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The date that millions of Microsoft fans have been waiting for is finally here with the all-new Windows 11 operating system launching today October 5. This blockbuster update from the US technology firm features a whole swathe of changes including a refreshed look, upgrades to the Start Menu, better compatibility with Teams plus info-packed and fully interactive widgets. The Microsoft Store – which offers access to games, applications and more – has also been completely redesigned from the ground up making it easier to find the things you want and something called Snap Layouts provide an even more powerful way to multitask and optimise your screen real estate.
The release date means that most new PCs being sold in stores will now come pre-loaded with Windows 11 which is great news if you are thinking that it’s time to buy a new laptop.
Sadly, if you’re perfectly happy with your current hardware you might need to be very, very patient. Microsoft has confirmed that the rollout of Windows 11 to current Windows 10 users will be staged over a period of months meaning not everyone will get it on launch day.
In fact, some might not see the changes until next year! Yes, you did read that correctly. This longer release time has been created in a bid to focus on quality with Microsoft saying that, following the tremendous learnings from Windows 10, they wanted to make sure they are providing users with the best possible experience.
Explaining more, Microsoft said on its Windows 11 blog: “If your existing Windows 10 PC is running the most current version of Windows 10 and meets the minimum hardware specifications it will be able to upgrade to Windows 11.
“The upgrade will then roll out over time to in-market devices based on intelligence models that consider hardware eligibility, reliability metrics, age of device and other factors that impact the upgrade experience. We expect all eligible devices to be offered the free upgrade to Windows 11 by mid-2022.”
If you have a Windows 10 PC that’s eligible for the upgrade, Windows Update will let you know when it’s available you can also check manually by going to Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates.
Microsoft Store
If you’re looking to purchase a Windows 11 PC or laptop then the official Microsoft website offers a one-stop shop to help you find a new device. The cheapest Windows 11 Ready laptop available on the Microsoft Store is under £200.
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Argos
Argos also has a dedicated Windows 11 section on its website, with over 100 laptops listed as being eligible for a free Windows 10 to Windows 11 upgrade.
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John Lewis
John Lewis has a range of Windows 11 ready laptops available to buy from manufacturers such as Samsung, HP and Lenovo
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Currys PC World
Currys PC World has a huge selection of Windows 11 ready laptops available to buy. The online retailer has almost 200 laptops available to purchase that can run the new Microsoft operating system.
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Lenovo
Lenovo is one of the leading names when it comes to Windows-powered laptops. You can purchase the tech giant’s latest and greatest offerings – including the iconic ThinkPad laptops – from its official website.
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Dell
The Dell website says “all new Dell PCs are upgrade-ready to Windows 11 when available”. Popular lines listed on the Dell website that will be eligible for the Windows 11 upgrade include the Alienware gaming computers and the premium XPS series.
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