I’ve been using a Mac my whole life, and it’s no secret that I have a special relationship with Apple, but it’s important to keep an eye on the competition. All these operating systems push each other. They held their toes together. So when Microsoft released Windows 11, the emphasis was on refined design. I have to try it This is what I thought after a few hours of use.
I’m testing Windows 11 on a 2017 Surface Pro, it technically doesn’t meet Microsoft’s minimum requirements for updates. But the company is also letting unsupported machines run the developer preview. The company said it was doing this to assess which other machines could run Windows 11. It looks like they might change the minimum requirements once the operating system is complete for release later this year. The specs on my Surface Pro are pretty average. It has Intel Core m3 at 1
.6GHz, 4GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. It’s not a speed beast, but it runs Windows 10 well and shows no signs of slowing down in Windows 11.new design language
Windows never looked “beautiful.” It was a mix of eras. Always dating back to the 90s with paint on the surface, Windows 10 does a good job of covering up the clutter and making the operating system more usable. But Windows 11’s biggest feature is the new system-wide design language.
It’s still familiar and recognizable as Windows, but it feels like they really care about the look and feel of this operating system. in a way never before The company has implemented a new look for the taskbar and start menu, icons with new playful animations. And many icons have a new look with more personality and depth. The default wallpaper included in Windows 11 complements the new taskbar very well as well. on the verge of They are all available for download if you want to use them on your device.
Microsoft has included a powerful new theme system that combines unique wallpapers with matching colors and styles. This new design is almost entirely customizable in a way that macOS isn’t.
New start menu and taskbar
I never liked the start menu. I’m always underwhelmed and cheap for me. The macOS dock has always been great and I still love it. But the new taskbar has a centered design that is more similar to the macOS dock. The new Start menu is very different from the previous iteration. It’s smarter and has suggested files and apps, plus a section for your favorite apps to pin. It discards all smart tiles. Therefore, it is less dynamic. But it seems to actually work.
It’s centered like a new taskbar icon and feels more like a Chrome OS launcher than the Windows 10 Start Menu. It’s not just simpler and much better. Search is centered and resembles the Start menu. feel faster too
rounded corners
Another new design feature is the system-wide rounded corners. Just like macOS has been around since 2000, Windows now has windows with rounded corners. It’s not as smooth as in macOS, but it makes the operating system feel more natural and less intense. Combined with new animations on app icons, trays, and more, it provides a pleasant experience. It’s never boring to use Windows 11 like you did with previous versions.
Existing apps also get a new rounded corner. To make things look modern in the Windows 11 environment, they’ve also updated the control tray and notification design that pops out of the taskbar’s right slide. Adds a new widget tray that slides from the left side. I didn’t find it particularly useful. But it’s not as powerful as the macOS widgets in Big Sur.
cleaner file explorer
One thing I’ve always hated about Windows is the file explorer. I haven’t used macOS Finder before, but it still isn’t. However, it has gotten a lot of improvements in Windows 11 that make it look cleaner and easier to use. But at its heart is still the same Windows file explorer.
They’ve replaced those ugly ribbons that had been in toolbars a long time ago with a series of shortcuts for things like Cut, Copy, and Paste, as well as options for sharing and organizing. Overall, it looks and feels better. But Microsoft still has a long way to go before they reach the same level as Finder. I think they should start from scratch and create a whole new file explorer app for the future.
What can Apple learn?
I don’t want to say anything But there are some things in Windows 11 that Apple should keep in mind. One of the biggest is personalization. Apple has had a habit of removing customization options on macOS over the years. I’d love to see them bring the ability to easily change app icons, set themes, and customize colors. The system is currently quite limited to dark mode or light mode, system colors and wallpaper.
Another thing I’d like to see is that it’s more playful in macOS. macOS is bright, bubbly, and colorful, and there should be animations to reflect that. Windows 11 has tons of unexpected animations, for example: When you click an icon in the taskbar
Finally, let’s talk about the Start menu. I don’t need the Start menu on my Mac, but I want Apple to eventually update Launchpad. I’d love to see Apple take the new App Library design from iPadOS 15 and bring it to macOS in the future. I also like it. to not take up the entire screen obscuring my windows and content
Conclusion
Windows 11 is an important update for an increasingly important platform. due to epidemic This includes improving the quality of life of the app. new design And features like the ability to run Android software are worthy competitors to macOS Monterey, and I’m curious to see how both operating systems evolve while they’re in beta for the rest of the summer.
If you want to try Windows 11 on your PC, you can do so by joining the Windows Insider Program in the Settings app. Make sure your update channel is set to “dev” and you will see a preview of Windows 11 appear in Software Update.
What do you think about the new design of Windows 11? Do you think it’s a worthy competitor to macOS Monterey? What Windows 11 features you might want to see in macOS, let us know in the comments below!
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