Microsoft has a new plan for Windows 11, and it actually sounds great
Many aspects of Windows 11 are real improvements over previous versions, but there are also a lot no more inconvenience, especially if you are tired of seeing Copilot AI everywhere. Microsoft announced a bold new plan: I actually listen to PC owners on what they want in Windows 11.
A new blog post from the Windows team explains: “Every day, the community tells us about how you experience Windows. And over the past few months, the team and I have spent a lot of time analyzing your feedback. What emerged were the voices of people who care deeply about Windows and want it to be better.”
The first significant change coming to Windows 11 is a more customizable taskbar, with the long-awaited return of top and vertical modes. Windows has supported moving the taskbar to different sides of screens for years – at least as far back as Windows XP in 2001 – but the rebuilt taskbar in Windows 11 never added this feature. Several third-party applications have proven that this is possible, such as Start11, but its official return will be much appreciated.
Microsoft also plans to remove “unnecessary Copilot entry points”, starting with the Snipping Tool, Photos, Widgets and Notepad. This should mean fewer Copilot buttons and menus all over Windows. The Taskbar Widgets panel, which might be the most annoying and intrusive aspect of Windows 11, will have “quieter default settings, more control over when and how widgets appear, and improved customization for the Discover feed.”
The initial release of Windows 11 included the most significant update to File Explorer since Windows 7, with a more modern design, tab support, and a rebuilt context menu – the latter feature remains controversial. Microsoft promises “a faster launch experience, reduced flicker, smoother navigation, and more reliable performance for everyday file-related tasks.”
Finally, the company plans changes in system updates. The ability to skip updates during device setup will be available in Windows 11, along with restarting or shutting down without installing updates and longer update pauses.
If Microsoft In fact takes these changes into account, and other annoyances aren’t added in their place, Windows 11 could end up being a much better operating system. I would like to know why the company is only making these changes NOWHowever, complaints about the lack of the vertical taskbar and aggressive automatic updates have been rolling in since Windows 11 was released in 2021. Perhaps someone high up in the company was tired of the “Microslop” jokes, or it was becoming increasingly difficult to sell new PCs (especially with the success of the MacBook Neo), or something else.
Whatever the reason for Windows 11’s new strategy, it seems to be a step in the right direction. These changes will begin testing on Windows Insiders channels later in March and April, with a full rollout to all PCs expected afterward.
Source: Windows Insider Blog
