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Once Microsoft's new Edge browser matures I could see a free, locked down version of Windows 10 being some serious competition for Chromebooks and iPads.

andybak 11y ago
I was going to say "Wouldn't it be too resource heavy?" - meaning the whole Windows baggage as opposed to the leaner ChromeOS. But then I considered that the resource usage of Chrome (or Edge for that matter) itself might be the single biggest factor.
- mtgx 11y ago
  Windows RT was supposed to be the "lean locked down Windows" experience for mobile devices - and it sucked performance wise on "tablet hardware" (which is what most cheap Chromebooks have anyway, whether it's ARM or Atom...sorry, I mean "New Celerons™").
- dagw 11y ago
  They've got a version of Windows 10 that runs reasonably well on the Raspberry PI 2 and I imagine most chromebook like devices have better specs that the RPi2.
  - mkj 11y ago
    Not exactly, it's Windows IoT which doesn't really have a GUI. I agree with the original comment, MS might follow suit with Edge.
    - dagw 11y ago
      Sure, but Windows IoT should be plenty good enough for Microsoft to build a ChromeOS clone on top of it.
      - UnoriginalGuy 11y ago
        And it wouldn't even be the first time. Microsoft had "Windows Embedded" (Vista and XP) which did exactly that. Essentially a kiosk operating system often used either for VB6 applications or for a web browser.
- kozukumi 11y ago
  Windows is pretty good even on minimal resources these days. Microsoft could cut a lot of legacy stuff out though for a Chromebook-like experience. I love the idea of a Chromebook. A somewhat limited laptop that looks after itself in terms of updates. My big issue with Chromebooks are that they are limited to only running Chrome web apps unless you root it but then you turn it into a "normal" laptop. Once the Windows app eco-system improves I could see a WindowsRT like version doing well. Strip out all the Win32 stuff all apps come in via the Windows Store with the option to side load by an administrator if needed. With Edge for web, Groove Music and Film & TV for music and video you have a pretty nice out of the box solution. Through in a few core apps like a modern Notepad, File Explorer, etc. and you have a great little Chromebook competitor. Also they have pretty good modern/universal core Office apps now. They need Office 365 to edit which is a pain but with the school has an Office 365 deal that isn't an issue either.

andybak 11y ago

I was going to say "Wouldn't it be too resource heavy?" - meaning the whole Windows baggage as opposed to the leaner ChromeOS. But then I considered that the resource usage of Chrome (or Edge for that matter) itself might be the single biggest factor.

mtgx 11y ago
Windows RT was supposed to be the "lean locked down Windows" experience for mobile devices - and it sucked performance wise on "tablet hardware" (which is what most cheap Chromebooks have anyway, whether it's ARM or Atom...sorry, I mean "New Celerons™").
dagw 11y ago
They've got a version of Windows 10 that runs reasonably well on the Raspberry PI 2 and I imagine most chromebook like devices have better specs that the RPi2.
- mkj 11y ago
  Not exactly, it's Windows IoT which doesn't really have a GUI. I agree with the original comment, MS might follow suit with Edge.
  - dagw 11y ago
    Sure, but Windows IoT should be plenty good enough for Microsoft to build a ChromeOS clone on top of it.
    - UnoriginalGuy 11y ago
      And it wouldn't even be the first time. Microsoft had "Windows Embedded" (Vista and XP) which did exactly that. Essentially a kiosk operating system often used either for VB6 applications or for a web browser.
kozukumi 11y ago
Windows is pretty good even on minimal resources these days. Microsoft could cut a lot of legacy stuff out though for a Chromebook-like experience. I love the idea of a Chromebook. A somewhat limited laptop that looks after itself in terms of updates. My big issue with Chromebooks are that they are limited to only running Chrome web apps unless you root it but then you turn it into a "normal" laptop. Once the Windows app eco-system improves I could see a WindowsRT like version doing well. Strip out all the Win32 stuff all apps come in via the Windows Store with the option to side load by an administrator if needed. With Edge for web, Groove Music and Film & TV for music and video you have a pretty nice out of the box solution. Through in a few core apps like a modern Notepad, File Explorer, etc. and you have a great little Chromebook competitor. Also they have pretty good modern/universal core Office apps now. They need Office 365 to edit which is a pain but with the school has an Office 365 deal that isn't an issue either.