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Windows 11 Deep Dive – Answering All Your Questions

Windows 10 was a prolific milestone for Microsoft, both in the consumer and enterprise spaces. For the first time in the company’s long history, they offered their core product to the masses on either side for FREE. The only requirement was that users had a license for any of the three most recent versions of the Windows operating system (7, 8, and 8.1). It was (and still is at the time of writing) the most secure, simple, and intuitive version of Windows to ever reach the desktops of consumers and professionals alike. All of that, paired with Satya Nadella famously stating in 2015 that “Windows 10 is the last version of Windows…” leaves many industry analysts wondering why Microsoft departed from that vision of *Windows as a Service*. Let’s explore this question and more.

Windows 11 Will Be the Last Version of Windows?

Satya’s pithy quote about Windows 10 being the last version of the operating system has raised a few eyebrows with the recent announcement of Windows 11. Did something fundamentally change among the Microsoft C-Suite? Did aliens rewire their brains?

Like most things where potentially 100s (if not more) minds are involved, there were likely many factors that went into this decision to roll out a new version of Windows.

A solid clue lies in something else Satya said back in 2015, just days before the release of Windows 10, “Our aspiration with Windows 10 is to move people from needing to choosing to loving Windows.” [1] For many years, Windows was somewhat akin to the ‘water’ of the operating system world. Sure, water is hydrating, affordable, and almost everywhere, but it’s not exciting. Why drink water when you can hydrate with a tasty, sugary, chemical cocktail that tastes like fruit from some faraway land? More people have probably tried a lychee-flavored drink than have eaten an actual lychee.

Rounding back to the point, the world has changed a lot in the last six years, and Microsoft is likely feeling under pressure to adapt. For example, Google’s affordable Chromebook grew 200% in 2020, while PCs only grew around 11%. And then there is the Apple threat. Apple’s new Arm-based M1 chips sport super-fast speeds and impressive battery life. But, more broadly, there is something that motivates consumers to choose Google or Apple, an excitement factor that Microsoft could be missing.

Further supporting this point, a study by researchers at The Pennsylvania State University titled Take It or Leave It: A Survey Study on Operating System Upgrade Practices [2] found that the most cited reason Windows users gave for not upgrading to Windows 10 (for free) was that they were “Satisfied with the current version.” While this might seem like a good thing on the surface, it is counter to Microsoft’s goal of getting consumers to *love* Windows. You don’t see many Valentine’s Day cards that say, “I’m satisfied with you.” In other words, whether it was due to marketing or the features of the software, many consumers did not feel excited enough about Windows 10 to take the jump.

Now in 2021, Microsoft seems determined to rectify that problem. While Windows has always dominated in both consumer and business spaces, the company wants to build on the success of Windows 10 and create an operating system that will get people talking.

Answering the Important Questions

Is Windows 11 Just a Skin Slapped on Top of Windows 10?

Although Microsoft is still a little light on the details concerning Windows 11, no, it’s unlikely to be a carbon copy of Windows 10 with a simple facelift. While it is built on the same foundation as Windows 10 and focuses on “familiar processes,” it is clear they want Windows 11 to hold its own. Looking at the details released so far, it seems that Microsoft’s philosophy with Windows 11 is to enable increased productivity and security while making the OS simple for IT to manage.[3] It is also worth noting that it wouldn’t look good PR-wise to come back from calling Windows 10 “the last version of Windows”, only to release a lukewarm new version six years later. In other words, they surely believe it is revolutionary enough to warrant going back on that statement.

Will the Update Break Applications That Currently Work in Windows 10?

No. Microsoft has made a promise that apps that worked on 7/8.1/10 will work on Windows 11. However, they do recommend that developers test their apps to check if everything’s running smoothly. Developers who want to do this can use Test Base, Microsoft’s application validation service that allows testing on many different MS environments.

Will People Have to Learn Entirely New Ways of Working?

While we cannot be 100% sure, the answer is most likely no. Microsoft’s statements about Windows 11 have repeatedly stressed that the OS will be intuitive, simple and puts usability at the forefront.

Will Productivity Be Negatively Impacted?

The simple answer is no, but ‘productivity can mean different things to different people. Will the switch from Windows 10 to Windows 11 impact productivity? It is hard to say. However, the implementation of Windows 11 will look very similar to Windows 10, so businesses can apply any lessons learned from that experience.

In terms of living and working with Windows 11, productivity looks like it is getting a boost. For example, Microsoft Teams will be directly integrated with the OS, allowing you to communicate with anyone on Windows, Androids, or iOS, straight from your desktop,[4] so long as they have a Teams account. Also, on the consumer side, all new Windows 11 devices will be password-less by default out of the box.

What Does Windows 11 Mean for Developers?

To get the worrying out of the way first: if you’re developing Windows 10 applications now, you don’t need to stop and wait for Windows 11. As we discussed above, these applications will work on Windows 11.

But what can developers expect from Windows 11? New WinUI2 control, new material UI elements, a new Windows Store, and more.

For the Windows Store, users are getting a revamped design and an entirely new way of finding apps. For developers, there are some significant changes too. For example, there will no longer be limitations on application packaging like Windows 10 (appx- and MSIX-packaged code). This relaxing of requirements ties into a broader shift in philosophy for Microsoft regarding app development. In a company blog post, they stated, “we are embracing Windows == open platform. This means everyone has open access to run the widest range of apps on Windows, enabling all developers to build the apps and experiences that empower users to create, learn, and play.”.

Microsoft has also given the Windows App SDK an official name, Project Reunion. While this might not seem like a huge deal, what it signifies is. It essentially means that Microsoft is putting a line under the WinRT and Win32 era. [5]

Will This Be Another Windows 8? Following the Cycle of Good, Bad, Good, Bad with Windows Releases?

It is too early to know for sure, but if we had to guess, no. Windows 8 was a drastic change in… well, just about everything. Microsoft had a bunch of great ideas, but the execution of those ideas was not so great. The changes were also so drastic that users struggled to get to grips with them, and workflow was dramatically disrupted in some places. This is not something Microsoft is going to risk happening a second time.

How Will Windows 11 Impact the Average Consumer?

Windows 10 isn’t going anywhere and will continue to be supported until 2025. So, if you were worried that you’d be forced into a Windows 11 upgrade in the next year, you can relax.

But if you upgrade to Windows 11 or buy a new Windows device in late 2021 or beyond, what will be different? How big of an impact these features have on you will depend on how much value you place on them. It’s also worth remembering that Microsoft has released many more details surrounding the UI overhaul than comprehensive under the hood features. We will likely get more details as we approach the launch date. With that in mind, let’s take a look: [6]

Perhaps the most significant impact consumers will face is that your device might get left behind. We discuss the system requirements later in the article.

The Release

In this section, we will answer the questions that every business wants to know the answers to.

Why Should My Business Look to Upgrade Sooner Rather Than Later?

While an official release date for Windows 11 is still pending, we have a pretty good idea about when businesses can get their hands on it. At a press conference, Microsoft said Windows 11 would be available by “holiday 2021”. This gives a window of October to December, but other clues suggest it will be on the earlier end. October is listed as a special date for the OS in some press materials.

Let’s suppose Windows 11 does launch in October 2021. How long should you wait before upgrading?

The first thing you need to factor in is whether your devices meet the minimum system requirements:

The main requirement here that could trip some users up is TPM. If you or your business use home-built PCs, you might find you have a motherboard without a TPM module. However, this might not be a case of game over. Microsoft has said that they plan to release non-TPM versions of Windows 11 in the future for countries that have banned TPM, like China and Russia.

Okay, so your devices meet the requirements, when should you upgrade? The short answer is as soon as possible. Judging what has been released so far, the update looks impressive and seems to fix most of the design issues users have been complaining about for many years. Microsoft also states it will be “faster and more intuitive.”

However, if you run many old applications that are critical to your business, you might want to hold off a few weeks or even months to check there are no glaring compatibility issues.

Is it Enterprise Ready? And will it Be a Simple Upgrade?

Since Windows 11 is built on the same foundation as Windows 10, the upgrade should be simple and straightforward. In addition, it means you can likely use the same deployment plans, scenarios, and tools you used for the Windows 10 upgrade.

What Are the Security Implications and Benefits of Windows 11?

Enhanced security is a significant selling point for Windows 11, so much so that Director of Enterprise and Operating System Security Dave Weston stated he believes the bolstered security will drive faster uptake. While it’s not surprising for a director of security to essentially say, “more security is good so more businesses will upgrade,” the reasoning does check out. According to research firm Gartner, the primary reason enterprises upgraded from Windows 7 to Windows 10 was security.

But what do we know about these enhanced security features?

Sources

[1] https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/11/why-microsoft-is-releasing-a-new-version-of-windows.html

[2] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329404596_Take_It_or_Leave_It_A_Survey_Study_on_Operating_System_Upgrade_Practices

[3] https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsforbusiness/windows-11

[4] https://www.theverge.com/2021/6/24/22548738/microsoft-teams-windows-11-integration-announcement-features

[5] https://www.infoworld.com/article/3623057/what-windows-11-means-for-developers.html

[6] https://www.theverge.com/2021/6/15/22535123/microsoft-windows-11-leak-screenshots-start-menu

[7] https://www.zdnet.com/article/windows-11-upgrades-why-security-is-going-to-be-the-key-driver/

[8] https://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2021/06/25/windows-11-enables-security-by-design-from-the-chip-to-the-cloud/

[9] https://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2021/06/25/windows-11-enables-security-by-design-from-the-chip-to-the-cloud/

Nancy Driver

Nancy Driver | Freelance

Covering Cybersecurity, Privacy, Technology.