If this is released soon, and it's as good as you say, and my Windows 7 computer survives long enough, I will have been able to totally skip Windows 10. Couldn't happen to a nicer operating system.

When Microsoft released Windows 10, it made the decision to offer free upgrades for devices running Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, provided that these devices were activated with a genuine license. A core reason for the free upgrades was Microsoft's 1-billion devices running Windows 10 goal, which it failed to reach in the projected time. Even today, it is possible to upgrade machines running Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 for free to Windows 10.

The upcoming official unveiling of Windows 11, Microsoft's next operating system, will reveal several important tidbits about the operating system. One question that many customers may have is, whether the upgrade to Microsoft's new operating system will be free.

Microsoft has not revealed anything in regards to upgrades to Windows 11 from existing copies of Windows, and whether these updates will be free or not.

https://www.ghacks.net/2021/06/18/will-you-be-able-to-upgrade-to-windows-11-for-free/

(sure looks like MS will call this Windows 11 to me ! )


I say beta, because I doubt it's 100% ready for shipping.

I cannot see any huge differences in performance, yet. On the positive side, it is no worse than Windows 10.

I'm not crazy about the new interface (Windows 10x-ish) but that's my bias. Others I am sure will love it. You can leave the taskbar icons in the middle, or to the left if you wish. There is STILL the Start button, so Microsoft learned their lesson from the Windows 8 debacle. If you right-click the Start button, you can no longer get Command Prompt but get Power Shell instead. No real biggie. They both work more or less the same unless you really use the Power Shell commands.

One thing I do not like, is you used to be able to right-click the taskbar and evoke the Task Manager. No longer. I got Powershell, typed in taskmgr.exe and got it that way, then pinned the Task Manager to the taskbar because I use it fairly often.

Also, you cannot make an entry on the taskbar for the Desktop, which was very handy. If you right-click on the taskbar, you only get Taskbar Settings in the main Settings app. Now, it is true that you have File Explorer already pinned to the taskbar and if you right-click that icon, you can get the Desktop which is pinned to it.

The Settings app is pretty much the same. The scroll bars look a bit different but work the same.

Control Panel is the same, from what I can see.

The rumor I have read is that Windows 11 will be offered as a free upgrade. That would be smart, if MS did that.

I can adapt to the changes. A bit annoying but I can adapt.

You can still get to the Task Manager by right clicking the start menu Icon.

It seems we are both using the same build.

https://imgur.com/4pLyctN

That is also a huge go-to of mine. I just wonder what possible rationale they could have for eliminating it and requiring a multi-click workaround.

Just, why? arrgh

Of course, removing it annoys you and I and many others like us. It was a nice time-saver and convenient, and I cannot think of a logical reason to remove it, besides some art director's concept of a " beautiful OS ". Phooey. Function before beauty, I say.