For many customers, Home windows 11 22H2 doesn’t transfer the needle

Final week, I wrote a couple of survey I’m utilizing to ask PC customers about their plans for Home windows 11. With the 22H2 launch simply across the nook — and with Home windows 11 now a yr previous — the working assumption has been that many can be prepared to maneuver ahead with deployment.

As I’ve mentioned earlier than, that is an unscientific survey, merely an try at getting a really feel for everybody’s plans. I didn’t restrict who may reply questions, nor attempt to set up bias. (The survey continues to be open in case you’d prefer to weigh in on what kind of Home windows 10 or 11 matters you’re all for.)

Provided that Home windows 11 has greater {hardware} necessities, it’s no shock most respondents (69.1%) are nonetheless utilizing Home windows 10 on their programs. One other 16.3% p.c run Home windows 11, slightly below 5% use Home windows 7, and 1.8% nonetheless run Home windows 8.1 (!). A smattering of respondents are on Macs (2.4%), Linux (3.5%), or one thing else (1.7%) — normally dual-boot Home windows/Linux programs.

I used to be stunned to seek out greater than half the respondents (51.3%) have already got {hardware} that might assist Home windows 11. Slightly below 40% both would not have a Trusted Platform Module, a ok video card, or a processor that may assist Home windows 11. And 9% mentioned they haven’t any plans to maneuver to Home windows 11 in any respect.

(At residence, I’ve just one system out of 4 that’s Home windows 11-ready; they’re merely previous machines, although all of them now have SSD drives — a should on this period of Home windows.)

So far as when customers anticipate upgrading to Home windows 11, the solutions are muddled; 43.5% merely aren’t certain. I assumed the arrival this fall of Home windows 11 22H2 can be a key launch for individuals who plan to improve, but simply 3.6% anticipate to take action. One other 2.8% mentioned they might improve in six months, and 10.5% plan to take action inside a yr.

The overwhelming majority, 66.17%, plan to remain on the OS they’re operating now, with 12.1% saying they’re solely testing Home windows 11 and three.8% evaluating different platforms. Slightly below 18% are utilizing Home windows 11 on a regular basis.)

As for what excites Home windows customers about Home windows 11, the phrase salad that emerged had “higher safety” as a standout. However not a lot else appeared to catch consumer consideration.

Susan Bradley

As one respondent mentioned: “The quick reply: Nothing. The reality is, like most individuals, I’ve lengthy since stopped being ‘excited’ about something my computer systems do. They’re instruments, to assist me write, set up and talk, and ANY time spent having to determine the brand new ‘options’ that Microsoft (or Apple, or Google) crams down my throat is time away from doing something productive or having fun with life. ‘Pleasure’ over new working programs is for geeks and is an more and more odious burden on the remainder of us.”

I additionally included an open-ended query about what customers want to see modified in Home windows 11. Of those that answered, many lamented the revamped Begin menu, and an inconsistent UI throughout numerous menu programs. As one particular person wrote: “The Home windows 11 file explorer made pointless adjustments that labored superb in Home windows 10. I take advantage of copy, paste, reduce, delete, rename, and refresh extra ceaselessly than the common consumer. I discover the icon replacements, and the additional step required to refresh adjustments in Home windows 11 to be a waste of extra time on my half. And personally, I discover the Settings app variations in Home windows 11 require that I primarily undergo your entire app to make adjustments to swimsuit me. I didn’t have to try this within the Home windows 10 Settings app.”

Microsoft is aiming to make the UI extra streamlined. However I’ve heard from many long-term Home windows customers that having to relearn menus and clicks slows them down when making an attempt to chop and paste. (There are a selection of documented methods and instruments to carry many of those options again to Home windows 11.) And the truth that customers who like to maneuver issues round and customise their desktop can longer accomplish that with out hacks and third-party instruments might be the largest roadblock to Home windows 11 adoption. Will probably be fascinating to see whether or not Microsoft listens to its core customers and brings again some skill to customise the platform.

If you wish to learn what others have mentioned about Home windows 11, the total survey outcomes can be found right here.