Yeah. I spent years saying "Linux is a bit better than Windows now, but I can't give you a compelling reason to switch, if you're comfortable and happy."
They're removing Wordpad. WORDPAD. because they want people to buy Office 365. The bastards. And they wonder why people turn on them.
It's death by 1000 cuts.
The list is effectively all bs and such a stretch. The 'feature parity' begins at windows backup:
New interface
Windows 11 is easier on the eyes and easier to use. We took the best elements of Windows 10 and refined them to create a soothing place to work and play.
Wake on approach. Lock on leave.
Windows 11 can automatically wake up when you approach and lock when you leave. 3
Smart App Control
Exclusive to Windows 11 is Smart App Control. It provides a layer of security by only permitting apps with good reputations to be installed. Only available on the latest version of Windows 11. 4
Seamless redocking
If you connect your PC to an external display, Windows 11 can remember where you had those windows when you leave, come back, and reconnect. 6 This feature is new and exclusive to Windows 11.
Live captions
With live captions on Windows 11, speech in incoming audio (such as through a Microsoft Teams call) can be transcribed into captions. 7
Natural Narrator
To read, or to be read to? Natural Narrator can turn text into spoken words. 7
Windows Studio Effects
Background Blur, Eye Contact, Voice Focus, and Automatic Framing. Better video calling awaits. 14
Controller bar
Jump back into the game you last played or into a new game entirely with the Controller bar. 19 Only on Windows 11.
Auto HDR
Auto HDR increases the range of colors both new and old games can produce. Available only on Windows 11, this new calibration app increases control of color. 15
Widgets
Widgets are new for Windows 11. It’s best for staying up to date with all the things you need to keep tabs on: schedules, weather, stocks, sports—even celebrity gossip.
Windows Backup
Feel at home instantly on your new PC. With Windows Backup, 28 29 30 you can set things up to your liking by easily transferring some of your favorite settings, files, and apps from your old PC.
Backup and restore
Backup only
Paint
Paint is a simple and powerful graphics editor that comes with Windows. You can use it to create and edit images, draw shapes, add text, and more. New to Windows 11, Paint now comes with AI-powered tools 31 to help you edit images like a pro and create art like a visionary.
Cocreator, 31 32 33 Background Removal, 31 and Layers
Sync your PC and phone
Make and take calls. Reply to texts. Check and dismiss notifications. Use Phone Link to do it all from your Windows PC without even taking your phone out of your pocket. This feature is available for Android™ and iPhone® devices in Windows 11, and is available for Android in Windows 10. 27
Android and iPhone
Android only
Touchscreen
While Windows 10 worked well with touch inputs 1 , Windows 11 has been designed with them in mind for a true mouse-less or keyboard-less experience.
Search
You can find the Search bar in the Start Menu of Windows 11, and it can find whatever you can’t. That’s files, apps, or anything you want online. On Windows 11 the Search bar is in a new, easy to find, central location.
TPM
Trusted Platform Module (TPM) technology is designed to provide hardware-based, security-related functions. Windows 11 requires TPM 2.0 for features that rely on the TPM for capabilities such as key generation, secure storage, encryption, boot integrity measurements, and attestation. These capabilities help organizations strengthen the protection of their identities and data. TPM 2.0 includes support for newer algorithms, which provides improvements like support for stronger cryptography.
Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Edge is optimized for Windows 11. The browser and OS will work together to bring you the browsing speed and security you need.
OneDrive backup
OneDrive backup is available on both Windows 11 and 10, providing your photos, documents, and other files a second life if, for example, your PC is stolen.
Windows Security app
The Windows Security app serves as the security dashboard and is available on both Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Snap assist
Snap assist makes the most of your screen space by arranging your open windows into perfectly aligned grids. 5 And on Windows 11, it’s now easier to find and use.
Desktop groups
With desktop groups, you can organize your open apps and windows into separate “desktops” to make it easier to switch between work and play modes. It was introduced on Windows 10, but vastly improved for Windows 11.
Contrast themes
High contrast themes are available in both Windows 10 and 11 to help those with low vision see easier.
Voice control
Windows 11 can interpret your voice into commands, like “Open [name of app]” or “Scroll Down.” This feature builds on Windows 10 and is greatly enhanced on 11. 9
Redesigned Microsoft Store
The redesigned Microsoft Store makes finding apps, movies, and TV shows you love easy, and comes ready to do so on both Windows 10 and 11.
Snipping tool
Snipping Tool is available on both Windows 10 and 11 to help users crop screenshots to share to others exactly what you’re seeing.
Journal app
The Journal app on Windows 11 provides the intimacy of handwriting 11 with the convenience of a digital app.
Clipchamp
With dynamic templates 12 and dazzling effects, Clipchamp makes it easy for anyone to edit videos like a pro. It comes built into Windows 11 but is available for Windows 10 via download from the Microsoft Store.
Digital pen
Digital Pen 13 input on Windows 11 builds on the progress made on Windows 10, providing an improved feel and incorporating haptic feedback.
Emojis
Whenever words won't do, Emojis are just a couple clicks away. And only Windows 11 comes with the new emoji clipboard (win + v). 26
DirectStorage
Games with larger worlds that load in less time. It’s possible with DirectStorage 16 and available on both Windows 10 and 11.
DirectX 12 Ultimate
This is what harnesses your hardware to produce stunning graphics for your games and is available on both Windows 10 and 11. 17
3D spatial sound
This technology makes it possible for you to perceive the sources of sound in games. 3 It requires compatible headphones and is available on both Windows 10 and 11.
PC Game Pass
PC Game Pass grants you access to over a hundred games for one low monthly membership fee and is available for both Windows 10 and 11. 18
Xbox game bar
No need to Alt+tab to change songs, check graphics performance, or find friends. Just use the hotkey Win+G in Windows 11 and 10 to bring up the overlay made for better play.
Get Started
The Get Started app is designed to help you get to know Windows 11 better.
Microsoft account
A Microsoft account can be your one passport to all things Microsoft, from Office to Xbox and more.
OneDrive file transfer
When you upgrade your Windows device, you can use OneDrive file transfer to seamlessly roll over your files and settings. 25
Windows on ARM
Devices with thin and light designs and amazing battery life that run the apps you care about. 20
Windows 11 is easier on the eyes and easier to use. We took the best elements of Windows 10 and refined them to create a soothing place to work and play.
Nah, no, hiding basic stuff behind bazillion clicks in nested menus deeper than hell is not "easier to use".
Wake on approach. Lock on leave.
Windows 11 can automatically wake up when you approach and lock when you leave.
Why would I want that on a desktop that needs to do work even when I'm AFK? My PC doesn't even have a password on it—because if a stranger gets access to it, something has already gone horribly wrong and a burglar seeing my furry pics is the least of my problems🤪
3D spatial sound
This technology makes it possible for you to perceive the sources of sound in games. 3 It requires compatible headphones and is available on both Windows 10 and 11.
I don't use headphones and I already have a bangin' good surround sound setup with 18" sub and tactile transducers.
Smart App Control
Exclusive to Windows 11 is Smart App Control. It provides a layer of security by only permitting apps with good reputations to be installed. Only available on the latest version of Windows 11.
Why the fuck would I want that? I and only I get to decide what programs have the priviledge of getting installed and what don't. I bet M$ will deny "good reputation" to harmless code injection mods for games (SKSE/OBSE et al, ENB) because these are basically hacking while allowing data-stealing privacy nightmares like Discord app.
Oh that controller bar sounds awesome. I've always hated how on PC when you play a game, you can never launch that game again. So glad they finally solved that issue.
The main reason I didn't move to Windows 11 when it was new was it being picky and refusing to install on a processor that was only released two years before the OS (my setup itself being only a year old at the time). Since most things I've read about it since then act as a deterrent to upgrading instead of an incentive I now have no real inclination to try and update from 10 until I'm forced to by software requirements.
But why would you upgrade if forced? You know you will have a subpar experience. Is it because of software you use that only runs on Windows?
The software I need on Windows will live on an isolated instance of Windows 10 in a VM on Linux when the time comes that MS stops releasing security updates for 10.
I still retain a Windows install for games, and eventually things stop working easily. I kept running Windows 7 up until around when I built my current PC (2020) and that upgrade was due to some compatibility issue - I can't remember whether it was hardware compatibility with the new setup or a game/launcher requiring Windows 10 before I upgraded. I expect that I will eventually get something that wants 11 to work.
Mind you I spend a lot less time on games these days and I will probably get a few more years out of that computer - it might be a good while before compatibility/security becomes an issue and I'm required to consider moving on.
Many folks have older PCs that won't run 11. And buying a new PC not high on the list when you're worried about paying for rent, food, transportation, medicine, etc.
For many is probably just the right opportunity to jump to apple. For older folk, they will keep using windows xp/vista.
Microsoft offers little to no value over the alternatives.
Most of us, tech savvy are already in linux we will probably just delete the Windows partition.
I've recently gotten a couple (absolutely tech illiterate) friends and family to move to Linux. It's finally there - it's much easier to use than windows now.
And if you don't want to keep shelling out for new computers every few years, doubly so - Linux works fine on decade+ old hardware (and you can keep upgrading practically indefinitely to stay within security windows, so you barely ever need to actually buy new hardware)
This list genuinely looks like some of the marketing they had around Win7 times. No joke.
Snap? Yep, advertised feature. Touchscreen stuff? Absolutely! Better search? Yeah, advertised (and it was true in Windows 7!). New app to make movies? They got it. I guess the Win 7 page was missing Widgets. That was a Vista feature instead...
Yeah, I've already moved most of machines over to various Linux distro because of Windows bloat, spying, ads, etc. For the one windows box I keep, Ameliorated Windows 10 has been treating me pretty well as it seems to strip out most of the crap that keeps getting grafted on to drive shareholder value or whatever.
When I'm using Explorer I can't drag and drop files onto one of the directories on the breadcrumb bar. I either have to cut and paste or open another instance. I also can't add items to jump lists unless I allow showing recent files on the Start Menu.