Microsoft is putting pressure on computer makers to stop producing models that have the Windows 11 operating system installed on a magnetic hard drive, and switch to SSDs only.
According to reports, this is a requirement that Microsoft has long raised, but has since postponed the schedules due to manufacturers’ opposition. The current date set by Microsoft is mid-2023, although it is possible that the company will eventually compromise on switching to SSDs only in 2024.
The positions of both sides are perfectly clear. For Microsoft, SSDs – even cheaper in the selection – offer a significant improvement in performance compared to hard drives. The transition to SSD could ensure the user a faster, smoother and more reliable experience. However, SSDs are of course significantly more expensive than hard drives with the same storage capacity. According to industry sources, manufacturers currently offering relatively inexpensive computers with a 1 terabyte drive will have to sell the same computer with an SSD of no more than 256 gigabytes to maintain the same price.
Currently, the system requirements of Windows 11 are for any type of drive with a capacity of 64 GB or more. Two features of the operating system, DirectStorage used primarily for gaming, as well as system components that enable Android apps to run, require the use of SSDs. But of course users do not have to use these features, and therefore the operating system can also be installed on a magnetic hard drive.
One option that some manufacturers may be considering is the use of a relatively small SSD drive for the operating system, alongside a larger hard drive on which additional software can be installed later. In any case, it is still unclear what steps, if any, Microsoft intends to take against manufacturers who vehemently refuse the new requirements.