Even though Microsoft was going to allow PCs without the minimum CPU spec from at least joining the Windows Insider Program launching this week so people could test Windows 11, Microsoft has now decided to even block those PCs from being part of the beta program!
This will sadly block people who want to legitimately test Windows 11 out, and will see some go for insecure leaked builds - a terrible outcome when users with all kinds of PCs were going to be able to test Windows 11, which as reports of the admittedly early leaked version are running on all the kinds of hardware that Windows 10 can currently run on, even a Core 2 Duo I've seen out there, not that I'm advocating for compatibility that far back.
Microsoft seems really keen to deny what could be hundreds of millions of people from running Windows 11 unless they buy a new computer.
This is astounding! What should have been a resounding success for Microsoft has been tarnished by this arbitrary cut off of CPU types, even though a computer, like the 4 year old but Galaxy Book 12 I'd like to test Windows 11 on, passes every single test but has a 7th-gen processor and not an 8th-gen one.
Windows 10 will be available to this and other PCs that don't qualify for Windows 11 or don't upgrade to it until 2025 with support, so users with these computers aren't being abandoned, but it's a shame Windows 11 support for these computers can't extend to 2025 before a new computer is needed and support is withdraw, and a Christmas/Holiday 2025 computer is going to be incredible compared to a 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th. 8th. 9th. 10th or 11th gen from today, or at least, I hope so!
Having people experience Windows 11 on their home computer or existing tablet might encourage them to buy a new computer sooner because they really like it!
But this type of home test is no longer available to these users unless they buy a new machine.
What a lost opportunity! Why does Microsoft choose the wrong direction on this, they have already proved they can be very flexible with Windows 10 support, officially AND unofficially.
No-one is asking Windows 11 to support the entire breadth and depth of machines that can support Windows 10, but to support certain Atoms. Celerons. Pentium Silvers and Pentium Golds for official Windows 11 support over 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Core i-Series processors seems like an arbitrary and customer-hostile decision, in the middle of a pandemic, a chip shortage, an economic shock and the most instability we've had as a planet in decades.
It just doesn't seem like the right decision for the times, and when you add in the eWaste and climate considerations, let alone the fact it creates a digital divide of Windows 11 haves and Windows 10 have nots just isn't the right decision, especially when the leaks have shown these computers run the existing Windows 11 dev beta just fine. Extending Windows 11 support to these currently unsupported CPUs to 2025, the same date as the end of Windows 10's support, gives people PLENTY of warning and time, and enhances Microsoft's reputation, instead of preserving the memories of Windows Vista and Windows 8 for the post-COVID 2021 generation.
What started out as a lot of excitement has been soured by the revelation Windows 11 can't be upgraded to by what is actually the vast majority of Windows users.
Microsoft can easily fix this and generate HUGE public goodwill, happiness and even sales of its own and its partners' Windows 11 machines, which are undoubtedly due to arrive in great number of the Christmas Holiday sales season of 2021 and all throughout 2022 and beyond.
It will cost Microsoft more to deny users of older processors but otherwise qualifying computers in the long run in more than money by taking this decision.
There is time for Microsoft to reverse this decision and allow more PCs to be able to officially run Windows 11, even if only officially support until 2025, by which time a LOT of new computers will be purchased.
https://twitter.com/alexonline888/status/1409160032051105799?s=20
Please sign the petition and share it with your friends! People have said "petitions don't work, waste of time etc" - but if you want Windows 11 to be able to run on your PC when it obviously can, even if it doesn't have an 8th-gen or better Intel Core i-Series CPU, then sign it! Let's see what happens!
Let's send Microsoft the biggest message it has ever received. Are we Microsoft's customers, or not? Do we have any power or not? Sign this petition and find out!
If we don't, we don't, but what if we do? Share this petition with your friends and SIGN IT! THIS SHOULD BE GOING VIRAL! Help make it happen!