Microsoft uses Computex 2022 to show how Windows 11 can fit into our lives
Microsoft wants the Windows 11 PC to be ‘seamless’ in your life
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Ahead ofMicrosoft’s Build 2022event, a couple of top execs at the software giant have been talking about the broad topic of ‘howWindows 11empowers customers in a hybrid world’ atComputex 2022.
Panos Panay, Chief Product Officer for Windows and Devices atMicrosoft, and Nicole Dezen, VP of Device Partner Sales, took time out to discuss Windows 11 in avideo, touching on some interesting points, and revealing some statistics.
For example, early in the clip, Panay tells us that going by Microsoft’s data, people are accepting the offer to upgrade toWindows 11at twice the rate that was witnessed withWindows 10, with businesses apparently adopting the new OS faster than with any previous versions of Windows.
Moreover, Panay underlines that Windows 11 has the highest quality scores, leading to customer satisfaction with theoperating system, which apparently holds the highest rating in the latter regard of any OS Microsoft has ever produced.
The discussion then moves to the new model ofhybrid workingwhich has been shifted to since the pandemic, and how to some extent the development of Windows 11 was shaped to meet those needs due to the folks working on the OS doing so in a hybrid manner.
Indeed, Panay enthuses about the goal of making Windows 11 work for all users – from the average consumer to enterprises – and making the PC “seamless in your life”, which is “what hybrid is all about.”
Dezen informs us that a study Microsoft conducted showed 73% of workers surveyed in the US hoped to see flexible and remote working continue post-pandemic. She also observed the effects of the new hybrid world on Windows 11-powered devices themselves – with a need for better screens, beefier speakers and mics, for all those video meetings and chats, as well as extras like stylus capabilities. In short,Windows 11 PCsare evolving with the new hybrid model, adding extra features to better cope with this different way of working.
Get the best Black Friday deals direct to your inbox, plus news, reviews, and more.
Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.
Another point raised was that Windows 11 has been built with accessibility at its core, with an emphasis on inclusive design, and catering for the needs of everyone, includingadaptive accessories(like an adaptive mouse), and software features such as Live Captions and voice commands within the OS (whichMicrosoft has drafted in courtesy of Nuance).
The pair also touched on the robustness of the demand for PCs, and how the Windows 11 computer is becoming more used in all respects. That means for online shopping, for example, twice as many folks are now doing this, spending 40% more time on this activity too. And 70% more people streamed content across Netflix, Hulu, andYouTube, with 35% growth in monthly gaming minutes on Windows.
Increasingly, the PC is at the center of everything, Dezen argues. As Microsoft has asserted before, we’re in the ‘new era of the PC’ no less.
Analysis: A recap and useful reminder…
The truth is that there’s nothing hugely fresh here – it’s more of a recap, certainly in terms of many of the stats and studies cited. For example, the statistic of Windows 11 being adopted twice as fast as Windows 10 was aired by Microsoft back in January, and more recently, there have been more worrying signsthat adoption might be slowing considerably(at least going by one set of regularly compiled stats).
We’ve also already heard about the high levels of customer satisfaction for those who have shifted to Windows 11, although to be fair, that is indeed something Microsoft should rightly trumpet. Even if there’s a bunch of more miffed folks out there who can’t upgrade toWindows 11 due to the system requirements(and security-related stipulations like TPM).
Broadly, this video serves as a useful reminder of the importance of hybrid to Microsoft, and how as we move forward and continue to use flexible and remote working practices, the PC isn’t going anywhere (even if we are seeing blips in sales right now, that’s nothing new). And finally, it’s a reminder of the laudable focus on accessibility with Windows 11 and the likes of voice commands (plus other Microsoft moves like its adaptive hardware).
This year, Computex is once again virtual, but we’ll still be bringing you all the breaking computing news and launches as they happen, so make sure you check out all of TechRadar’sComputex 2022coverage.
Darren is a freelancer writing news and features for TechRadar (and occasionally T3) across a broad range of computing topics including CPUs, GPUs, various other hardware, VPNs, antivirus and more. He has written about tech for the best part of three decades, and writes books in his spare time (his debut novel - ‘I Know What You Did Last Supper’ - was published by Hachette UK in 2013).
Windows 11’s Paint and Notepad apps are getting smart new AI features – though one of the best will be for Copilot+ PCs only
Windows 11 24H2 misery continues, as Microsoft’s buggy update is now breaking printers – especially on Copilot+ PCs
Sihoo Doro S100 ergonomic office chair review
