Windows 11

Presumably then they are funding the free upgrades by charging those who purchase a new device and OS, more than they would need to otherwise. As they must be covering their costs somehow.

I don’t pay an annual fee.

Neither do I but Microsoft has started to provide some software by annual subscription

Win 11 is conditional upon the computer being up to the required spec. If not, then no upgrade will be offered. Not terrible, win 10 will still be well supported for a few years. As with any upgrade, you do have a full backup available before you start, yes?....  yes?. (Too long living with computers as a profession).

Looks like I will be sticking with my W10 desktop purchased 4 years ago. Just run the Microsoft checker, results are:

CPU Intel Quad core i5 6400 ........ Failed

Storage 2 Terrabyte ...... Passed

Memory ....... 8GB Passed

Speed ........ 3.3 GHz ....... Passed

Seems my Processor although 4 cores just ain't new enough , recommendations said to purchase new 

What's the old maxim? "If the software requires new hardware, you don't need the new software"

I thought I would ask my IT son about it and he suggests leaving it for 6/12 months as in his words "let everyone else have the pain first…." New systems are often very buggy when first introduced and also Microsoft are not beyond making some basic mistakes with their software!!!!

David

I did that, only last week upgrading to Apple's Big Sur. It has, however, turned my printer/scanner into an obsolete city of kit.

You will love Montery out later this month. That will turn your toaster and electric drill into a an obsolete city of kit.

Know the feeling!!

my nice number crunching video editing pc has exactly the same problem.

rgds

• You need to check that.  Look at the specs.  

1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with 2 or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or System on a Chip (SoC).

Yous is 4 core and 2.7 gigahertz.

I think even my i5 processor would be OK and the computer is more than ten years old.

John