Windows 11 ISO Leaks to the Web, New Start Screen, Mac-like Centered Dock, Rounded Edges

[The red spirit]

What the heck was so much better with W7 ? Nothing !!!

Beyond DirectX 12 and nicer task manager, Windows 10 brought nothing to me. Windows 8 and 8.1 weren't great releases. And if you are like that, if Microsoft wanted to, they could just add technical features to Windows 2000 and make it modern, therefore all those new features are likely to be implemented regardless of Windows version update and the only new version changes that are completely tied to new release have been UI changes. And pretty much since Windows 2000, there barely have been any changes that actually made Windows usage easier, faster or nicer. Windows already had a perfect computer UI and they only needed to refresh it to make it look modern in order to attract noobs that can barely find power button. Ever since 7, there has been less and less incentive to upgrade and Windows 10 was at that point, where I thought that maybe it's really not worth it. Windows 11 as it currently is makes me really think that staying with 10 may be OK. Upgrading Windows version is a major pain in ass and takes pretty much whole day. It's an unpleasant process and it's not something that is really worth doing just for new UI. They better add some truly meaningful features or it's no bueno.

 

[lexluthermiester]

What the heck was so much better with W7 ? Nothing !!!

Your opinion, most don't agree with. Windows 7 was excellent, easily Microsoft's finest OS version.

 

[CountMike]

Beyond DirectX 12 and nicer task manager, Windows 10 brought nothing to me. Windows 8 and 8.1 weren't great releases. And if you are like that, if Microsoft wanted to, they could just add technical features to Windows 2000 and make it modern, therefore all those new features are likely to be implemented regardless of Windows version update and the only new version changes that are completely tied to new release have been UI changes. And pretty much since Windows 2000, there barely have been any changes that actually made Windows usage easier, faster or nicer. Windows already had a perfect computer UI and they only needed to refresh it to make it look modern in order to attract noobs that can barely find power button. Ever since 7, there has been less and less incentive to upgrade and Windows 10 was at that point, where I thought that maybe it's really not worth it. Windows 11 as it currently is makes me really think that staying with 10 may be OK. Upgrading Windows version is a major pain in ass and takes pretty much whole day. It's an unpleasant process and it's not something that is really worth doing just for new UI. They better add some truly meaningful features or it's no bueno.

Could have, should have but they didn't and W7 had played well while it lasted. Beside Linux I always run previous and new windows on same machine at least for a while until new Windows get established enough to stand alone. That way I can have good comparison between each. I briefly had W8/8.1 but switched it for W10 within fist month when W10 test version came out. It was so close to 8.1 that I saw no reason to keep 8.1 and UI pleased me more.
In any case, I was always going for for performance and W10 outstriped 7 by good margin as hardware got better.

Your opinion, most don't agree with. Windows 7 was excellent, easily Microsoft's finest OS version.

My experience with both and that "Most" is just BS and highly disputable.

 

[lexluthermiester]

My experience with both and that "Most" is just BS and highly disputable.

Your experience is yours alone. It took more than 4 years for Windows 10 to overtake Windows 7 in worldwide adoption in both common use and gaming. Those stats are easily found. Your opinion is easily contestable.

However, we're off-topic. This thread is about Windows 11, not 7.

 

[Shrek]

The free version of WinToUSB will install the Home version (not Pro) to a hard drive; seems like the easiest way to take Windows 11 for a spin.

 

[Dyatlov A]

Your experience is yours alone. It took more than 4 years for Windows 10 to overtake Windows 7 in worldwide adoption in both common use and gaming. Those stats are easily found. Your opinion is easily contestable.

However, we're off-topic. This thread is about Windows 11, not 7.

And when Windows 11 will be done, Win 7 will overtake again Win 10 .

 

[TheOne]

In my opinion Windows 2000 and Windows 7 are the best examples of the Windows operating system, I think they are hoping the more pure version of Windows 10, 10X/11, will be as popular as the final revised version of Vista, 7.

 

[arunmcops]

an ASUS VivoBook Flip TM420 is about $392 here. Its not a full on tablet by any means but it will run windows

BTW there is no tablet mode in this build.

 

[lexluthermiester]

And when Windows 11 will be done, Win 7 will overtake again Win 10 .

THAT would be funny. Assuming Windows 11 is worthy... So for it LOOKS good but until people have had a chance to test it out in a more complete form the jury will remain out..

 

[TheOne]

So is there any indication on how old this build is?

 

[quadibloc]

Intel and AMD are both planning to release processors similar to the big.LITTLE ones from ARM, and as noted in the article, Windows 11 will feature a new scheduler which will allow those procesors to be properly utilized. That's a positive change, even if the best thing they could do to the user interface would be to bring it back to the one we had with Windows 7.

 

[WhitetailAni]

First impressions.
1. Dang it, Microsoft, couldn't you have named it something more interesting than "Windows 11"?
Give us our cool names back! Like Windows Vista again! Windows Marvell or something.
2. Way too much padding. I like things close together to not waste space. I hope there is a way to change that.
3. Have they fixed the Control Panel v. Settings war yet?
4. Other than security, UI, and scheduler changes (for big.LITTLE), is there any reason to upgrade? Is MS bringing DirectX 13 or something to compel us to upgrade/

Second impressions (after reading the thread):
1. The whole thing is running on Edge or something? Heck no! I already have to install Edge Deflector to avoid running Edge whenever I accidentally search something in Windows' search bar. Microsoft, so far you're not doing so well.
2. Notepad gone? More points gone. I get that this is a dev release, but still. Notepad is amazing and I want it to stay.
3. I hope you can uninstall OneDrive still. I hate OneDrive since I want to be able to use the stuff on my Users folder whether I have Internet or not.
4. It seems they have not fixed the Control Panel v. Settings war.

Third impressions (after running the leaked ISO in a VM):
1. The OneDrive installer runs on startup. When running on a single core of a Ryzen 5 3600, it eats up 70% of the CPU.
2. WAY too much padding. This opinion has been reinforced. I can fit three file entries on W10 File Explorer where W11's File Explorer fits two file entries. I hope there is a way to change this.
3. I hate the new File Explorer icons. The old archive, folder, Documents/Downloads/Videos/Pictures/Music were better. I don't mind the new drive icon pictures though. They look nice, and were due for an update. The rest of the icons though were FINE and should not have been touched.
4. I would like Aero Glass back.

 

[johnp]

First impressions.
1. Dang it, Microsoft, couldn't you have named it something more interesting than "Windows 11"?
Give us our cool names back! Like Windows Vista again! Windows Marvell or something.
2. Way too much padding. I like things close together to not waste space. I hope there is a way to change that.
3. Have they fixed the Control Panel v. Settings war yet?

Control panel still exists.

4. Other than security, UI, and scheduler changes (for big.LITTLE), is there any reason to upgrade? Is MS bringing DirectX 13 or something to compel us to upgrade/

Second impressions (after reading the thread):
1. The whole thing is running on Edge or something? Heck no! I already have to install Edge Deflector to avoid running Edge whenever I accidentally search something in Windows' search bar. Microsoft, so far you're not doing so well.

Edge works the same as in Windows 10.

2. Notepad gone? More points gone. I get that this is a dev release, but still. Notepad is amazing and I want it to stay.

The Notepad still exists.

3. I hope you can uninstall OneDrive still. I hate OneDrive since I want to be able to use the stuff on my Users folder whether I have Internet or not.

OneDrive can be uninstalled.

 

[Marshal_90]

After working with the so called "New" OS I can say that the new start menu is not that bad BUT, releasing a new OS just reminds me of the 2015 when they released the Windows 10.

We're in 2021 and still it's not stable as Windows 7! After all these years It still has some bugs.

So I would've been be so much happier if the new OS was just another feature pack update or something for Windows 10.

 

[PLAfiller]

I just hope there will be some cheap way to upgrade. Some of us paid full price back in the days of Win10.

 

[TheUn4seen]

Bright colors, a ton of padding and A LOT of wasted screen space. The UI is obviously designed for touch input and people who are, let's say, less intellectually developed. What I mean is, it's probably good for people who only scroll through Facebook with their greasy fingers on their touchy-feely toys, not so much for doing actual work.

I think Microsoft wants to push the serious crowd to Linux and leave Windows as a dumbed-down OS for the uneducated masses, in other words make it another MacOS. I have to say I'm fine with that, I consider Windows to to be an "OS for playing games and unimportant Internet browsing" since Windows 8.

 

[johnp]

I just hope there will be some cheap way to upgrade. Some of us paid full price back in the days of Win10.

I have read Windows 11 will be available as a free upgrade to all Windows 10 users.

 

[PLAfiller]

Bright colors, a ton of padding and A LOT of wasted screen space. The UI is obviously designed for touch input and people who are, let's say, less intellectually developed. What I mean is, it's probably good for people who only scroll through Facebook with their greasy fingers on their touchy-feely toys, not so much for doing actual work.

I think Microsoft wants to push the serious crowd to Linux and leave Windows as a dumbed-down OS for the uneducated masses, in other words make it another MacOS. I have to say I'm fine with that, I consider Windows to to be an "OS for playing games and unimportant Internet browsing" since Windows 8.

I am not the one to judge, but I think this is way too harsh. I am an average Joe and by no means I can write a code or anything. I tried Linux for a full month on my laptop. I chose Linux Mint one of the basic editions. Hands down it is impressive for what I saw, but I was tired of constantly looking for a command to copy and paste so I can get my work done. And device's support is not always stellar, depending on what particular setup you have. I do like control (coming from a person customized his android phone from the filesystem and phone cache to whatever you name it), but when I spend more time fixing my PC than using it....I am sorry but I actually like less control in some situations. You are saying people using Windows are not doing anything productive on their PC? Billions of people, programming, designing, CAD/CAM, you name it....OS and PC are just a tool, like a knife. Some people save lives with a knife, and some people take lives with a knife. That doesn't make the knife a bad one.

 

[CountMike]

Bright colors, a ton of padding and A LOT of wasted screen space. The UI is obviously designed for touch input and people who are, let's say, less intellectually developed. What I mean is, it's probably good for people who only scroll through Facebook with their greasy fingers on their touchy-feely toys, not so much for doing actual work.

I think Microsoft wants to push the serious crowd to Linux and leave Windows as a dumbed-down OS for the uneducated masses, in other words make it another MacOS. I have to say I'm fine with that, I consider Windows to to be an "OS for playing games and unimportant Internet browsing" since Windows 8.

Still same comments since W8 ??

 

[kayjay010101]

For me personally, Linux looks way too flat. It looks like it's trying to be modern with an OS feel that resembles Windows 2000. I just cant do it.

And it's overly complicated for my liking.

You do realize Linux isn't an OS? It's a type of OS. There are so many different versions of Linux that saying they all look like one thing is absurd.
Overly complicated I will agree with in most distros. From an end-user perspective being expected to understand the file structure and commands in terminal isn't exactly great. Ubuntu however does a great job of streamlining this so most users never even have to touch the terminal. And if you do, it would be for the same reasons a Windows user would have to open the command prompt. I think it's more of a case of you're used to Windows, so it's not complicated to you. You have years and years of experience with the philosophy and way of thinking that Windows has. With Linux, that is very different. Almost everything is done in a different way, some well and some bad. But it's for sure something you would need to acclamate to and get used to. From an outside perspective it does look complicated, but so would Windows if you'd never used it.

 

[Prima.Vera]

DirectSound3D. Where is it??

 

[dyonoctis]

Bright colors, a ton of padding and A LOT of wasted screen space. The UI is obviously designed for touch input and people who are, let's say, less intellectually developed. What I mean is, it's probably good for people who only scroll through Facebook with their greasy fingers on their touchy-feely toys, not so much for doing actual work.

I think Microsoft wants to push the serious crowd to Linux and leave Windows as a dumbed-down OS for the uneducated masses, in other words make it another MacOS. I have to say I'm fine with that, I consider Windows to to be an "OS for playing games and unimportant Internet browsing" since Windows 8.

So a good Interface is an interface that is mentally challenging ?

 

[arunmcops]

The free version of WinToUSB will install the Home version (not Pro) to a hard drive; seems like the easiest way to take Windows 11 for a spin.

Because ei.cfg is missing in sources folder.

 

[biffzinker]

2. Notepad gone? More points gone. I get that this is a dev release, but still. Notepad is amazing and I want it to stay.

Notepad has been turned into a UWP App starting with Windows 11.

 

[lexluthermiester]

So I would've been be so much happier if the new OS was just another feature pack update or something for Windows 10.

I can't agree with this. Windows 10 has earned itself a reputation and not a good one. Microsoft is correct trying to leave it behind. The key point is that they need to get A WHOLE LOT right for Windows 11 to shine and stand above the gloom cast by Windows 10.