So if you are already thinking about buying a new PC or laptop, then we recommend waiting a little longer before buying it. By Christmas business 2021/2022 at the latest, there will be plenty of good offers for the latest hardware with pre-installed Windows 11. Here it is worthwhile to compare the offers and, if necessary, to access them.

If you do not plan to buy a new PC in the foreseeable future, but still want to upgrade to Windows 11, the Microsoft system requirements are specified as follows:

• Processor:
  1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with 2 or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or SoC (System on a Chip)
• RAM:
  4 gigabytes (GB)
• Storage space:
  64 GB or larger storage device
• System firmware:
  UEFI enabled for safe start
• TPM:
  Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0
• Graphic card:
  Compatible with DirectX 12 or higher with WDDM 2.0 driver
• Display:
  High-resolution display (720p) with a diagonal of more than 9 inches, 8 bits per color channel
• Internet connection and Microsoft accounts:
  Windows 11 Home Edition requires an Internet connection and Microsoft account to complete device setup the first time you use it.

Internet access is required for all Windows 11 editions in order to update and download and use some features.

Source: Microsoft.com

The above specifications are the minimum requirements for it to run at all. So it makes perfect sense to have a few more PS or Ghz. / RAM under the hood so that the whole thing is fun, and not having to use all available resources just for the operating system.

If you are not sure whether your own PC meets the minimum requirements, a system check will shortly be available on Microsoft’s official homepage, in which the compatibility of Windows 11 can be checked online.

The most obvious innovation is a new look that is a bit reminiscent of a Mac. A redesign of Windows 10 had already been planned for a long time, and is now being introduced with Windows 11 through a new operating system. So in the standard the start button is now in the middle of the screen and as soon as you open this, the next change is noticeable, because there is now a floating menu which can also be adapted.

In addition, the well-known tiles that have been with us since Windows 8 fell victim to the redesign. But of course not only changes to the design will be noticed, but overall, with the new Windows, operation through performance optimization and context-sensitive menu items should be faster, more efficient and easier to use.

See fig. (Click to enlarge)

For all those who cannot get used to the start menu in the middle, it should also be possible to place it at the bottom left, as in the previous versions of Windows. The tile menu, on the other hand, as well as Skype, which has actually been pre-installed since its existence, is a thing of the past. Rather, Microsoft is increasingly relying on Microsoft Teams in Windows 11, which has proven itself very well, not least due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and has become the most popular tools for home schooling and team meetings.

With Windows 11, the operating system should not only become faster and more efficient, but also leaner and clearer to enable users to work productively.

According to Microsoft, the following features will no longer be supported in Windows 11 in the future:

• Cortana will no longer be included in the first-time experience or pinned to the taskbar.
• Cannot transfer wallpaper to or from the device when you’re signed in with a Microsoft account.
• Internet Explorer will be disabled.
• Microsoft Edge is the recommended replacement and includes IE mode which can be useful in certain scenarios.
• The math input area has been removed. Math recognition is installed when required and contains the control and recognition for math input.
• Math inking in apps like OneNote is not affected by this change.
• News & Interests in the system tray is removed. Widgets provide functions that can be used instead.
• Quick lock screen status and settings are removed.
• The S mode is now only available for the Windows 11 Home Edition.
• Skype MeetNow will be replaced by Chat.
• The Snipping Tool is still available, but the old design and functionality in the Windows 10 version has been replaced with the design and functionality of the app, which was previously called Snip & Sketch.

Startup has changed significantly in Windows 11, including the following key settings and removals:

• Named groups and folders of apps are no longer supported, and the layout cannot be resized at this time.
• Pinned apps and websites are not migrated when upgrading Windows 10.
• Live tiles are no longer available. Information on clear, dynamic content can be found in the new widgets function.
• Tablet mode is removed and new keyboard posture attaching and removing capabilities and capabilities are included.

Taskbar functionality has changed including:

• There are no longer any people in the system tray.
• Some icons may no longer appear in the system tray (systray) for updated devices, including previous customizations.
• Orientation at the bottom of the screen is the only allowed position.
• Apps can no longer customize areas of the taskbar.
• The timeline is removed. Some similar functionality is available in Microsoft Edge.
• The on-screen keyboard can no longer dock or undock keyboard layouts on screen sizes of 18 inches or more.
• Wallet is removed.

The following apps will not be removed during upgrade, but will no longer be installed on new devices or when reinstalling Windows 11. They can be downloaded from the store:

• 3D viewer
• OneNote for Windows 10
• Paint 3D
• Skype

Source: Microsoft.com

If you just look at the amount of features that will no longer be available in the future (or at least not in the standard), then there are a number of changes that many who have previously worked with Windows 10 have to get used to. Because over the years many work steps have been learned by the users and have also become automatisms. So here it is first necessary to rethink, and learn again so that working with Windows 11 is really faster than in the predecessor.

If you are now asking yourself the legitimate question of whether you need to upgrade very quickly, you can be given the all-clear. Because according to Microsoft, support from Microsoft will continue until at least October 14, 2025. So there will still be security and function updates for Windows 10 in the next few years, and you can wait a little longer until the first teething problems (which will certainly be there) have been eradicated.