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Microsoft has officially launched Windows 11, with the operating system phased out starting October 5th.

The release has been long awaited by both consumers and tech industry professionals, with the update adding a slew of new features like a redesigned Start menu, Microsoft Teams integration, and the promise of faster future updates.

Windows Chief Product Officer Panos Panay, who was promoted to Executive Vice President in August, announced the launch of Windows Blogs and thanked Microsoft partners for their support.

“We are grateful to our entire ecosystem of partners who have played an important role in preparing us to bring Windows 11 into the hands of our customers around the world. From OEM and app partners to silicon to retail and our Windows insiders – without them a market launch on this global scale would not be possible, ”he said.

“On behalf of the entire team, we are committed to bringing you Windows 11, the Windows that brings you closer to what you love. We look forward to seeing the dreams and ideas you bring to life with Windows 11. This is just the beginning, ”he added.

The tech industry was quick to share their thoughts on adoption, and many believe that Windows 11 will not have a significant impact as business uptake is likely to be slow.

For example, Ranjit Atwal, Senior Research Director at Gartner, told IT Pro that he would not expect “significant changes” from the introduction in the broader PC market. Many companies will likely wait until next year to upgrade to Windows 11, he added, as various apps are uncertain about availability and compatibility.

Scott Riley, director of Cloud Nexus, a security provider and Gold Microsoft partner, told IT Pro that business adoption of the new operating system will also be slow. When asked if users should upgrade today, he said, “The answer is no, Windows 10 will be fully supported by Microsoft until October 2025, so there is no urgency to take the leap,” he added.

Riley added that the operating system “feels more like a facelift than a complete move to Windows 10,” noting that Microsoft’s strict system requirements could be another factor behind users’ reluctance to upgrade immediately.

“There are a lot of changes under the hood and the minimum requirements have been increased to focus on home and business device security,” he said. “Windows 11 now requires a processor that supports security features that weren’t introduced into Intel and AMD chips until after the Specter and Meltdown attacks in 2018,” he said.

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“As such, it means that a lot of computers produced in 2018 and earlier are not supported on Windows 11.”

However, Mahadeva Bisappa, Principal Architect at Microsoft Partner and Digital Transformation Consulting SPR, told IT Pro that the operating system was clearly designed for distributed workers.

“Windows 11 is coming at a time when distributed remote working has become the norm,” she said, adding that its features are tailored to “meet these remote working needs.”

“This includes all new user interface improvements, Microsoft Teams for integrated communication and collaboration via text, audio and video modes on all devices, and the ability to use Windows 11 from any device or operating system,” he said.

Bisappa also highlighted the security features of Windows 11, saying that Microsoft “did a great job updating the Windows operating system regularly to fix security issues and help users be more productive and secure”.

When you’re ready to team up, here are a guide on how to install Windows 11.

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