Windows 11 was released in October, and machines equipped with it are being sold one after another, as well as being updated with Windows updates. However, with every version upgrade, there have been cases in which people have been hesitant to switch immediately due to concerns about compatibility and differences in usability. So this time, let's introduce the differences and some new features to use comfortably even after moving to Windows 11.
Sentence / Smart Work Research Institute Editorial Department
It's been about six years since Windows 10 came out. It was said that there would be no more numbering changes, but it was released as Windows 11 in October 2021. There may already be people and companies who have upgraded via Windows Update or introduced autumn/winter model machines with Windows 11 installed.
This version of Windows 11 is small compared to previous major version upgrades. The focus is on adding functions and strengthening security in line with changes in work styles due to telework due to the disaster. As such, there are almost no common compatibility concerns.
That said, Windows 11 looks a lot different. Therefore, this time, we will focus on the differences from Windows 10.
Windows 11 screen. The UI has been redesigned and the icons are simple and easy to see. The Start Menu is now displayed in the center
If you've already seen the Windows 11 screen, you probably know that the Start button, which used to sit at the left end of the taskbar, has been centered, including tasks and shortcuts.
The start button, which suddenly disappeared in Windows 8 and was unpopular, and revived in Windows 8.1, can be said to be a symbolic existence of Windows. Perhaps many people are familiar with the flow of displaying the menu from the start button and launching the application. Therefore, in the beginning, you may have a habit of moving the cursor to the left end.
If you really don't like the center alignment, go to "Settings" > "Personal Settings" > "Taskbar" and set "Taskbar Alignment" to "Left Alignment". A button is provided. By the way, the arrangement of the taskbar is now only at the bottom
The start menu itself has also changed completely. Applications that are "pinned" are lined up with recommended applications on Windows by default. Not all of them are installed and some are installed for the first time when you click on them. If you update and migrate from the previous environment, unfortunately, what was pinned in Windows 10 will not be reflected. So if you want to use pinning again, you'll have to start over.
For frequently used apps, we recommend creating shortcuts on the desktop or pinning them to the taskbar. That way, you can start working smoothly without opening the start menu. However, the apps you use occasionally will be traced from the start menu.
You can display a shortcut icon next to the power button in the start menu in Start Folders in Settings > Personalization
Since it is next to the power button, it is also a good idea to arrange frequently accessed folders.
If you want to find an app, it may be faster to use the search function. You can search not only apps, but also websites, but you'll quickly find apps that you can't launch without digging deep into the Start menu.
If you click "All apps" from the start menu, the apps will be listed like before
If you want to find an app, the search function will help you find it faster. By the way, the voice assistant "Cortana" has retired
The difference around the taskbar is that Teams is installed as standard, so a shortcut to start a chat is displayed in advance. However, since Teams is for individuals, if you want to use Teams for corporations, you need to install it separately.
Furthermore, the task view will be merged with the virtual desktops, allowing you to set the wallpaper for each virtual desktop. This makes it easier to recognize which desktop you are viewing when using multiple virtual desktops. Conversely, the Timeline has been discontinued, but you can still access recently opened files in the Start menu's "Recommended".
Unify task view and virtual desktop. You can change the wallpaper from the virtual desktop right-click menu at the bottom
In addition, the specification of the notification area has also changed, and the network and volume settings are displayed and set together. You can turn on/off the function, but all detailed settings are now using the "Settings" app.
The network, speaker power, etc. in the notification area are now displayed together in a popup. Power settings should be moved to the "Settings" app instead of here
The right-click menu of the taskbar is only "Taskbar settings", and the "Task Manager" is started from the right-click menu of the start button. think.
There is a right-click menu for the start button. Task Manager will start from here
Looking at the desktop, the Explorer window has a slightly softer look with rounded corners, and new icons to make it simpler and easier to read. In particular, "Documents," "Pictures," and "Videos," which are often used, are symbolized and color-coded, so even small icons can be recognized at once.
"Explorer" screen. The window is rounded and the square and colorful icons make it easy to see.
The menu is also easy to see with icons, but the right-click menu is a little strange. Until now, items registered separately by applications etc. were also displayed, but basically only Windows standard items are displayed. The added items are displayed when you select "Show more options", which takes more time and effort. For this reason, if you install too many apps and the menu items become bloated, you may find it rather difficult to handle. It seems that the user-friendliness has been improved by narrowing down the menu to the frequently used items and displaying additional menus when necessary.
The item that appears when you right-click a file. Only very basic things are displayed
Choose "Show more options" to see all items. Since the first displayed menu disappears, it feels like it is displayed at a slightly distant position
The snap function of the window can also be used from the conventional simple 4 divisions to highly versatile divisions. Hover over the "Enlarge window" icon with the mouse cursor to choose from 6 different window layouts. At the same time, you can also specify where to display, so it may be easier than keyboard shortcuts. Recently, more and more people are working on large screens with 4K resolution, so I would like to use it as a means to effectively use the entire screen.
If you move the mouse cursor over the "zoom in" icon in the window, a chip will be displayed, and you can specify the division method and display position.
Otherwise, widgets are making a comeback. Windows 10 also has a mechanism to display news etc. in the notification area, but it is more simple and easy to understand, calendars and tasks can be displayed, and it can be customized freely.
Widgets are back. You can specify and display your favorite items
Settings is now easier to access and easier to understand, with categories always visible on the left. The display of each item is also unified, making it very easy to see
The biggest change is the "Settings". In Windows 10, although it was gradually updated, it was not easy to see, and it was difficult to understand where and what items were.
In Windows 11 Settings, the categories are now lined up on the left and can be accessed at any time. In addition, each item is displayed in a unified manner, making it easier to set.
The connections of devices that you think you will use frequently are organized with icons for easy understanding, and you can easily set the mouse, keyboard, and pen. In addition, synchronization with Android smartphones can also be performed from here, increasing affinity.
You can change the settings of devices connected via Bluetooth or USB from here. It was a pleasure to be put together
Each item in the network is also very easy to see as you can see
In "Power & Battery" in "System", you can see more detailed battery level
If you have an Android device, you can synchronize with "Smartphone Sync" in "Bluetooth and Devices". It is quite convenient to be able to exchange photos and videos without going through the cloud.
In this way, in this version upgrade, the UI has evolved to be easier to use and easier to see, so even if you migrate from Windows 10, you can use it without much hesitation. Especially for those who have changed their work style to telework-centered work, it is easy to start online meetings, and when working by connecting to a large screen display, the improved snap function should allow you to work more efficiently. is.
From now on, major updates (function updates) that were performed twice a year will be performed once a year, and the support period will be fixed to 36 months for corporations, making it easier for companies to manage. There is still time until the end of support for Windows 10, but we recommend that you switch to it as soon as possible.
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