Mary Jo Foley
for All About Microsoft
| June 24, 2021 — 15:54 GMT (16:54 BST)
| Topic: Enterprise Software
Credit: Microsoft
When Microsoft introduced Windows 10 in 2015, a big part of that announcement was the new servicing model for the operating system. Microsoft announced plans to provide feature updates two or three times a year for Windows 10. By 2017, that timetable evolved into two Windows 10 feature updates per year. And that was still one too many for many IT pros.
Microsoft continued to try to soften the impact of multiple feature updates per year by changing the ability for administrators to delay updates. It also changed the support timetable so that the Windows 10 feature update which the company typically released in the spring got 18 months of support, while the ‘fall’ feature update got 30 months of support. That shift meant many IT pros just ignored the first annual feature update, leaving it to consumers to further test it, and, instead, deployed only the fall update each year.
Microsoft officials are saying the majority of apps, peripherals and PCs that work with Windows 10 will automatically work with Windows 11, since they are built on top of the same (Windows 10) core. The existing App Assure program will be there for those who encounter problems.
Windows 11 will be available preloaded on new hardware this holiday season, Microsoft officials said and will be available for existing PCs starting from this holiday and continuing into early 2022.
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Mary Jo Foley
for All About Microsoft
| June 24, 2021 — 15:54 GMT (16:54 BST)
| Topic: Enterprise Software