Windows 11 Requirements, SSD NAND Swaps & Chip Prices

Windows 11 System Requirements Update

Microsoft has clarified its stance on Windows 11 compatibility. While they remain strict about requirements, they are allowing clean installations on unsupported hardware for evaluation purposes, though driver and reliability support cannot be guaranteed.

• The company cited a 52% higher kernel crash rate on unsupported systems to justify their baseline.
• This move likely targets the piracy loophole, forcing a shift away from older, cracked operating internal systems.

SSD Component Roulette

Concerns are mounting as major storage manufacturers engage in silent hardware swaps:

• Western Digital replaced the NAND on its SN550 SSD, resulting in significantly slower write speeds once the SLC cache is exhausted.
• Samsung faced similar scrutiny for changing controller components in their 970 EVO Plus, impacting sustained write performance.

"If you change even one, let alone two, or all three of those components, you are completely changing it to a different product."

Market & Industry Shifts

• OnlyFans: Reversed their decision to ban adult content after realizing the critical role it played in driving platform traffic and user engagement.
• Chip Costs: TSMC and other major foundries are raising prices by up to 20%. This structural increase in material costs is expected to have a compounding effect on the final retail price of electronics.
• Apple Settlement: Apple has agreed to a $100 million settlement regarding App Store policies, granting developers more freedom to communicate payment alternatives, though the fund and lawyer fees have sparked debate.