88 PCWorld JUNE 2022FEATURE WINDOWS 11 IS BETTER THAN WINDOWS 10
W
indows 11 isn’t bad.
Yes, we’ve called
Windows 11
“unnecessary,” (fave.
co/3cdEtj3) and we still feel that the average
person has no need to make the transition to
an unfamiliar, restrictive operating system.
But it would be unfair to say that Windows 11
hasn’t taken any steps ahead, either—yes,
beyond Windows 10. So we’re calling them
out, right here and right now.
I myself use Windows 11 on a daily basis,
as part and parcel of my coverage here at
PCWorld. As part of our “Windows 11 at six
months” (fave.co/3rARUlb) reexamination of
Windows, about the only aspect of Windows
11 that I refuse to use is the Start menu. It’s
simply poorly organized and offers little value.
I do think that eventually you’ll upgrade
your PC to Windows 11 if you haven’t done so
already, so this piece puts a spotlight on
some of its best bits. Rest assured that this
story isn’t trying to list all of the features of
Windows 11. Instead, these are the
meaningful features that we think justify an
upgrade. Our coverage of six new Windows
11 features to try first (fave.co/3Mz5lKW) andThe Windows 11 Taskbar.how to make Windows 11 look like Windows
10 (fave.co/3G1SpdZ) may also be of interest
if you decide to take the leap.A PRODUCTIVITY-FIRST
APPROACH
There is absolutely no way that anyone would
try to work on an Xbox. That means that
Microsoft can design its game console for
games, with an interface, Game Pass
subscription service, and Auto Resume
features all designed to buy, play, and resume
games as quickly as possible. Let’s face it: On
the Xbox, the Edge browser is an afterthought
(and a real pain to use, incidentally).
Windows itself suffers from a fundamental
dichotomy: It’s an operating system for work
and play. Windows 10 leans more toward fun,
and Windows 11 feels optimized for a work
environment. Why? Microsoft CEO Satya
Nadella said it best: Windows is the “socket” for
Microsoft subscriptions (fave.co/3Nn7etT), and
the most lucrative subscription is Microsoft 365,
née Office. Windows 11 was therefore designed
around Microsoft 365.
That’s more than a little cynical, but okay.
If the Start menu wasn’t so useless,