Community Forums

wagonmaster2 · 11-02-2022, 10:42 PM

My Vista laptop desperatedly needs replacing and the wife's Windows 7 has gone south completely, so I've been wanting a new computer for couple of years but just no guts to tackle a new one.

Now all I see advertised has Windows 11 for OS and just wondering if those experienced with 11 can give me some hints as to what I'll be facing with a new laptop? Especially since I've put up with these 2 oldies for quite some time now.
Is it true that the 11 is mostly a touch screen, which I detest since my 2015 Newmar DS has a touch screen radio and I've never mastered that.

TheCatsRV · 11-02-2022, 10:54 PM

Not too different from Win 10 which is not too different from Win 7. I had one running on a VM on Win 10 and it didn't seem all that much different, but since it wasn't supported on my machine (too old), I elected not to make a permanent UG as Win 10 works for me. Not touchscreen oriented (as far as I can tell) as Steve Ballmer's Win 8 was.

theoldwizard · 11-03-2022, 01:35 AM

Win 11 is a "classic" Microsoft release. Move things around so they look different. You will spend a !lot of time asking "So where did they put that ?". I have only briefly used Win11. IIRC, on the "alternate menu" (right click) there is no "Cut" or "Paste" item pick. Only icons !

Touch pads and mice are still fully supported.

TandW · 11-03-2022, 06:06 AM

My Dell Inspiron 15 3000 with I7 processor is online and ready to go within three seconds of waking it.

docj · 11-03-2022, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TandW

My Dell Inspiron 15 3000 with I7 processor is online and ready to go within three seconds of waking it.

That's primarily due to the fact that it is booting from an SSD and not an HDD. It has very little to do with Windows itself.

TandW · 11-03-2022, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by docj

That's primarily due to the fact that it is booting from an SSD and not an HDD. It has very little to do with Windows itself.

Agreed.

Mark_K5LXP · 11-03-2022, 07:08 AM

If you require windoze for some reason, then just buy a machine and check the box. 8GB RAM minimum, 500GB drive baseline. I don't run anything less than an i5 processor, i7 for extra credit. I consider windoze 3rd place behind manjaro linux and chrome OS but I own multiple machines of all these, to accomplish specific tasks.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

SailorSam · 11-03-2022, 08:41 AM

I just took a quick look at the Dell site. Inspirion line which is for basic use, had a mix of touch and non-touch screen models, all running Windows 11 home. So, you don't have to use the touch screen.
Personally, I have a touch screen laptop and find using it nice especially for scrolling/zooming. I also use a mouse almost constantly, I hate the touch pad on my laptop, way to sensitive and regularly moves my cursor while I'm typing when my thumb taps it.

rfg9585 · 11-03-2022, 08:53 AM

The best thing for getting a new system completely is that you will be update to date, and that gives you more options for software, support, etc. I bite the bullet last year about this time and very glad I did. Go for the most memory, stg space(1tb min), and SSD drive. I have the touch screen version, but haven't even used that feature yet. Note that on my 1st trip plugged into RV it seem to have burnt the battery. Being new dell support had a tech come out in the park and replace while on my trip. Now I run it from a "Jackery", and not directly from the RV.

astrnmrtom · 11-03-2022, 10:08 AM

I've been a Windows user since it first came out. Only recent version I haven't used is Windows 8. My wife's laptop is 8.1.

I really liked 7, and delayed moving to 10 until games I wanted started requiring it. With any change in operating system releases, there's the need to reclimb the learning curve, sometimes a little and other times more. 7 to 10 was easy. Last December I decided to take Microsoft's free upgrade incentive to move to 11. I try to never judge is changes are good or bad until I'm used it enough that I'm comfortable with it. I do agree that 11 has changed some long standing things that I'm used to doing, mostly by moving them to places I'm not used to or making them look difference (cut and paste). I'm not a fan of the new start menu, but I've found it really isn't a big deal because if a feature isn't where I still expect it to be after years of habit, I just use the search function and I'm there in a couple extra seconds.

I was happy moving from 7 to 10, and for a while kinda regretted going to 11, because 10 was a lot like 7, so the learning curve was small, but now that I've been using 11 a while, I'm fine with it. I have experienced as few stability issues with one or two programs (sudden crash to desktop) that I don't remember having with 10, but then it's not only the OS that's been upgraded, its drivers and some hardware changes too.

FYI, I don't own a touch screen machine and the OS certainly doesn't require one. It's also important to know I consider myself pretty computer and tech savvy.

lemodrop9344 · 11-03-2022, 10:29 AM

With regards to Windows OS upgrades, along with Microsoft Office Product upgrades........... I suspect they are a necessary evil as technology evolves.

For whatever reason, when they upgrade these products, it seems they always have to change the user interface. What was previously in one place in the OS or the application has now been moved to some other place. It can be very frustrating. If it impacts an individuals productivity in using these products, just imagine the productivity hit this has on a large business entity with thousands of employees.

If you are coming from a really down level Windows OS to a new PC, you are going to have a learning curve anyway. Doesn't matter is you use WIN 10 or WIN 11 on a new PC.

Some business entities are still using applications that require the XP version of Windows as they simply will not run on later version of the Windows OS.

wildtoad · 11-03-2022, 12:02 PM

Well my tiny little Windows Surface is not capable of running Windows 11. That’s ok, as I only use it to do my taxes. Will be changing to the online version of the tax application and using my IPad. If all goes well the tablet goes in the recycle bin. All other “Computer” needs are handled quite nicely with iPad and iPhones.

GypsyR · 11-03-2022, 12:33 PM

Circa the debacle that was Windows 8 I discovered a little program called "Classic Shell". I've found that by installing it on any new Windows version that I have have my old Start button and menus back so the home screen starts out looking like Windows 7. I refuse to use a PC from Win 8 on without it. The rest of the changes from different updates then just become very minor annoyances. When you know where you are and are comfortable at your home screen it makes it all the rest very much less stressful.

Though I can't abide the "Tiles" of stock new home screens I have to admit they do indeed work well with touchscreen use. Which I don't have or want. Yet.

**Spdracr39** · 11-03-2022, 01:09 PM

I have used most every version of Windows since 3.1 and Windows 11 is the best of them all IMO. Yes it's a little different but change is the way of the world nowadays. I bailed on Microsoft recently and went with a Mac to be synchronous with all my IOS devices and I love it but it's totally different.