By Steve Tylock
Windows 11 Is Here
Yes, we all know Microsoft has released Windows 11. Yes, you can buy new PCs with it. And yes, you can probably even upgrade your existing Windows 10 PC to it.
But should you?
My advice as of mid-February 2022 is that you might have a better experience if you hold off on updating to Windows 11.
And here’s why…
Your Software Might Not Be Compatible
Most current software is expected to be compatible after updating to Windows 11. Most. Current. Not all. Do you have assurances from all your other software providers?
- Accounting
- ERP
- Graphics and Visual Editing
- CRM and Sales
- Business-line
Wanting a bit of realism for this section, a quick browser search netted me this vendor statement about Windows 11:
What is 3Shape’s recommendation on upgrading?
Because we are still assessing Windows 11 compatibility with our solutions, we recommend that you wait with upgrading to Windows 11 until we have completed testing. By holding off, we can ensure the stability of your systems. Microsoft will continue to support Windows 10 until at least 2025.”
Imagine if you count on some specific software for your business. Something used every day or even something you just run once a month. One you don’t think of too often – but need it when you need it. Sure, there is a 10 day window to “undo” an upgrade to Windows 11 – but what happens when you don’t realize it until day 11…
How would you feel if that software didn’t work quite right?
The Websites You Visit
I know we all like to think that any website works the same under Chrome, Firefox, Edge and that old standard Internet Explorer…
But they don’t. There are preferred browsers for certain sites. If you are logging into office.com, you will probably enjoy the experience best if you are using Microsoft’s Edge. Likewise, your best Google experience is with Chrome.
And, the thing you cannot forget is that there was a long period of time that Internet Explorer was THE browser for the majority of sites.
And, it has officially been retired by Microsoft – you can’t even have it with Windows 11. We’ve already seen it – websites that don’t work with Edge are no longer accessible when their clients switch to Windows 11. If this happens to you, it is out of your control. You’ll have to wait for the website to be designed to work better with newer browsers.
Your Hardware
We know new PC’s will work with Windows 11. Not true with older systems. In fact, CPU requirements alone mean most PC’s from before 2019 will not work (Windows 11 does not support 7th Generation Intel CPU’s).
Yes, you can check your specs to see if your existing PC should work with Windows 11.
The question is – do you have a plan if somehow the pre-check was wrong.
Because you’ll be invested in time and emotion about a change that might be destined to not work out well for you.
Patience Is A Virtue
Most of us can remember when Windows 10 was new. There was a lot of hesitation, but eventually it worked out and so for 7 years we’ve had this stable platform.
Do you remember when the pledge was that Windows 10 was going to be the last operating system? I do – and you can look it up.
Windows 10 is going to be supported for 3 more years, so you’ve got time.
So, upgrade to Windows 11? Taking action that might ruin your week is not something I can encourage.
Every Other Version
People seemed to like XP, but Vista didn’t have an impact. Windows 7 was worthwhile, 8 so much.
We don’t quite know what will happen with Windows 11, the version after Windows 10 (that was well accepted). Maybe wait and see.
If you review our thoughts on the lifetime of a PC – there’s no good reason for updating to Windows 11 on any PC you currently possess. More likely, you’ll want to replace that PC before Windows 10 support ends. You can feel comfortable just running them as-is until their life runs out.
And this is a good conversation to have with your technology partner, because the way it works in your organization might be just a little different.
If this is a topic you’d like to explore more, we’d be happy to talk. The fun starts when you bring up the unique situations that face your organization.
In the Rochester area, CMIT Solutions provides local, responsive IT support and technology services for small to mid-sized businesses. As your IT partner, we ensure systems are running, your data is secure, and your staff is productive. Backed by a national system, we have over 200 locations across the country with local ownership in Rochester.
Steve Tylock is a systems infrastructure professional with broad information technology experiences in servers, desktops, networks, security, applications, team development, and solution architecture across the domains of business, education, government, and manufacturing. He specializes in analyzing environments leading to strategies and plans for growth and excellence.
