Microsoft’s promise to improve Windows 11 has been put to the test with the release of the 26H2 update. The company made a commitment to make Windows faster, more reliable, and less intrusive, and it’s time to evaluate the results.
The early report card shows that Microsoft has made progress in some areas, but still has work to do in others. The Start menu and taskbar have seen some improvements, but still receive a grade of C.
Evaluating the Changes
The 26H2 update is not a dramatic new beginning, but rather a progress report on Microsoft’s efforts to reset Windows. The company has delivered incremental changes through its Patch Tuesday updates, which have improved the overall experience. The fall update rolling out this week simply rolls up these changes into a single update.
The changes to Windows are not necessarily additions, but rather a look back to what Windows was before the era of AI and Windows 10. Microsoft has made an effort to listen to its customers and make changes accordingly. For example, the taskbar can now be moved to any part of the screen, and the Start menu allows for resizing of individual icons.
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Windows Update Improvements
However, these changes have not made a profound difference for one writer, who notes that they have learned to live with the default taskbar position and do not strongly care about its location. The Start menu, on the other hand, is still not ideal, and the writer prefers to launch new applications by searching for them instead of using the menu.
The AI is no longer everywhere, and its icons have been removed from Notepad, Photos, and the Windows Snipping Tool.
The search function in Windows has also seen significant improvements, with clearer and more trustworthy results. The writer notes that searching for a term in the Taskbar search box produces clear differences between apps, settings, and documents, and that searching within File Explorer is quick and efficient.
The Windows Update process has also been simplified, with a single monthly update and more options for customizing the update process. The writer appreciates the added simplicity and flexibility, but notes that the Windows Insider hierarchy for preview builds is still convoluted.
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Performance on Lower End PCs
The performance of Windows on 8GB PCs is still a work in progress. The writer notes that while PCWorld has tested laptops with 8GB of memory and found them to be capable of performing basic tasks, there is still a dividing line between what these PCs can and cannot do. Microsoft may need to continue working on optimizing Windows for lower-end hardware.
Overall, Windows feels less intrusive, with a quieter and more streamlined experience. The writer notes that Microsoft has reined in Widgets, which were previously overwhelming, and that the overall experience is more pleasant. However, there is still work to be done to improve Windows and make it more competitive with other operating systems.
The 26H2 update is a step in the right direction, but it is clear that Microsoft still has a long way to go in terms of perfecting Windows 11. The company’s commitment to listening to its customers and making changes accordingly is a positive sign, but it remains to be seen whether Windows 11 will ultimately live up to its promise.
Simplifying Windows Setup
The process of resetting or setting up a new PC is also supposed to be faster, and it generally is. Microsoft’s ability to defer updates delivers users to the desktop faster.
