First, I don't believe that we have any evidence that Microsoft will be forcing Windows 11 on computers currently running Windows 10. A simple Internet search will verify this and I suspect that people who say such things are just assuming this will happen rather than doing any actual research to verify their suspicions. Windows 10 will continue to receive support until October of 2025. Even if your computer is capable of running Windows 11 there is no real reason why users should feel obliged to upgrade. If you are happy with Windows 10 then continue to use it until October of 2025 if that's what you want to do. It is not likely that you're going to turn on your computer one morning to find that Windows 11 was installed without your permission. Also, to say that Windows 11 is optimized for accessibility implies that Windows 10 is not. If you are running the latest version of your preferred screen reader Windows 11 is just as accessible as Windows 10.
Based on what I've read and experienced so far there's nothing whatsoever about Windows 11 that impresses me. I see no innovation compared to Windows 10 as well as meaningless changes for seemingly no reason. Of course, any future innovation is going to be for Windows 11 and so I have no doubt we'll see some helpful or useful features being added over time. Narrator will soon be getting two new voices which I can only assume will be available to other third party screen readers and it will also be receiving a few new keyboard commands. I've heard that Windows 11 either has or will soon have a voice typing feature and I will be curious to try using it. To summarize, Windows 10 is a rock-solid operating system which will be supported for over three and a half years while Windows 11 seems to have little extra to offer although that will surely change over time.
David Goldfield,
Blindness Assistive Technology Specialist
JAWS Certified, 2022
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-----Original Message-----
From: Visually Impaired Computer Users' Group List <[log in to unmask]> On Behalf Of Mike Pietruk
Sent: Wednesday, February 2, 2022 6:50 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [VICUG-L] JeffLukacsena:question on upgrading to Windows 11
Gary
One of the reviews I saw relative to Win 11 vs 10 noted that the newer display should be more pleasing to the eye which, for the typical blind user, is meaningless, of course <smile>!!
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