Windows 11 silver lining: Why we still call this OS home — what do you love most?

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I often hear people say, “Show Windows some love!” Although my job at Windows Central isn’t to simply *promote* Windows, I genuinely care about the operating system and all that it enables users to accomplish.

Windows is used by billions of people worldwide, including everyone at Windows Central and our audience. While Windows 11 isn’t perfect, it remains a vital tool for getting things done, being creative, and staying connected.

We’re interested in learning how you use Windows every day. Tell us about your favorite features, and any recent changes to the operating system that have made things better for you.

Love from the Windows Central team

We’re a team of dedicated Windows fans who use Microsoft products in our work and everyday lives. We aren’t afraid to offer constructive criticism, but we also love to celebrate Microsoft’s successes.

Windows 11 is a complex operating system that needs extensive testing, often taking months or even years. We cover the entire process, from initial leaks and preview versions to the final public release.

Certain features, like the immersive Xbox experience, are still new and look promising. Others, such as the Snipping Tool, have been popular parts of Windows 11 for a long time. All of this adds up to many improvements and plenty to appreciate.

Our team has shared positive feedback about several Microsoft products, and I’m still collecting more comments as everyone gets a chance to respond.

The Snapdragon X2 Plus will be a key test for Qualcomm. It will show if their recent success in 2024 and 2025 is just a temporary trend, or if it signals a lasting move towards Windows computers powered by Arm processors. Based on what I’ve seen, I believe it’s the latter – a real, long-term shift.

As a Windows fan, I’m seriously impressed with the Microsoft Store lately! It’s become such a great, trustworthy place to find and download apps. If you haven’t given it a look in a while, you really should. Plus, these recent changes on Windows 11 have made using a handheld gaming PC so much better – honestly, it’s a way better experience than SteamOS in my opinion!

Windows’ biggest advantage is its ability to run older software and games. Because it’s been around for so long, many apps and services from decades past still work on today’s Windows computers, and compatibility features make it even better. This is particularly beneficial for gamers, who can play a vast library of games – some dating back to the 1970s – with minimal problems.

I’m a huge fan of the Windows Package Manager (winget) and PowerToys – they’re the first two Windows 11 tools I recommend to everyone. Command Palette is an improvement on PowerToys Run and a much-needed replacement for the Windows 11 Start Menu, which I really dislike. It’s a keyboard-based app launcher, but it can do so much more – like running commands and installing software with winget. Plus, you can add even more features with third-party extensions. I also love WSL, which lets me run Linux directly on Windows 11. As a Linux enthusiast, it’s great to be able to use Linux without a virtual machine or leaving the Windows environment. While developers will likely benefit the most, it’s a standout feature of Windows 11.

The Snipping Tool has gotten much better, particularly with the addition of video recording. I used to need separate programs – ShareX for screenshots and OBS Studio for screen recordings – but now the Snipping Tool handles both, which is a significant improvement to my daily workflow.

I find constantly checking my phone for notifications distracting, particularly when I’m working on my computer. Phone Link really helps with this – and makes transferring photos easy too! It’s easily the most useful Windows app I use every day.

How do you feel about Windows 11?

We’ve been enjoying highlighting what makes Windows great, and our community is buzzing about their favorite Windows 11 features. Now we want to know what *you* think!

We’d appreciate your feedback! Please take a short survey to help us improve Windows Central. As a thank you, everyone who completes the survey will be entered into a drawing for a prize.

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2026-01-25 15:40