable. The third are widgets. If you’ve enabled and added widgets to your Android or iPhone, you know they’re a handy way to keep weather, traffic, news bits, reminders, or other pieces of information handy on the desktop. A simple Windows Key + W press brings up a customized display of information. Although you could do this with Windows 10 with 3rd party apps, it’s nice to have it integrated.

My favorite reason for the Windows 11 upgrade is that it remembers multiple desktops, monitor configurations, and window placement. It’s a small thing, but it comes in really handy when I bounce between my home and my parents’ house and plug into their office monitor.

If you’re a gamer, Windows 11 offers improved support for dynamic refresh rate monitor/video card combinations, the Xbox app, and the DirectStorage feature, which allows games to load directly into video memory instead of passing through the CPU, speeding up loading times. If you’ve played games, cough The Last of Us cough, where shaders need to be loaded in VRAM each time it's launched, you know what I’m talking about.

The final reason for upgrading to Windows 11 is that, for most people, it's free. Even if you have a system that might not meet the security requirements, you can try Rufus and work around it. The look and feel are mostly the same. Granted, some of the context menu options are hidden behind a nested “Show more options” option at the bottom when you right-click, it still feels mostly the same to me. Now I upgraded to a new 11th-gen Intel workstation laptop, one that was cheap, around $350, but also because Dell’s system software integrates well with Windows 11. For me, the only hassle was migrating data and software installs over. Once that’s done, though, the experience was roughly the same or better. I haven’t come across a moment where I felt I traded down in experience moving to Windows 11. Windows 11 it’s just like Windows 10, but with software and security updates.