Windows 11 Adoption: The Hurdles of Compatibility

The spread of Windows 11 has not progressed at the pace initially anticipated by Microsoft. In a recent financial results teleconference by Dell, it was noted that a vast number of computers globally cannot be updated to Windows 11. Specifically, there are approximately 1 billion PCs running Windows 10, with around 500 million considered too outdated to upgrade to Windows 11. However, this classification of outdated PCs seems to vary according to individual interpretations. It is worth remembering that many not-so-slow processors officially are not supported by Windows 11, but when the system is installed, it functions perfectly. This is, indirectly, confirmed by Dell itself.

We have about 500 million computers capable of running Windows 11 that have yet to be updated. Additionally, there are 500 million more that are already four years old and cannot run Windows 11. All these represent excellent opportunities for transitioning to Windows 11 and modern technologies. This essentially means that PCs older than four years are deemed unsuitable for Windows 11. As a reminder, the 16-core Ryzen 9 5950X was launched five years ago and hardly can be called outdated or weak.

Microsoft is currently aiming to transform Windows 11 into an agent-based operating system, a move that has not been met with enthusiasm by users. Considering the emerging issues, this is unlikely to be a compelling reason for users to switch to Windows 11.