BleepingComputer: Windows 11 may be unveiled next week — Here’s what we know.
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Wow… by that time Win10 will have had a 10-year support life. That is very long for an OS, beaten only by WinXP… Though depending on how Win11 turns out, they might end up staving off end-of-life again, just as they did with XP 
Not looking forward to an upgrade, I think I’ll stick with 10 and throw it away with the laptop in 4 years. It’ll have some 8 scratches on the wall too by that time…
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I’m fascinated. When Windows 10 was introduced, Microsoft said there wouldn’t be any new versions. There wouldn’t be any need. Windows 10 requires an internet connection, and updates automatically to whatever version is current. The fact that it’s still called Windows 10 is just eye candy for the end user - under the hood, we could be on Windows 23 by now.
So why the need to change?
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Usually because some assumptions about the fundamentals of some of the architecture or the kernel changes. Sure, they could say “that’s just windows 10.2 now”, but then you (and I) would probably start complaining about how it breaks our computers because the changes go really deep, or change large part of the supporting periphery.
In those situations it’s usually simpler to make it a completely new version, so you can tell people why the update just shoveled hhalf their harddisk upside down. It’s just the safer option this way. Yes, the point is somewhat arbitrary, and different companies may have different criteria, but some upgrades are simply considered too disruptive to just force on people, so you make a new version so they can postpone it a couple years.
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Ah. Well that’s OK, then.
There was silly old me thinking they might want to change the version because they wanted to change the contract associated with it. Like, for instance, making paid subscription to a MIcrosoft account a requirement.
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I just want to know if this will be a free upgrade or if I will have to pay out another $110 to upgrade
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XDA Developers: Windows 11 has leaked: Here’s a sneak peek before next week’s launch!.
The widgets are already available but have not replaced live tiles. I honestly never really used live tiles. Have not dived into the widgets but is more appealing to me personally. I like to keep track of weather and different news topics.
All in all, Win11 is not looking so different from 10
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They could do that pretty much any time they like, you know…
110 seems a bit steep… but the concept of a free OS isn’t very old yet. Before windows 8, it was pretty much understood that you’d have to pay money for an operating system, so I’d not really see a problem with it. I don’t think they’re going to do it, though. The value of Windows at this point lies much more in being a market place rather than a product. And the market place doesn’t collect fees from the people coming to buy stuff, but from the people selling stuff.
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I paid $110 for Win10 , that’s why I mention it. Just hoping this is more like an update and therefore free 
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My guess: The number change is more to show a major look (UI) change. Basically, it’s still Win 10 “under the hood.”
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UI is more than just looks… By the sound of it from the article that Sheralmist posted, they completely replaced tiles. considering what that will potentially do to your entire desktop configuration when updating, I would personally release that as a new version as well, if mostly for expectation managment. There will undoubtedly be some migration procedure, but it won’t be perfect. Saying “I had to set up my entire desktop again when moving to Windows11” sounds like something you’d expect to have to put up with, while saying “The last windows update broke my entire desktop!” just sounds horrible…
Me, I still don’t have any idea what I’d want widgets or tiles for. All I ever use is the application search and a few shortcuts in the task bar. My desktop is an empty screen, and I only ever open the start menu to shut the darn thing off…
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you would really hate my desktop. It drives my son nuts. His is empty but mine, well, I love organized folders. My desktop resembles an open filing cabinet drawer. I like for things to be right where I can see them and quickly find the needed file. This is likely due to my first job out of HS. I worked as a typist and filed invoices all day long for a railcar repair service. Railcars have so many parts! And each has a really long part number…ahhhh, I love organizing.
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Ok. You win. But just barely.
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Wow, you still have the first Gothic on disk? I remember playing that pretty much in parallel with Morrowind as a Teen when I had the “misfortune” of a faling steel plate turning the front limb of my right middle finger into Müsli and giving me a work dispensation for 6 weeks!
Oh, and Dear Esther, too… Being married to a woman named Esther, that game was not good for my whisky reserve. Couldn’t leave it on the disk after playing it…
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Today I suddenly found myself wondering why an image of a banana had appeared in my toolbar.
Don’t worry - I worked it out (eventually).
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Yeah, I’m kinda annoyed about that. Haven’t figured out how to get it off my taskbar yet, and it’s just plain ugly and useless. I mean, I’m not that holed up with my computer that I wouldn’t know what weather it is outside…
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click the Weather icon and go to News and interests > Turn off
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Why, thank you! 
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Microsoft’s Panos Panay says developers will now be able to keep 100 percent of their revenue “if you do bring your own commerce engine” — unlike app stores from Apple and Google that generally take 30 percent of developer revenue and insist on their own payment platforms and in-app purchases. We’ll have to see if that applies to games as well,
Supporting local news sources is suddenly something the tech industry worries about, and with Windows 11, Microsoft is adding integration with local news “content creators and authors” front and center.
In an expansion on the weather and news taskbar widget it recently added to Windows 10, it not only highlights sources in your areas, but has a payment feature built right in. As shown in the video stream, you can support people with straight cash donations or Microsoft points, and it shows how many tippers are contributing to each person.
The Verge: Why Windows 11 is forcing everyone to use TPM chips.
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