Part 5/15:
The resistance to upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11 isn’t merely user inertia; Microsoft actively restricts the update process. Users are forced to buy new hardware due to the absence of required security chips like the TPM. This hardware requirement functions as a gatekeeper, ostensibly to improve security but also as a means to lock users into a Microsoft-centric ecosystem.
While Windows 11 claims compatibility with most existing applications, the real barrier is hardware compatibility and Microsoft's aggressive push for hardware upgrades, which enforces a cycle of obsolescence. Moreover, the push for operating system upgrades is intertwined with Microsoft's broader strategic ambitions—namely, integration with AI features such as Windows Copilot.