Microsoft is daring a version jump with its operating system: Windows 11 is even free for Windows 10 users. The group still earns billions with it.
Microsoft is cleaning up and giving its Windows operating system a modern design.
Six years ago, the group had actually promised to stay with Windows 10 forever: But now the software giant has given its completely overhauled operating system a new version number. Windows 11 starts on Tuesday (October 5th).
At the premiere, the system will definitely be available on new PCs. These include, on the one hand, the new Surface computers from Microsoft itself. Also on board are the numerous hardware partners such as Lenovo, HP, Dell, Acer, Huawei and many others.
However, Windows 11 is also gradually installed as a free upgrade on existing Windows 10 computers. However, only PCs that meet a long list of requirements will be used.
A comparatively new processor is required. These are the eighth generation Intel processors, Zen-2 chips from AMD and ARM chips from the 7 and 8 series from Qualcomm. This means that users of older systems with processors from Intel’s sixth or seventh generation as well as older AMD models are excluded from switching to Windows 11.
Security chip requirement
With many models from 2017 and earlier, the upgrade to Windows 11 will also fail because a special security chip has not yet been installed on the computer’s motherboard. This is the controversial Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0.
The months and years to come will show whether Microsoft will succeed in curbing the rapidly growing cybercrime with the new Windows 11 in conjunction with the security hardware of modern PCs. One thing is clear: the combination of Windows 11 and TPM could play an important role in the defense against malware that conquers entire computer networks and encrypts entire databases.
The TPM will probably remain controversial, even if it makes the PCs more secure. After all, this architecture allows identities to be recognized more precisely than some users like. In this way, for example, license management of the installed programs could be implemented much more rigidly than before.
Windows 11 as an “experience package”
The rather high requirements for Windows 11 triggered criticism. Microsoft justified itself in a blog entry at the end of June: Windows 11 was designed and developed as a complete experience package. “We need a minimum system requirement that will allow us to customize software and hardware to keep pace with people’s expectations and needs and to harness the real value and power of the PC to provide the best experiences now and in the future. » This also includes the TPM chip, which, among other things, enables computers to start up safely.
Users who cannot use Windows 11 with their machines do not suffer any short-term disadvantages. Software support for Windows 10 is not expected to end until 2025. Experience in replacing versions that are now very outdated, such as Windows XP, has shown, however, that many private users and also commercial users will probably not take care of a secure replacement in good time.
Big business beckons
For Microsoft and its partners, however, the planned Windows 10 expiry date is huge business. According to expert estimates, around 1.3 billion personal computers with Windows 10 are currently in use. Hundreds of millions of these devices will not show the green light to switch to Windows 11 when checking with Microsoft’s “PC Health App”. Sooner or later, these computers will have to be replaced. And Microsoft makes an estimated $ 25 in revenue for every new PC from manufacturers’ license fees.
Windows 11 could also give the productivity software segment a boost in sales. The Microsoft Teams communication tool is integrated into Windows so that it is even faster and easier to contact colleagues, friends and family. This should boost sales of the associated Office 365 program package and cause concerns for teams’ competitors such as Zoom or Slack. Slack complained to the EU Commission in autumn about the bundling.
Not quite finished
The function of running Android apps on the Windows PC was not ready in time for the start of Windows 11. Support for Android applications will only be available in the coming year. Microsoft developed the project together with Amazon. The internet giant operates an app store for Android apps itself, thus rivaling Google. Microsoft would at least partially get a foot in the door with mobile apps through this cooperation, because since the end of Windows Mobile, the software giant no longer has its own mobile platform.
The announced Windows 11 innovations were well received at the stock exchange. Since the system was first presented at the end of June, the Microsoft share price has risen by around ten percent. It also played a role that Windows 11 received consistently good grades from the technology journalists who have already worked with the beta version.
Potential buyers who wanted to get a new PC should postpone the purchase for a few months if possible, advise consumer advocates. In the Corona crisis, companies, organizations and schools in particular bought the laptop market empty. Against this background, manufacturers have no reason to offer attractive bargains. The situation could look different in summer 2022.
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