Windows 11 is finally here, bringing the biggest update to Microsoft's PC software in more than half a decade.

It will give your computer a much cooler new look, some new ways to multitask and chat with friends, and some performance improvements for games.

But is all that worth updating?

We spent about a week with the final version of Windows 11, and we found a lot that we like about Microsoft's new operating system, as well as some things that we would like to see improved.

If you're wondering whether you should hit that download button or buy a new Windows 11 computer, here are the biggest pros and cons you should know about.

How to install Windows 11

If you're ready to take the plunge right now, there are a few ways to get your hands on Windows 11 once it starts rolling out on October 5.

Most Windows 10 users are eligible to upgrade to Windows 11 for free - you can run a health check to make sure your computer is compatible and meets the system requirements here.

We especially recommend that those with armed computers run the health check, as Windows 11 requires TPM 2.0, a specific security module that people who built their own PC might be missing out on.

However, there are some solutions for this.

Other than that, those with a Windows laptop or desktop from the past few years should be ready to upgrade.

To see if Windows 11 is available to you, go to Settings> Update & Security> Windows Update and click "Check for updates."

You can also simply search for "Check for updates" on the taskbar.

Once you are there, follow the instructions to download the new software.

What we like about Windows 11

A much needed new coat of paint

Appearance isn't everything, but it weighs heavily in the Windows 11 update to make it feel like something substantial.

Microsoft's new operating system gives Windows a fresh design that's more colorful, cleaner, and easier to use, all while remaining familiar enough for Windows 10 veterans to jump right in without having to relearn much. .

The most notable change is the new much-talked-about taskbar, which is now in the center and looks much more minimal and attractive.

But while the taskbar was visually cleaned up, it works largely the same.

• The Logitech StreamCam is my favorite webcam - here's why

Tapping the Windows key will bring up the revamped Start menu, which places the large app icons front and center and will even make app recommendations based on what you recently downloaded. We're not entirely sure why there are Start and Search icons on the taskbar, as they both work quite similarly when it comes to finding recent apps and files. But that little redundancy aside, the core look of Windows 11 is just cleaner and more enjoyable to use.

But what really makes Windows 11 a delight to behold are the gorgeous new themes.

The software comes with six ready-to-use preloaded themes, giving you some bold color options, beautiful background images, and light and dark modes to help personalize your PC.

We're especially partial to the Glow theme that drowns our desktop in a deep purple hue with dark mode enabled, but the blooming blues of Windows 11's default theme are very nice too.

If default themes aren't your thing, you can still customize everything from your desktop background to accent colors, and even mix light and dark modes for different apps.

• 4 myths about your computer's 'webcam'

There are some smaller visual updates that we also appreciate like the fact that the default folders for things like Music, Videos, and Pictures come in different colors, and they're not just a sea of ​​boring-looking icons.

Multitasking is better and borrows one of the best features of the Mac

We've long been a fan of multitasking capabilities in Windows 10, and Windows 11 takes them one step further by borrowing generously from macOS.

Similar to Apple computers, you can now create multiple virtual desktops, each with its own sets of open applications. This is useful if, for example, you want to have a dedicated desk for work stuff during the day, before switching to a game profile that already has Steam and Discord ready to go at night. Creating and jumping between multiple desktops felt fast in our testing and we especially like that you can give each virtual desktop a different background and name to clearly distinguish them from each other.

Typical Windows multitasking tools, like snapping windows to different corners of the screen, feel as intuitive as ever, though there are a few new tricks you can take advantage of this time. The software features new snap layouts, allowing you to hover over a window and choose from a number of layouts including splitting the screen between two apps or creating a four-way grid.

Creating snapshot layouts felt pretty smooth in our testing, although we found that certain third-party apps like Spotify and Discord didn't fit perfectly into place and overlapped other windows on smaller screens a bit.

It looks like developers will be able to optimize their apps for Snap Layouts, so we expect to see fewer of these issues over time.

Notifications are easier to find

Support for finding what you're looking for is an important part of Windows, but this version does a good job of putting it front and center by allowing you to access it directly from the taskbar. This handy feature lets you choose between three different notification settings: Off (allow all notifications), Priority only (allow only notifications from apps of your choice), or Alarms only (silence all but alarms).

We found ourselves using this feature a lot, especially when it came time to lower our heads and write a bit (who knew that silencing Discord makes you more productive?) It's not something we take advantage of often in Windows 10 as it was relatively buried in menus, but we're happy to see it so easily accessible this time.

It's not as robust as the customizable Focus modes Apple just rolled out in its latest macOS and iOS updates, but it certainly looks improved for Windows 11.

Little things make a big difference

While Windows 11 has a totally new look and some significant new features, it's some of the smaller touches that have really impressed us.

For example, you will now see a small icon at the bottom of the screen when your microphone is used, which is a useful privacy touch that helps keep Windows on par with Apple software.

• The fastest keyboard in the world: this is the Razer Huntsman V2

We also appreciate that Windows 11 now gives you a quick ETA on how long a software update will take when you choose the "Update and shutdown" or "Update and restart" options on your computer.

Because let's face it: nobody likes to sit through Windows updates.

What we don't like about Windows 11

Widgets could be better

Windows 11 tiene una nueva aplicación Widgets, que es esencialmente una versión mejorada de la fuente de noticias de Windows 10 y te permite ver cosas como el clima, los resultados deportivos, las noticias y las acciones de un vistazo rápido. Sin embargo, se siente un poco engorroso e inflexible en su estado actua, y no es algo que nos hayamos encontrado usando mucho.

When you click the Widgets icon on your taskbar, you'll see a tray popping out from the left side of your screen with widgets for things like weather, photos, entertainment, and sports.

You can move these widgets around and adjust their size and content, but with only 11 widgets to choose from and limited size options, this feature doesn't feel as robust as what's on Apple and Android devices.

More widgets are likely to be rolled out over time, we'd really like to see those from third-party apps like Spotify, but the feature seems pretty lightweight in its current state.

• Asus Zenbook 14 Review with AMD Processor: Sleek, Light and Powerful

You'll also get a news feed underneath its widgets that you can customize a bit, but we wish there was an easier way to customize what types of stories you get that don't involve having to visit a separate website.

We would also love the option of placing Widgets directly on our desktop background.

Being able to check the weather or catch up on the news at a quick glance would be a lot easier.

Teams chat isn't that great

Windows 11 integrates Microsoft Teams chat directly into the taskbar, which is designed to let you seamlessly text and video calls to friends in the smoothest way you would with iMessage and FaceTime on a Mac.

The new Microsoft Teams Chat tool displays a quick list of your friends (you can pull your existing Skype and Outlook contacts, and you can invite anyone else by sharing a link), any of whom can click to start a text chat or video call. It feels a bit disjointed, as clicking on a contact will open a separate Teams window. But the bigger issue is that, for the most part, you'll have to get friends and family in Teams to chat with them.

We tested this feature by sending an invite link to a few friends, one of whom mentioned having to go through a multi-step process to sign in with their Microsoft account to speak with us.

A friend couldn't even join using his Microsoft account.

We also had to open the full Teams app to invite new contacts - this feature would be much more useful for starting quick chats and video calls if there was a way to do it directly from the taskbar.

Other Windows 11 features to check out

Android application support ... finally

While the feature isn't available at launch, Windows 11 will eventually allow you to download the appropriate Android apps to your computer. This will allow you to do things like record and post a video to TikTok directly from your PC, according to Microsoft. This could also be especially useful for accessing mobile-friendly games and apps on Windows tablets like the Surface Go 3.

Downloading Android apps will work a little differently on Windows 11 than it does on Chrome OS, as you will be using the Microsoft Store to browse a selection of Android apps that are pulled from the Amazon Appstore.

We'll have to get our hands on this feature to see how well Android apps actually work on Windows 11 PCs, but Microsoft says rollout will begin "later this year."

Some cool updates for PC games

Windows 11 has some new gaming features that are designed to make your PC games look and perform better.

Similar to the new Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles, Windows 11 now supports Auto HDR, which will automatically enable high dynamic range in compatible games to appear brighter and more colorful.

Microsoft also promises that your games will load faster with DirectStorage, which is a technology designed to allow your system's graphics card and processor to run more efficiently so you spend less time staring at loading screens.

So should you upgrade?

We really enjoyed our time with Windows 11 so far, but we wouldn't call it an absolutely essential update just yet, at least not for everyone. The visual update is really nice, and basic tasks like muting notifications and quickly adjusting settings are made easier thanks to some clever interface tweaks. But every time we go back to our old, reliable Windows 10 computer, we don't really feel like we're missing out on much.

Right now, you need to upgrade for one of two reasons: you're busy multitasking, or you just want better-looking Windows.

Those who juggle many projects and applications at once will likely appreciate the ability to create multiple virtual desktops, as well as the helpful tweaks Microsoft has made to stitch windows together.

When you combine that with easier access to things like focus assist, Windows 11 can really shine for people looking to get serious work done.

• We tested the Microsoft Surface Pro 7+: it works as a tablet, laptop and has many accessories

Windows 11 is ultimately more of an update than a complete reinvention, and in some ways that's a good thing. Most of our muscle memory from years of using Windows is still held here - everything is packed more neatly. We also recommend doing this update for any younger or less tech savvy users as there is simply less clutter here for them to deal with.

It's worth noting that, like any new software update, Windows 11 will likely have its share of launch issues and bugs and will hopefully improve over time with new features, including Android app support.

So upgrade right now if you want more robust multitasking tools and some really nice new backgrounds;

otherwise, feel free to expect an even better Windows 11.

Follow our social networks: Telegram, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

For more deals and reviews visit CNN Underscored en Español.