Microsoft is hinting that Windows 11 will be released later in 2021. This means that users of Windows may need to buy a new computer to keep Windows updated.
According to The Verge, Microsoft had previously stated that Windows 11 did not require specific hardware and that users could install the operating system on any computer that can handle it. Microsoft has since changed its claim, adding a big caveat. Microsoft does not promise to release Windows Updates on those computers.
Microsoft has officially launched Windows 11 this June. The computer giant announced the minimum hardware requirements to install the latest operating system on your machine. These requirements stipulated that Windows 11 will only work with computers equipped with the Intel 8th Generation processor released in 2017 or later.
These minimums will not affect automatic updates. Older computers will still be able download Windows 11 and install it manually. It's not a major inconvenience, and it's likely that you won't need to purchase a new computer.
It's unclear at this time if the manual option will be extended to updates or if these releases won't become available to users with Microsoft-designated obsolete hardware. No Windows Updates Users would miss important security and driver updates, even though Windows 11 features may be withheld. This is not good.
Since the launch of Microsoft's current operating systems, Windows 10, it's been over six years. A new operating system is welcome news, especially if it has received positive reviews. It is not fair to require users of computers less than two years old to purchase a new computer.
It will be interesting to see whether Microsoft changes its mind after the inevitable backlash that Windows 11 brings. Maybe the company will decide that the number who resign is enough to buy a new computer or stay with Windows 10 for now.
