Just installed it upgrading from Windows 10 on my unsupported PC thanks to this
MediaCreationTool. It took like one click, went without a hitch and seems to function as before no different to some of the larger Windows 10 version updates. The new Start and such do take a while to get used to but I got it how I had it before (sans functions it doesn't have, you cannot make different groups and folder style arranging in the pinned programs so I dumped it all in the order I want instead). I also disabled some new stuff from startup (Microsoft Teams). My current annoyance is the right click context menu with that "show more options" deal, I just want everything on the first click. Widgets were broken too but I just disabled it all as usual. Also, why do I have to scroll twice for my pinned to Start items when there's plenthy empty space to show it all instead of that Recommended stuff.
Installed it on an unsupported machine I have this weekend too, and not on the work machines I have. (16 GB of RAM, unsupported CPU)
I'll try it further, but I really don't feel like it increases productivity. The GUI changes don't feel like overdue improvements to me.
I understand what they're trying to do with the centered start menu, but it reminds me of Windows 8 focus on tablet that made it lackluster and the thing is this would all be passable if they just gave people the option
As for early failings on it, deleting default icons I don't need on the taskbar is not easy, I don't care about the chat one, tried to right click it, drag it out of the bar, to no avail, turns out it's down to an options menu and you can only turn it off. If they did a menu like that with toggles for stuff that can't be deleted, I reckon desktop "my Documents" shortcut and "my computer" should be there, seeing they are still stuck on a Windows Vista leftover menu somewhere.
Settings should be on the start menu bar at all times by default. Side menu is not improved.
On another note, UI is still too big, and they're clearly ditching some of the options to regulate it properly, it feels like it's made for 22/24" 1080p displays as those are the only ones "right" with 100% scaling.
Smaller screens with HD (720p or 768p) low resolution? 100% scaling is too big, 75% continues to be unavailable (100% means 96 ppi, so I don't understand why a 72 dpi continues to be absent), and laptops with 1080p screens? well, 125% scaling is mandatory then, but creates artifacts. It's not something Windows 10 doesn't do, but windows 11 seems "bigger" to me, so productivity falls if under/lower than 1080p.