Friday, December 3rd 2021

Windows 11 a Flop, Survey Claims Less Than 1% Upgraded, Microsoft Improves Start Menu

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btarunr
 Discuss (393 Comments)
Microsoft Windows 11, now nearing its third month since release, is for all intents and purposes, a flop. Market research by Lansweeper, which surveyed over 10 million PCs across the commercial and personal market segments, reports that less than 0.21% of the users it surveyed, had upgraded from Windows 10 to the newer operating system. The upgrade is free of charge. There may be several factors contributing to this lukewarm market response, but one of them is certain to he the steep hardware requirements. Windows 11 requires a trusted platform module (TPM 2.0), which disqualifies PCs older than 2018 for upgrades, unless the user is willing to try out workarounds to the limitation. Another factor could be the clunky user interface (UI), a less functional Start menu than Windows 10, and several UI-related bugs.

According to Lansweeper's data, there could be more people running outdated Windows XP, Vista, Windows 8, etc., than Windows 11, and this poses a great security risk, as these operating systems are no longer supported by Microsoft for regular security updates. Windows 10, on the other hand, is eligible for them until mid-2025—plenty of time for people to upgrade hardware to meet Windows 11 system requirements, or to simply make up their mind on switching over to the new operating system. In related news, Microsoft could give the Windows 11 Start menu a functional update. Test build 22509 introduces the ability to add more pins to the menu, or make room for more recommendations. The UI could see many such minor updates.
Sources: Tech Radar PRO, HotHardware

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393 Comments on Windows 11 a Flop, Survey Claims Less Than 1% Upgraded, Microsoft Improves Start Menu

#126
ironwoodcall
Caring1I like having the control panel still, but Microsoft is intent on removing it with W11.
I'm running Win11 and still have it... do you think they're planning on removing it in a patch later?
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#127
CrAsHnBuRnXp
ironwoodcallI'm running Win11 and still have it... do you think they're planning on removing it in a patch later?
They said they were going to remove it in Windows 10 in like 1909 or something. Never did. I dont see it going anywhere any time soon.
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#128
nienorgt
I have W11 since the Preview, but I might have stayed on W10 if I would have knew that Microsoft would indeed keep the uncostomizable Start Menu and Taskbar. I don't understand how this dumbing down on features on all accounts was planned from the get go.
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#129
Hattu
Nope. I'm not going to "upgrade" nor "update." Too much hustle, since my cpu is "too old", like Ryzen 1800X... Just installed W10 from fresh a few days ago, since it wouldn't update anything above version 1909. No matter what i've tried.

I think technically the only obstacle between Win11 and me is my current CPU. And right now i'm thinking that's enough for not to do anything about it.
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#130
mechtech
KartiLets see..
- more force on using a online account, you are literaly blocked from many things if you bypass their requirments and make a offline acc
- more resource intensive on lower tier hardware - even if it all fits the requirments and you are "inside cpu generation list" that they gave us some time ago
- more telemetry and sucking of our data
- making things that worked flawlessly for more than +20 years - more hard and idiotic... just don't let me start talking about "right click" and seeing you are lacking so many options... UNLESS you press then a button there to extend that crapy right click, with a second right click menu.. THAT IS ACTUALY WHAT WE HAD ALL THAT TIME - like... microsoft (duck) why you had to force on reinventing the wheel, and giving us a triangle?

Srsly windows 11 is the final thing that proves that you rather stay with windows 10... or give a shot to a linux
maybe it will be a total flop that will get a total rework of how it suppose to work.. just like xbox one was at start - remember whole "tv" jokes we had from start? - it gonna get fixed in a future? who knows... but for now i am staying with my dual drive with Windows 10 and Linux Mint... bb win 11 - for now
Really? that's lame if true
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#131
Minus Infinity
Funny that a lot of tech site are talking up Windows 11 and it's relative success already, obviously don't want to get on their bad side. Still a just dumbed down W10 beta with a few improvements for storage that could have been rolled out to Windows 10 21H2, with a bogus TPM requirement for DRM infestation.
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#132
windwhirl
lexluthermiesterSeems I'm going against the grain, but I like Windows 11, minus the TPM/SecureBoot & hardware requirements nonsense which, let's be honest, are easily worked around.
And that's perfectly alright. Myself I have to complain about the crappy state of affairs of the Start Menu, but that comes from Windows 10, so it's old news and repetitive from me.
ironwoodcallI'm running Win11 and still have it... do you think they're planning on removing it in a patch later?
Nope, it will likely take a few more years for Microsoft to migrate everything to the Settings app. Hell, it's likely that only with Windows 12 they manage to finish the job, IMO.
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#133
Caring1
windwhirlNope, it will likely take a few more years for Microsoft to migrate everything to the Settings app. Hell, it's likely that only with Windows 12 they manage to finish the job, IMO.
They just keep dumbing it down and taking away control from the end user.
It started when they made "My PC" into "This PC" almost like they own it now, you no longer are in charge.
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#134
Guwapo77
MEC-777Guess I'm one of the lucky ones that hasn't had any issues so far? I waited until it had been out for a while and after some major fixes were implemented and it's been fine (knock on wood). So idk... I don't use the start menu much either so that doesn't bother me much. I think some people like to complain for the sake of complaining and jumping on the band wagon, so to speak. I'm also running it on my Ryzen laptop and Ryzen gaming rig with no discernable performance issues, what-so-ever.
I'm right there with you. I've only recently installed it (fresh install) and I haven't had any problems so far.
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#135
citizenwimberly
Yah I upgraded. Will soon be going back to 10. They truly did flop on it. The software just sucks with hardware and constantly glitches. Just terrible.
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#136
persondb
Honestly, aside from all other stuff that puts me off, just the UI alone is enough to keep me in W10.

I actually like Windows 10 start menu and the rest of the UI. While Windows 11 looks and works like an abomination.
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#137
matar
I agree , i am still on windows 10 and not planning to upgrade until i see some windows 10 features back.
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#138
R0H1T
ChomiqYou sound like MS rep ;)
And a lot of forum dwellers here sound like children cribbing about MS being mean or mad to them :laugh:
bugWhich Windows would that be? 98? 2000? XP? Vista? 7? 8? 10?

Superior is in the eye of the user, the point is you don't change UI just to make it look like you have a whole shiny new OS.
The "platform" so I guess all of them? Unless you want to point at specific point(s) in history when it lagged Mac ecosystem?

You must be new to Windows then because the last "major" UI overhaul was with win8 ~ it's at best an evolution since then.
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#139
DaveJNMC
What is Microsoft doing, I've got 6 pieces of kit and not one of them is compatible with Windows 11. What bs is this.
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#140
Miguel Rainho
I had to uninstall win 11 from my laptops, I have a i7 10th gen, 16gb ddr4 ram, intel iris 1gb gpu, 1tb ssd, everytime i connect my hdmi with my projector, win 11 uninstalls my gpu drivers, does not matter what I do, reinstalled win 10 pro, hdmi Port working 100%
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#141
Prima.Vera
To be honest. It's not better than Win10, it's not worst. It runs the same, no big changes. Looks more like a Win 10 theme, than a brand new OS....:ohwell:
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#142
AusWolf
bugthe point is you don't change UI just to make it look like you have a whole shiny new OS.
Exactly that. I wasn't joking when I said I would be happy with any Start menu from Windows 95 all the way up to 7. The one in Windows 10 is okay, but 8 is a big no-no.
R0H1TExcept when it's not broke don't fix it! Windows has been arguably the more superior platform to Mac for eons, you don't want to break it just because someone likes or doesn't like the new UI :shadedshu:
Microsoft themselves have been trying pretty hard to "fix" (=break) the perfectly working Start menu just to please the handful of Windows tablet users of the world (all 4 of them) ever since Windows 8. They kind of got it working again in Windows 10, but for the love of God they couldn't leave it alone for 11. :shadedshu:
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#143
TheDeeGee
CalmmoSteam hardware survey says otherwise. Higher than you'd think in such a short amount of time.

Steam ain't world wide genius, it's just the platform.
persondbHonestly, aside from all other stuff that puts me off, just the UI alone is enough to keep me in W10.

I actually like Windows 10 start menu and the rest of the UI. While Windows 11 looks and works like an abomination.
I'm perfectly fine with the Win 10 start menu as well.

The one in Win 11 looks terrible to use without the actual program list. Not mention the right click context menu needing 2-3 clicks to get to 7-Zip and what not, who thought that was a good idea?
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#144
R0H1T
AusWolfMicrosoft themselves have been trying pretty hard to "fix" (=break) the perfectly working Start menu just to please the handful of Windows tablet users of the world (all 4 of them) ever since Windows 8. They kind of got it working again in Windows 10, but for the love of God they couldn't leave it alone for 11. :shadedshu:
That is an issue but the thing is MS is trying to make a similar UI for everything from desktops, notebooks, netbooks & tablets. Even for Windows on ARM it's basically the same ~ which obviously they could avoid but then desktop users would probably complain about those Windows tablets or 2 in 1's having lack of "desktop" feel. I personally hate the convoluted UI & missing (old) control panel settings. Start menu is not that big a deal for me, but those missing control panel stuff :shadedshu:

The issue with MS is that they have over a billion active users, maybe twice as many with bootleg copies, & moving away from win7 or tablets is hard. They should ideally do a separate touch oriented OS, why they haven't at least tried that ~ who knows? OEM's will have a major say in this though & it's quite likely a monetary decision because a lot of users don't like completely new & unfamiliar which'll hurt device sales.
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#145
chrcoluk
ChomiqMS lacks vision required to design a new OS from scratch and what we get instead are botched attempts at merging multiple branches over code that's been there for decades. They had UI designed for tablets, then someone saw a screenshot of this or a demo and said "Ok, let's put this in 11" without considering how will it work on regular displays that are 1080p or even lower res. Once eleven got released someone else decided that Office 365 needs to have the same type of design applied to it so now actual real estate when using any office app is greatly reduced because everything is 40% bigger.
I could design better UI in Paint.
Before:

After:

And you could still shave off lots of useless pixels that are there simply because UI is to be used on a touchscreen. That stupid top bar always has Icon, search bar and maybe filename. Why the hell does it have to take so much desktop real estate?
Yep that's insane wastage, you can forgive a voluntary freeware app developer for been lazy, but not a billion dollar corporation. All they need to do is design it for the desktop first and foremost, and do a tablet theme, but they stubbornly insist on one UI for both.

Even more crazy is that Windows is their market, yet they keep trying to push their software for a market they minnows in.
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#146
AusWolf
R0H1TThat is an issue but the thing is MS is trying to make a similar UI for everything from desktops, notebooks, netbooks & tablets.
That will never work, imo. A desktop computer with a full-size keyboard and a mouse is a completely different ecosystem than a touch-screen tablet or phone. They need entirely different UIs altogether.
R0H1TI personally hate the convoluted UI & missing (old) control panel settings. Start menu is not that big a deal for me, but those missing control panel stuff :shadedshu:
I'm OK with Windows 10's UI, and while I originally didn't like the idea of the new Settings menu instead of the old Control Panel, I've got used to it. There are still a few things left that I do in the Control Panel, but I can find my way around the Settings menu, too.
R0H1TThey should ideally do a separate touch oriented OS, why they haven't at least tried that ~ who knows?
I totally agree.
R0H1Ta lot of users don't like completely new & unfamiliar which'll hurt device sales.
That's why they should leave the UI alone... or at least develop two UIs - one for desktop, and one for tablets. They could do it with minimal resources, sort of like how you can swap between a normal and full-screen Start menu in Windows 10.
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#147
Bomby569
If you guys dislike W11 you're going to be ok with the all new W11.1, but wait a bit more until the W12 were all your complaints are answered... except a complete dark mode that is.
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#148
R0H1T
chrcolukyet they keep trying to push their software for a market they minnows in.
It's not necessarily MS, though you could argue with the surface lineup they're also part of the problem, but OEM's make a ton through touch based Windows devices & licensing there is still a major avenue of $$$ for MS. OEM's want something to compete with Apple, or Android, & MS can't say no.
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#149
chrcoluk
AretakThe UI really is a non-issue. It sucks, but you just install StartAllBack and it's gone. It fixes the Start menu, it fixes the taskbar, it fixes the context menus and can even put Explorer back to how it looked in Windows 10 (or even Windows 7) if you prefer that. The hardware requirements are also trivial to bypass. Rufus will automatically patch them out if you use it to create the installation media. I'm running it without my TPM or Secure Boot enabled, and have had no problems. It doesn't complain about anything and updates work just fine.

Beyond that, it's just Windows 10 with some minor improvements. It's somewhat lighter than Windows 10 and uses less RAM, comparing my custom debloating of both. It also outright allows you to disable telemetry via Group Policy if you're using Education or Enterprise (I installed the latter), which is something Windows 10 doesn't allow, with even those editions sending "necessary" data. I haven't encountered any more bugs than I ever had with Windows 10 either. Not that that's a high bar, given Microsoft's endless beta approach to Windows these days, but still.

It's really not a bad version of Windows once you fix Microsoft's boneheaded design decisions. On the whole I like it more than I ever liked Windows 10. In an ideal world I'd still prefer to be using Windows 7, but that becomes less and less viable, even with BypassESU.
Or you could just turn on the security features in 10 that 11 has on by default and you get the same with Windows 10? less work than fixing the UI and installing a new OS.

The only actual new feature I seen in 11 is for Alder Lake users.
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#150
Tech guy
AretakThe UI really is a non-issue. It sucks, but you just install StartAllBack and it's gone. It fixes the Start menu, it fixes the taskbar, it fixes the context menus and can even put Explorer back to how it looked in Windows 10 (or even Windows 7) if you prefer that. The hardware requirements are also trivial to bypass. Rufus will automatically patch them out if you use it to create the installation media. I'm running it without my TPM or Secure Boot enabled, and have had no problems. It doesn't complain about anything and updates work just fine.

Beyond that, it's just Windows 10 with some minor improvements. It's somewhat lighter than Windows 10 and uses less RAM, comparing my custom debloating of both. It also outright allows you to disable telemetry via Group Policy if you're using Education or Enterprise (I installed the latter), which is something Windows 10 doesn't allow, with even those editions sending "necessary" data. I haven't encountered any more bugs than I ever had with Windows 10 either. Not that that's a high bar, given Microsoft's endless beta approach to Windows these days, but still.

It's really not a bad version of Windows once you fix Microsoft's boneheaded design decisions. On the whole I like it more than I ever liked Windows 10. In an ideal world I'd still prefer to be using Windows 7, but that becomes less and less viable, even with BypassESU.
The taskbar can be moved back to the left in Windows 11 settings.
move the taskbar left, right-click anywhere on the taskbar and select Taskbar Settings from the pop-up menu—if you can call a menu with one item in it a menu. This will take you directly to the Personalization > Taskbar screen.

Here you can add/remove some of the items that appear on the taskbar, such as Search, Task view, Widgets, and Chat, which can be useful for keeping it clean.

The option you're looking for can be found at the bottom of this screen: Taskbar behaviors. Expand this section by clicking on it, and then set the taskbar alignment to 'Left' and you're done.
There are lots of tricks, right click on the main window icon opens up options, there are a bunch of personal changes you can make for making Windows 11 slick.
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