Windows 11 test: what is the update of the Microsoft operating system worth?

Chloé Claessens October 22, 2021 @ 7:34 pm

We weren't expecting it, but here it is. Made official last June and available since October 5, Windows 11 succeeds Windows 10. The announcement aroused as much curiosity as apprehension, while the Windows 8 disaster remains anchored in memories. More fear than harm, however: far from the dreaded transformations, the latest operating system from Microsoft is part of a rather well-managed evolution process. Still, this update does bring a number of changes .

Microsoft had promised: there would be no after Windows 10. Now designed as a service, the OS would evolve over the minor and major updates distributed via Windows Update. Six years later, Satya Nadella seems to have given a completely different speech during Build 2021. The CEO of Microsoft, usually so rigorous in the choice of his words, strangely stopped mentioning Windows 10 to settle for a terse Windows. It will be necessary to wait until the following month for Panos Panay to put an end to the rumors: with Windows 11, Microsoft will welcome a new operating system.

Windows 11: operating system or substantial update?

However, although the name of this new Windows conveys the idea of ​​in-depth transformations, it would inaccurate to think of it as a clean break with the previous OS. For starters, Microsoft opted to keep Windows 10's core (Windows NT 10.0) as the version number changed with each operating system deployment so far. We also note that the build names follow each other (from 21H1 for Windows 10 to 21H2 for Windows 11). Like Windows 10 updates, Windows 11 is distributed for free through Windows Update. Finally, we remind you that some of the Windows 11 exclusives, such as the redesign of the Microsoft Store, should appear on Windows 10 in the short term.

In short, in terms of form, Windows 11, code name Sun Valley, would be nothing more than a very significant upgrade to Windows 10. A finding corroborated by the various speeches made by Nadella who presented Windows 10 as "the next chapter", in other words "we turn the page and we take a new start", and Windows 11 as "the next generation of Windows", i.e. the logical continuation, the natural evolution of the system "as a service » having reconciled users and Windows after the Windows 8 faux pas.

However, to call Windows 11 a slightly larger update than usual would not quite do justice to what it really is. We are not talking here about simple fixes or classic improvements, but rather about a redesigned environment, both in terms of the graphic charter and the user experience. Less exciting, the system requirements, benching almost all PCs released before 2016 as powerful as they are, betrays the technical requirements of an OS rather than those of a traditional update.

Windows 11 minimum system requirements:

It is therefore difficult to decide on what Windows 11 really is. We must also admit that the idea of ​​​​a perfectly orchestrated publicity stunt did not fail to cross our minds. Deployment method, unchanged basic architecture, essentially graphic redesign, selective specs: wouldn't this be the ideal product to break the routine of biannual Windows updates, create the illusion of novelty and pass the pill of thinly disguised planned obsolescence? The question remains.

A smooth installation

Microsoft is no exception to the plurality of consumer versions Family and Professional. The upgrade is downloadable and installable from Windows Update, provided you have a PC or Surface that meets the minimum system requirements. At this time, no concrete information has been released regarding the release date of the Enterprise and Educations editions.

As with any minor or major update, Windows 11 will roll out in waves, over weeks or even months. A frustrating strategy for the most impatient, but which allows Microsoft to gradually correct bugs, instabilities and malfunctions. As a reminder, there are nearly 1.3 billion devices running Windows 10. If, in fact, not all are eligible for the update, we can reasonably estimate the number of machines concerned at a few hundred million. . Moreover, despite the beta test and preview phases carried out as part of the Windows Insiders program, the very great diversity of existing hardware configurations and technical sheets requires time to adapt to a real environment to ensure that Windows 11 is fully functional on all compatible PCs.

However, if the wait seems insurmountable, you can always force the update using the tools posted by Microsoft on its official website.

The download and installation of Windows 11 happens in the background, just like traditional Windows 10 updates. In other words, you can continue to use your PC throughout the process of update. At the end of the operation, you can manually restart your PC or let the system restart automatically after 30 minutes. The post-reboot setup is pretty quick – less than three minutes in our case – and doesn't require any action on your part.

Moving from Windows 10 to Windows 11 is done in a non-destructive way, and that's a very good point: you don't reinstall the system, you upgrade it. Therefore, all configurations, customization settings, installed programs and saved documents should be preserved and returned as is. So much so that the first encounter with Windows 11 can seem somewhat confusing: apart from the characteristic taskbar, the display does not seem to have changed an inch, from the wallpaper to the pinned items on the desktop. We perceive at most very slight graphic modifications of the icons. To see more, you will have to open windows, pull down context menus, dig into the settings: test the OS.

And on an assembled PC?

Whether ordered from Windows Update or from the manual upgrade tools offered on the Microsoft site, the above installation procedure only concerns machines already equipped with Windows 10.

To date, there is no way to directly acquire a Windows 11 license, neither in the form of a digital license key, nor from physical media. Users who have assembled their PC on their own must therefore imperatively buy a Windows 10 license before proceeding with the free update or install Windows 11 from the official ISO and settle for a limited version of the system. operating.

The special case of a (re)installation without a product key

In both cases, you will need to configure the system (region, language, keyboard, PC name, data collection) and sign in to a local or Microsoft account. Warning: synchronization of Windows 11 with an email address is mandatory to finalize the installation of the Family edition. Integrated into Windows 10 at the beginning of 2020, this constraint may have offended some.

Remember, however, that Microsoft is only taking over a scheme already implemented by Apple (Apple ID) or Google (Google account). If, however, you want to bypass the Microsoft account requirement, just cut your internet connection when the setup wizard prompts you to rename your PC. In the next step, you will directly access the form for creating a local account (name, password, security questions).

The presentations are over, it's time to get to the heart of the matter.

An interface between recycling and novelties

If you have followed the Microsoft roadmap over the past two years, it is very likely that you have recognized in Windows 11 elements initially unveiled for Windows 10X. As a reminder, this variant of Windows 10 was to accompany the marketing of the Surface Neo – postponed to an indefinite date – and presented an interface optimized for dual-screen touch devices. Eventually, Windows 10X will never come out.

With hindsight, we could certainly see a blessing in disguise. Rather than multiplying graphical interfaces depending on the devices they run on, Microsoft has focused on unifying desktop and mobile platforms. Objective: to offer a versatile OS, legitimate on both PC, laptop, tablet, touch screen or not. And from this point of view, Windows 11 is successful.

The taskbar turns into a dock

This is one of the novelties that has caused a lot of ink to flow: the taskbar abandons the traditional left alignment in favor of a centered display by default. A bias clearly inspired by mobile docks, witness to Microsoft's desire to offer a similar user experience on computers and tablets.

If we understand the process on mobile, we wondered about the relevance of changing habits established for a very long time on PC. So we asked Microsoft the question. Answer: Centering icons, especially the Start menu icon, would reduce the distance the mouse travels between the active window and the taskbar or Start menu.

Possibly valid justification for very large monitors, but rather light on standard size screens. Especially since the more shortcuts you pin to the dock, the more the Start menu is pushed to the left. Even if it means advancing the argument of the shortest route, we would have liked to have the possibility of permanently fixing the icon in the center and organizing the rest of the shortcuts around it. Those who resist change can be reassured, however: the customization options allow you to find a classic alignment configuration, on the left. On the other hand, it will be necessary to make a cross on the possibilities of resizing and repositioning of the taskbar.

In addition to the Start menu, the taskbar hosts by default four other icons offering quick access to the search engine, desktop manager, widgets and Microsoft Teams. The customization options make it possible to hide those that are deemed unnecessary. On the other hand, it is impossible to unpin them permanently, or even to rearrange them on the dock. These limits do not apply to manually added programs and locations. However, there are some ergonomic concerns of another order, such as the impossibility of dragging and dropping the icon of an application or a file on the taskbar to pin it, or the disappearance of the secondary displays clock and calendar.

A functional Start menu

Like the taskbar, the redesign of the Start menu is one of the major changes introduced by Windows 10X and taken over by Windows 11. Always with a view to deploying an OS as functional on PC as on mobile, Microsoft now runs the Start menu in the center of the screen. Rather logical and more ergonomic, the change is really appreciable.

It is with satisfaction that we discover a brand new clean, readable menu, rid of the tiles inherited from Windows 8. The search bar overlooks the module for quick access to favorite applications that we pin or that one detaches according to one's habits. The recommendations block lists recently opened files. The administration options (account and power supply) find their place at the bottom of the menu, where you expect them. Overall, the redesign is effective and compelling.

However, we note that the harmonization of the taskbar and the menu is not yet perfected. As long as only four icons occupy the dock, button and Start menu remain perfectly aligned. However, as noted above, if the number of shortcuts increases, the Start menu icon slides to the left. We then observe a discrepancy, a source of visual and cognitive discomfort, between the position of the button, now off-centre, and the associated window, still in the centre.

Tidy settings

Ah, the Settings! This essential menu is made up of sub-menus, themselves split into sub-sub-menus leading to new windows and dialog boxes all the way. If there is one thing that can be criticized for Windows 10, it is its messy and chaotic management of such a crucial tool.

It is therefore a completely redesigned access to settings that we discover on Windows 11. So much so that we could almost feel lost in the face of so much order and simplicity: on the left the list of categories , on the right the list of configurable elements.

One of the first good surprises is the logical reorganization of the main entries. First are the configuration tools related to the system followed by the connection options. This is followed logically by functions related to OS customization, application management, Microsoft account information, time and language settings, game optimization, accessibility improvement, security and confidentiality. Finally, Windows Update has its own menu. The set fits in a single column and it is not necessary to scroll to view all the available categories.

Each category groups together a list of relevant action menus. In general, all advanced settings and configurations are done within the Settings window. The few rare exceptions are indicated by a pictogram to the right of the titles, indicating the opening of an additional window.

Windows 11 also benefits from better indexing of its configuration options and sub-options. Just enter the keywords related to the settings in the search engine in the Start menu or after clicking on the magnifying glass icon to easily find what you are looking for. A greatly appreciated improvement in that the Settings menu is no longer as easily accessible as on Windows 10; the cogwheel attached above the power options is now drowned in the list of applications pinned to the Start menu.

The focus on productivity

A beautiful interface is good. With features dedicated to a better work experience, it's better. It is therefore natural that Windows 11 tends towards an improvement in multitasking. The virtual desktops that had to be fetched using the Alt + Tab keyboard shortcut on Windows 10 now have their own icon on the taskbar. A simple click on the shortcut is enough to expand the banner and add as many desktops as necessary (or shortcut Ctrl + Win + D). To find your way around more easily, each new environment is customizable independently of the others (wallpaper, name), and you can switch from one to the other using the combination Ctrl + Win + Right arrow/ LEFT. It is finally possible to move windows from one desktop to another, as well as to open one or more windows on all desktops.

Multitasking is also expressed within the same office with new possibilities for anchoring windows. The traditional snap (dragging a window to the edge of the screen to resize it automatically) is much more intuitive. Even better, hovering over a window's resize icon with the mouse reveals predefined stencils for displaying two or more apps on screen.

Finally, we appreciate the support for groups thanks to which we restore a previously configured snap in one click. Simply hover over the icon of one of the anchored apps with the mouse and select either the software window or the anchor group to which it belongs.

Cortana bows out, Microsoft services more present than ever

It's official, Cortana is definitely leaving the taskbar, which we won't complain about. Invisible on the screen, Microsoft's voice assistant is still part of Windows 11, as confirmed by a simple search via the Start menu. The program configuration window tells us that it will nevertheless be necessary to have a professional or school account to challenge it again.

There is a second parameter that we would have liked to see disappear: Bing. On this point, Microsoft still does not compromise. All web requests made from the Windows 11 search bar are made via the in-house search engine.

In its logic of vertical integration, Microsoft grants itself the monopoly of widgets. Weather, news, sports results, economy, calendar, to-do list: all content available in the Widget panel comes exclusively from Microsoft services. Add to this that there is almost no possibility of customization. As it stands, we can confirm that we will not use it. Settings > Customization > Taskbar > Disable Widgets: it's a space gained on the taskbar!

A pleasant system despite a few hiccups

We could quickly come back to the visual changes applied to the Explorer, really modified for the first time in years. The menu banners have disappeared in favor of discreet icons, giving the tool a minimalist appearance, in line with the design of Windows 11. However, we note that certain actions require more clicks, such as the customization of the navigation panes or the display of hidden elements. The fold remains to be taken.

The right-click menu has also been reduced to a bare minimum and you will have to click on "More options" to access the old context menu (background and shape) of Windows 10. A detail that clashes at the heart of the new graphical interface of Windows 11, but which no longer surprises anyone. Whatever the OS, it is indeed not uncommon to see system windows open with a look recovered from old versions of Windows.

Despite these few pitfalls, we can nevertheless decide on a successful general overhaul, more fluid, more functional and more modern.

Microsoft Store: a star is (re)born

Useless, heavy, unwieldy, full of scams, empty of really interesting content: the Microsoft Store has long suffered from being just a failed attempt to compete with the App Store and Google Play Store. With Windows 11, Microsoft's application center completely revamps its design and strategy, promising a diversified download and perfectly integrated installation experience. The new Microsoft Store is the real novelty brought by Windows 11, the one that justifies, in our opinion, the deployment of the update.

Finally a visual identity that lives up to the competition

Obviously, it is first of all the graphic overhaul that is obvious. Until now dense, poorly structured and frankly unattractive, the Microsoft Store adopts a more modern style, close to what is done in the competition. Better still, the chosen design is consistent with the rest of the Windows 11 graphical interface, which was not quite the case on Windows 10. The editorial efforts pleasantly air the home page and, for the first time, really make you want to browse the available catalog.

There is also a need for better organization of menus, options and additional information. Thanks to the sidebar, it is now much easier to navigate between the applications, games and audiovisual content available. The library is just as easily accessible. There you can find all the (pre)installed UWPs and films/TV series purchased via the store. Unfortunately, it is still not possible to uninstall applications via the store, nor to clean the library after deleting the contents using the Control Panel.

Finally, you can find all the options related to the account by clicking on the icon to the right of the search bar. This is where you manage the app settings, the devices linked to the account and the payment methods associated with the store.

An ambitious opening strategy

In addition to its changes to the interface and organization of the environment, the platform is finally equipped with a gateway linking the publishers' servers to the store. Concretely, this means that it is now possible to download EXE and MSI applications distributed by publishers directly via the Microsoft Store, to manage them via the Control Panel like any program installed outside the application center and to manipulate freely the installation folders on the hard disk. With this openness strategy, Microsoft intends to expand its catalog which already hosts some essentials such as VLC, Discord, Zoom or even Opera (!).

On the developer side, integration into the store has been simplified as much as possible: all you have to do is submit your download file as is, without modifying the code beforehand, a condition previously required by UWPs.

But then, what is the point of getting EXE and MSI applications via the Microsoft Store if you can download the exact same files from the publisher's website? Centralized management of installed content and payments from a single instance, quite simply. Eventually, the deployment of the Popup Store functionality to publishers should also complete the harmonization of this new integration strategy. The download button usually referring to the store will simply open a dialog box in the browser and allow you to start installing the software without changing windows.

Beyond a simple additional distribution channel, the distribution of paid licenses or licenses containing in-app purchases via the store finally allows publishers to delegate all billing management to Microsoft for a fixed revenue sharing that defies all competition: 85% / 15% for applications and 88% / 12% for games. We are very far from the 30% snapped up by Google and Apple (15% on the first million dollars of the year). Even more aggressive, app developers can opt for their own in-app payment system, and thus keep 100% of the revenue. Microsoft now has enough to rub shoulders with the major players in application distribution.

Finally, you should know that Microsoft authorizes the distribution of other application centers and commerce platforms managing their own billing system outside of the Microsoft Store. In this specific case, the services can integrate a button or a link redirecting users to a subscription method other than the one integrated into the Microsoft Store. Microsoft will not touch a penny on the profits earned. A choice that notably motivated the arrival of the Epic Games Store on the Microsoft Store.

PWA: what if Google was right all along?

The conquest of content finally ends with the support of PWAs (progressive web apps). In other words, publishers will be able to offer access to an installable version of their website in the store, without having to develop dedicated applications. For this purpose, Microsoft provides them with an open source and free online tool, PWABuilder. All you have to do is enter a URL address, then let yourself be guided through the migration process (test, packaging, deployment). For users, this also means better accessibility to frequently visited sites, especially in the context of mobile use of Windows 11. No need to open a browser and perform a manual search, click on an icon enough.

One could object that the technology is not revolutionary: Google has made it its trademark on Windows, Android and ChromeOS. But Microsoft would be wrong to deprive itself of additional content for its application center.

Not everything is perfect, but...

Of course, the new Microsoft Store is not perfect, but we can legitimately hope that most of the most annoying flaws will be quickly corrected. We think in particular of the search engine which continues to highlight clones of popular applications or questionable content. This would require Microsoft to take the time to carry out a massive sorting so as to finally offer a clean and relevant solution.

We are also eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Amazon App Store, whose delivery to the Microsoft Store, initially planned with the launch of Windows 11, has been postponed. Thanks to this major partnership, Microsoft will be able to offer support for Android applications, offering even more consistency and legitimacy to the mobile uses planned for Windows 11.

The ball of applications

As usual, Microsoft delivers its new OS with preinstalled applications. We find the traditional Mail, Notepad, Groove, and Solitaire to name a few. As expected, Teams integrates the list of services delivered with Windows 11 with the objective of replacing Skype. The integration could however gain in relevance: a right click on a file allows us to share it directly with Skype (also installed on our machine), but not with Teams.

To everyone's surprise, we see the return of Paint and the Snipping Tool that Windows 10 had replaced by Paint 3D and Snipping and sketching respectively. For the occasion, the two returnees benefit from a visual refresh which allows them to better interface with Windows 11. The two ousted apps, for their part, are still available for download on the Microsoft Store.

In principle, everyone is free to uninstall all of these applications. Only Edge and Cortana are an integral part of the system, forcing users to keep them in a corner of the hard drive.

Edge also raises another problem: that of the choice of default applications. We knew that Microsoft was keen to promote its own services and applications, Windows 11 only confirms it. With this update, it is no longer a question of choosing a default application for an action type, but of assigning the opening of file types to programs. For example, rather than simply selecting a default browser to open web pages, you would need to find your browser in the list of installed applications and manually select, one by one, the file types and links to be supported by default. A particularly discouraging approach.

Performance: the contract is not yet respected

Question impact on system performance, Windows 11 seemed to us a little slower and heavier than Windows 10. This is not a a permanent impression, but it is not uncommon to experience pronounced latencies when switching from one app to another, even though our hardware meets the required configuration by far. Concerns that we would be tempted to attribute to a compatibility problem between our AMD Ryzen 7 processor and Windows 11. We will therefore have to wait for a next update to confirm or invalidate the origin of the few lags and crashes observed.

Other performance issues were also highlighted during gaming sessions. For some titles, there is even talk of colossal falls of up to 30%. This time, the problem would come from the activation of the VBS, a virtualization function intended to secure the system. After verification, the VBS is disabled on our machine, which did not allow us to verify the denounced performance drops.

In passing, Microsoft spoke about the hardware requirements for Windows 11

Game performance should also be improved thanks to Direct Storage, an API integrated into the DirectX 12 SDK allowing the SSD to communicate directly with the GPU. At the moment, the technology has not yet been used.

So, should you install Windows 11 or not?

This is the big question we have tried to answer throughout this paper: should you rush to Windows 11, patiently wait his turn or stay on Windows 10?

To read:

Windows 11

To be completely honest, Windows 11 seems to us to be a good evolution of Windows 10. Beyond the very marketing aspect related to the surprise effect (Windows 10 was presented as the der of ders, remember) and the essentially graphical redesign of the interface, the update brings a bit of welcome clarity and modernity after six years spent with an OS designed to reconcile Microsoft and its audience. We also like the discreet details that make it more functional, such as the improved snap and anchor groups, or the refined management of virtual offices. Finally, we are really convinced by the redesign of the Microsoft Store. By agreeing to return to the exclusivity reserved for UWPs, Microsoft is effectively hitting where it is not expected and is finally trying to catch up on Apple and Google.

The most

Cons

However, we advise you to wait until your equipment is eligible for the update via Windows Update, and therefore not to force the upgrade with the tools made available on the Microsoft site . The numerous bugs, incomplete options (advanced customization of the taskbar, limited widgets), performance problems mentioned and features announced but not found (Amazon App Store, Direct Storage) push us, on our side, to downgrade to Windows 10 (Parameters > System > Recovery > Rollback). However, if curiosity really gnaws at you, you can absolutely install Windows 11 on a VM and make up your own mind. Also, remember that a major Windows 10 update is scheduled for the first half of 2022 and should introduce Windows 11-specific features such as the store or Direct Storage.