Here's a comparison: the notification sound in Windows 10 vs. It's as if for years computer sound effects have been designed with pure functional utility in mind, and then one day someone said 'Remember when we had Brian Eno compose the Windows 95 startup jingle, and it sounded nice? What if we tried to make things sound nice again?' Windows 11 has new sound effects, too, and I think they're way more pleasant in general. Smooth is a good word for a lot of Windows 11-it reflects almost everything I enjoy about it, like the new, far less jarring notification pop-ups. Regardless, I think Microsoft has done a better job than with Windows 10 making themes feel cohesive, and the switch from light mode to dark mode is really smooth. Pretty soon I'll get used to the new aesthetic and then it'll just be business as usual, or I'll apply a different color scheme. The taskbar and rounded edges and colors evoke the same airy lightness as that classic Windows XP wallpaper I feel a little like I'm floating on clouds as I pop open the Start menu and the file explorer, which is a nice feeling. Microsoft has done a better job than with Windows 10 making themes feel cohesive

File explorer quick access slow