So, today was the Windows 11 event, where the next after last version of Windows was announced.
Iâve got to be honest - as much as I bought into the whole marketing, I just couldnât help myself but see Windows becoming more macOS-like.
I donât know how to approach it - is it just that Microsoft accepted some kind of defeat or design superiority of Apple? I certainly hope not. Because as much as I love the look of macOS, I do appreciate the signature left-aligned menu of Windows and the legacy it carries.
To show my point, hereâs an overview of ânew stuffâ in Windows 11 (Iâm going to be quick as youâve most likely known this already before):
- Centered taskbar (like macOS or Linux docks)
- The abundance of rounded corners (like in most of Appleâs OSes)
- Side widget panel (like the one from macOS Big Sur, but seemingly with more news clutter, and on the left to feel different)
- Redesigned store app (hopefully, this makes the Store at least a tiny bit closer to the polish and usage of App Store on macOS)
- Android apps support (like iOS apps support on newer Apple Silicon macs; sadly in partnership with Amazon rather than Google - may be due to the presence of Chrome OS?)
You see, pretty much every improvement and new feature of Windows 11, whether itâs good or bad, can be found in macOS. Maybe itâs just clever copying or a sign of broader market maturity - who knows?
However, what makes me more confident in this theory is how much Microsoft talked about developers, their openness, and how theyâre welcoming new platforms, taking low to none commission, etc.
Thatâs all wonderful, but honestly - itâs nothing new. Windows has always been the more open platform, and it looks like itâll remain as such. The fact that Microsoft is now so talkative about that is without a doubt a reference to the recent Epic vs. Apple drama.
Itâs a clever move. Not very nice, clean, or innovative, but clever.
Windows 11 will most certainly be an improvement to existing Windows 10 users. Some design changes, whether âinspiredâ by macOS or not, give it a fresh look, and if that finally becomes consistent throughout the OS (which in leaked builds it was not), then maybe thatâs whatâs needed to give Windows new life.
With competition rising both from Apple Silicon-boosted macOS and Chrome OS, it remains to see whether Windows 11 will hold, lose, or gain market share when it drops early next year.
Got any thoughts? Leave them in the comment section below!