My Wishlist for Windows 12: 3 Things I Hope Change!
With Windows 12 rumours circulating the web, I wanted to share the 3 things I want to see improved in the operating system.
I’ve been using Windows 11 since the early insider previews and I actually like it, especially its approach to productivity and the fresh interface.
However, there are areas where I think Microsoft needs to improve the operating system and come to think of it from an IT professional’s point of view, there are only 3 areas I would improve to make the user’s experience even better.
So without any further ado, here are 3 things I think Microsoft should change in Windows 12…
1. Start Menu
I wanted to start talking about the start menu as I feel there is a lot of wasted potential here. I was actually quite a fan of the Windows 10 start menu, you had all of your programs listed on one side and then you had the ability to pin tiles on the other.
I think it would be great if Microsoft went back to this approach, but instead of tiles, they should merge the widget area and add the ability to pin the most used apps.
As a Windows 11 user, I find the current widget area annoying and I never really use it. But if it’s placed in an area I actually use, I will be making more use of it.
I like the ability to see the most used files and apps, it can actually be quite convenient but I think it would be better suited in the search area because you are searching for files and the chances are the file you are searching for will be available there for quick access.
From the usability perspective, I often see people struggle with the new start menu in the current format. One of the most complained about things I’m seeing people miss is the “All Apps” button which is actually rather small.
I know it’s only a small thing, but to a user, it can be very frustrating.
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2. Better Compatibility With Older Hardware
As an IT professional working in the industry, I find the Windows 11 hardware requirements unnecessarily high, especially for businesses, who often spend monumental amounts of money on hardware only to find that it isn’t compatible with the latest versions of Windows in a few years’ time.
I get that we still have a while before Microsoft discontinue support for Windows 10 and that it will likely be enough time for organisations to upgrade their hardware and the same can be said for home users.
But at the end of the day, if your laptop or desktop computer is still performing well, people aren’t going to update their hardware. I still know people who use Windows 7 on a perfectly functioning computer and they refuse to upgrade to newer versions of Windows because they don’t believe in security updates.
Yes, I have tried to get them to upgrade from the security and Windows functionality point of view, but sometimes there is no changing someone’s mind.
On top of that, whenever I’m out and about and I see the computers companies are using in shops, restaurants and offices, I mostly see older machines running on Windows 10. The other day I saw a restaurant using an ancient Dell Optiplex Computer running on Windows XP! They were using it as their reservation system!
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3. File Explorer
I actually like the interface of File Explorer in the current build but the one thing I find incredibly frustrating is the new and simplified start menu and I’m not the only one.
After talking with several other IT engineers we all agree that the new right-click options menu is not suitable for business.
Organisations use several software packages that require users to right-click on a file in order to do something, such as upload or edit the file.
But now users have to right-click and scroll all the way down to view the full menu, which they aren’t realising and it’s causing a lot of confusion.
With that being said, I see this kind of approach as perfectly suitable for the home environment, but the pro version of Windows should have the full right-click start menu.
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Conclusion
I know it’s an unpopular opinion, but as a whole, I really like Windows 11, but I constantly find wasted potential, I might write this up in a separate article, but as a Windows 11 Insider, I am constantly testing and trialling newer versions of Windows 11 and submitting feedback.
But the main thing I hope for is that Microsoft listens to what people want and spends time perfecting things.
That’s why my hope for Windows 12 if it even ever gets released is that they look at some of these areas and make them better for us as consumers.
What about you, what are your 3 hopes for Windows 12 if it ever gets released?