Back in June, Microsoft announced the hardware requirements for Windows 11 … and met with a lot of pushback due to the higher than expected requirements. Last week, the company announced some changes to address the pushback.
There will be a workaround so older machines can be installed by hand – the download of an ISO will allow a manual install. The company did adjust the processor requirements slightly allowing Intel’s Core X-Series and Xeon W-series.
That said, the company did clarify that those machines installed by hand MIGHT not be able to get Windows Updates. They also won’t be supported.
And today, Microsoft announced that Windows 11 will release on October 5, 2021. The rollout is in phases – new eligible devices are offered it first, and in waves beyond that. Microsoft expects all eligible devices to be offered the free upgrade by mid 2022.
At launch, Android Apps will not be available. That testing begins in the coming months.
There’s obvious consulting dollars here in the planning and rollout of new operating systems for business. Additionally, first in the wild appearances of Windows 11 for customers will appear in weeks, not months.
Microsoft continues to impress with a sensible approach to the market. Dictate security for supported configuration, allow individuals to take the risk being unsupported. Let’s also focus on that security update statement – my take is that the company is leaving a door open to not be forced to support updates, and has a track record of being generous with its support cycles. Businesses should want to be within supported territory, and leaving space for enthusiasts makes sense to me.