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Microsoft has announced a new version of Windows called Windows 10 S. It only runs apps from the Windows Store, and is positioned between Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro, both of which can run third party applications. Microsoft also announced a new line of Surface laptops running the OS. The laptops have been described as competing with either Google's Chromebooks or Apple's MacBook Air, and aimed at students:
Windows 10 S is Windows 10 with its wings slightly clipped: it can only run apps from the Windows Store, disabling compatibility with the enormous breadth of Windows programs out there, which in the educational context translates to better security, consistent performance, focus for students, and improved battery life. It's cheaper and less versatile than Windows 10 Pro, which is exactly what schools are looking for (and the thing that's had them gravitating toward Google's Chrome OS in recent times).
[...] Immediately upon its introduction, Windows 10 S spans a price range from $189 to $2,199 (for the top Surface Laptop spec). So is this a straightforward and affordable solution for mass educational deployment? Or is it a super streamlined operating system for powering extremely desirable and long-lasting laptops? Yes. Microsoft's answer to both of those things is yes. It's not impossible to achieve both goals with the same software, of course, but it is difficult to position the OS in people's minds.
[...] The Windows on ARM effort is going to be rekindled by the end of this year, and Windows 10 S is the likeliest candidate to be the OS of choice for those new computers, in which case the significance of the S label will once again be complicated. Come the holidays, buying a Windows 10 S PC could mean getting either an Intel or an ARM machine, it could mean cheap and cheerful or it could be a premium portable.
Also at the Washington Post, Engadget, Laptop Mag, and Business Insider.
As well as BGR, Mashable, The Independent, PC World, Tech Radar, ZDNet, Ars Technica, Fossbytes, TechCrunch #1, TechCrunch #2, Venture Beat, and The Street.
What do you think the 'S' stands for?
Previously: Ask Soylent: Ramifications of Removing Windows Store from Enterprise Installs?
Microsoft Adds Store App-Only Restriction as Option in Windows 10
(Score: 2) by bzipitidoo on Wednesday May 03 2017, @08:23PM (1 child)
The problem occurs when your employer demands documents be written in MS Word, your kids get gift cards good only at the $CORPORATE store for Christmas and birthday presents, the local government's online services require IE or Edge to function fully, etc.
(Score: 2) by Grishnakh on Wednesday May 03 2017, @08:39PM
The problem occurs when your employer demands documents be written in MS Word
No problem: just use the computer your employer has provided for you. Most employers prefer you to use their equipment, not your own, and they buy all the licenses. Let them give their money to MS and deal with all the support problems.
Or use LibreOffice; it usually exports .docx just fine as long as you don't do anything overly complicated. Or Google Docs.
your kids get gift cards good only at the $CORPORATE store for Christmas and birthday presents
What are you talking about? Kids don't want PCs running Windows, they want game systems or phones. Get them a Wii or an Android phone or something.
the local government's online services require IE or Edge to function fully, etc.
Citation needed. This used to be a big problem 10+ years ago with IE6. I've never heard of anything requiring Edge to function, except perhaps some crappy internal-only corporate stuff. Edge has a pitiful marketshare considering it's the standard on Win10 and they constantly try to get you to make it the default browser, even resorting to dirty tricks like forcing it to default with an update. Chrome is just too popular for anyone to require Edge.