INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Back in May 2017, Microsoft unveiled the long-rumored Windows 10 S
Ever since, the thin client version of the super-successful Windows 10 home computing operating system has been met with mixed reviews as a
result of the limitations it imposes on those seeking to use traditional legacy programs not acquirable through the Windows Store.Instead of
letting you download and install any program you’d like, as the traditional Microsoft Windows ecosystem allows, Windows 10 S instead
restricts users to apps from the Windows 10 Store
And, while there are obvious security benefits to this approach, traditional PC users aren’t big fans of the idea.That’s why, according
to Microsoft watchdogs at Thurett and Neowin, Microsoft is reportedly looking to transform Windows 10 S into ‘Windows 10 S Mode,’ as
part of the full-fat Windows 10 Home and Pro, rather than being a separate operating system
This means that anyone using Windows 10 in S Mode may have to pay to get the whole desktop experience, depending on the version of Windows
they’re using.For more on that development as well as the specific advantages and disadvantages of using Windows 10 S in its current
state, keep reading for the complete run-down.Cut to the chaseWhat is it Windows 10 without x86 and x64 appsWhen is it out Available nowWhat
will it cost Free to all schools using Windows 10 ProWindows 10 S release dateWindows 10 S was originally released on May 2, 2017, with
devices using the OS releasing on the same day, and other devices, like the Surface Laptop, came out in the following months
And, with Windows 10 S mode releasing with the so-called ‘Spring Creator’s Update’ in the next couple months, we could see more
devices using 10 S very soon.Microsoft’s event invitation itself was titled ‘#MicrosoftEDU\’, making no misgivings about its aims with
While Windows 10 S is not for individual sale, it is issued to IT administrators in education as well as laptops found in stores and
online.It’s no coincidence that Windows 10 S is focused on the education sector, where Google’s Chromebooks are experiencing outlandish
success.Windows 10 S priceWindows 10 S doesn’t cost a dime
Well, not to schools sporting Windows 10 Pro already, that is
The cost of the OS is, more than likely, being subsidized by hardware makers in its pricing albeit for far less than Windows 10 proper, if
not for free.In short, you won’t be paying for Windows 10 S so as much as you’ll pay for the hardware running it (with, again, whatever
Microsoft’s charging its partners, if anything, to license the software baked in that price somehow, too).Save for the new Surface Laptop,
laptops running Windows 10 S start at $189 (about £146, AU$251) and cap out at around $299 (about £239, AU$396)
PC makers across the board, including Dell, HP, Asus, Acer and Lenovo, have all launched Windows 10 S-powered notebooks at this time.Premium
category laptops were said to be joining the Windows 10 S family as well, but aside from Microsoft’s own Surface Laptop, they’ve been
few and far between up to this point – save for Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 laptops, like the Asus NovaGo and Lenovo Miix 630.With word
spreading that Microsoft is aiming to make Windows 10 S into a mode within Windows 10 proper, however, there may soon be an additional
software cost for those looking to unlock compatibility with programs not featured in Microsoft’s own digital storefront. Though Windows
10 Home users will be exempt from this fee, Pro users will allegedly have to shell out $49 to exit the sure-to-be-controversial ‘S Mode’
That said, the way it’s going to be monetized doesn’t sound all that different from the current situation.What is Windows 10 SAs we
said, Windows 10 S is a more lightweight, pared down version of Windows 10
Specifically, the OS can only support apps downloaded from Microsoft’s Windows Store and those already baked into the OS.This talk of a
version of Windows that can only download Microsoft-approved apps is familiar, isn’t it Microsoft believes it has mastered this approach
since the turbulent days of Windows RT and Windows 8 with Bing – both of which tried to position Microsoft as the sole provider of apps
through curation.The good news is that this allows for a startup time of under 5 seconds as opposed to the 30 - 40 second startup time of
Not only that, but configuring settings (such as Wi-Fi, webcam, etc.) across an entire classroom of students is as easy as inserting a USB
stick in each of their laptops.Being in competition with Google’s Chrome OS, Microsoft has, of course, also positioned Windows 10 S as a
more secure PC operating system
However, its resilience to viruses is mostly a side-effect of the inability to install apps not approved by Microsoft
Historically, Windows viruses have tended to erupt from untrustworthy internet downloadsShould you find a must-have app that isn't available
in the Microsoft Store in Windows 10 S you can switch from Windows 10 S to Windows 10 Pro – i.e
the Windows 10 we know that can install any app – for a fee
It's $49 for individuals, a fee that's waived for Windows 10 S devices sold to schools.More recently, Microsoft also made it possible for
Windows 10 Pro upgraders to make the move back down to Windows 10 S
So if you change your mind after installing Windows 10 Pro on that shiny new Surface Laptop, you can rest easy knowing that you aren’t
tied to your decision one way or the other.That said, what can you expect to see included in devices running Windows 10 S Well, the Edge
browser, OneNote and Windows Ink are all givens
The standard Movies and Groove Music apps, as well as Maps and Mail and Calendar are shoo-ins, too. Of course, we won’t see x86/x64
program support on a Windows 10 cloud operating system until 2019 when the aforementioned Polaris is expected to touch down and implement a
‘virtualization container’ for each of your favorite legacy applications
That means that, yes, should everything work out perfectly, there will be a Windows 10 cloud OS that can emulate the .exe’s of the
past.Despite its constraints, Windows 10 S still features File Explorer, and although many of the laptops that come with the lightweight OS
pre-installed may ship with smaller capacity SSDs, Microsoft’s forthcoming introduction of OneDrive Files On-Demand will make it so files
can be stored in the cloud, but still viewed the same way as locally stored content.All things considered, there are still questions looming
around in regard to the viability of Windows 10 S
Fortunately, as new developments emerge to (hopefully) address those criticisms, you can count on us to cover them right here on this
page.Gabe Carey has also contributed to this article4ssNsnKqgMkNKEDc57GikD.jpg#
