IT security considerations
To stay compatible with the latest software & peripherals
To provide employees with the best productivity tools
To take advantage of new features
To stay “in sync” with customers and vendors
To stay competitive in a technology-driven worldWith the release coming soon, now is the time to begin preparing your office for a Windows 11 upgrade. We’ll go through what you can expect with Windows 11, including some of its most helpful features, cost, release timing, and how to prepare for an upgrade.
Best New Features of Windows 11
Microsoft Teams Calling from the DesktopMicrosoft has really been pushing Teams. The company is retiring Skype for Business on July 31, 2021, and encouraging those users to move to Microsoft Teams. It also began marketing Teams to consumers, not just businesses, at the beginning of the pandemic and brought out a free version of this virtual work hub and video calling platform. Teams is getting an even higher profile in Windows 11. The app is natively integrated into the OS, and you can click to start a video call, voice call, or chat right from the desktop. You don’t even need to open the full Teams app!
All Windows 11 images are from Microsoft
Create Your Own Shortcut & News FeedA new widget-powered feed is available in Windows 11. This feed is accessed from the desktop and can be customized by using the widgets you like to build it. You can include things like:
Weather report
News headlines
Calendar
Tasks
Traffic
Bing search
And more
Easier Arrangement of Multiple WindowsThe snap layouts feature makes it easier to quickly arrange between 2-4 open windows on your screen without having to struggle to fit them all together. Snap layout includes six different arrangement options that make multi-tasking much easier. Just hover over the maximize button on a window to get the layout options.
Distraction-Free Look & FeelProductivity is a big driver of Windows 11, and that includes making the interface clean, simple, and distraction-free. Some of the ways the OS does this are:
Rounded corners & translucent options on windows
Simplified Start menu
The search bar has been moved from the taskbar to the top of the Start menu
The Start menu button (Windows icon) has been moved to the center of the taskbar
How Much Will Windows 11 Cost?Windows 11 is a free upgrade if you have Windows 10 and a system that is compatible with the upgrade. You can quickly check compatibility by using Microsoft’s PC Health Check tool. Just download it, run it, and you’ll be told whether or not your computer can install Windows 11.
When Can You Expect Windows 11 to Be Available?Microsoft has stated that Windows 11 is expected to be rolled out publicly around the holidays of 2021 and possibly into early 2022. So, you can expect it around the end of the year. There is a rumor going around that it might be as early as October 2021. The rumor is fueled by the fact that Walmart was advertising free Windows 11 October 2021 upgrades for some of its laptops. And because certain press images for Windows 11 have October 2021 showing on the taskbar. Microsoft hasn’t confirmed the rumor.
Steps to Prepare Your Business for a Windows 11 UpgradeIt’s important to prepare ahead of time for a big upgrade like an OS version change, no matter how small your office may be. Downtime due to IT problems is costly, and the goal is to mitigate downtime and any potential productivity drop during an upgrade. Prepare for a Windows 11 upgrade by taking these steps:
Check all your computers for compatibility with Windows 11.
Plan replacements for those too old to be upgraded.
Check all software you’re using for Windows 11 compatibility.
Make any needed plans to upgrade incompatible software.
Pre-schedule your upgrade with Texas I.T. Pros. (while there is no exact release date yet, you can get your spot in line before schedules fill up)
Train employees on Windows 11 about 1-2 weeks before your upgrade.