4 ms·

I agree with your take, many will not see improved security as a benefit but will instead resent the limited functionality. This is nothing more than a rebrande

I agree with your take, many will not see improved security as a benefit but will instead resent the limited functionality. This is nothing more than a rebranded Windows RT which already failed in the market with the Surface RT. IMO this laptop will also fail, regardless of whatever hardware they pair it with

WorldMaker 9y ago
I have friends that very much love their Windows RT devices as quick, secure browser-first tablets (and were disappointed by a lack of an upgrade to Windows 10). Windows S has the benefit that you can upgrade to "real" Windows 10 Pro if you decide you are tired of the limited functionality.
- ManFromUranus 9y ago
  Oh that's pretty interesting, I didn't know that. So I guess it kind of comes with real windows after all (in a roundabout way)
  - WorldMaker 9y ago
    It's definitely interesting. Where everyone expected a new ARM SKU, Microsoft delivered a new x86 SKU, with an easy upgrade path. Through the lens of Windows 10 S as an "educational" SKU, it's particularly interesting in that idea that you could start the device locked down with S and eventually (plus $50 one time charge) "graduate" the device to "real" Windows 10 as the people themselves age into device ownership or out of locked down education environments or the devices get repurposed for different parts of a learning environment, etc. (This seems to be a clear case where Microsoft is trying to separate itself from the iOS/Chromebook pack. For now you can't graduate and turn an iOS device into a macOS device. With a lot of work you might be able to graduate a Chromebook to Linux or Windows, but certainly not the ease of a $50 purchase from the Windows Store, or a free button click with an existing education site license for Windows 10 Pro.) (Meanwhile, some of us are still hoping for that next ARM SKU, too.)
    - my123 9y ago
      The next ARM SKU is also Windows 10 S, and yes, it can run x86 apps when updated to Pro.

WorldMaker 9y ago

I have friends that very much love their Windows RT devices as quick, secure browser-first tablets (and were disappointed by a lack of an upgrade to Windows 10). Windows S has the benefit that you can upgrade to "real" Windows 10 Pro if you decide you are tired of the limited functionality.

ManFromUranus 9y ago
Oh that's pretty interesting, I didn't know that. So I guess it kind of comes with real windows after all (in a roundabout way)
- WorldMaker 9y ago
  It's definitely interesting. Where everyone expected a new ARM SKU, Microsoft delivered a new x86 SKU, with an easy upgrade path. Through the lens of Windows 10 S as an "educational" SKU, it's particularly interesting in that idea that you could start the device locked down with S and eventually (plus $50 one time charge) "graduate" the device to "real" Windows 10 as the people themselves age into device ownership or out of locked down education environments or the devices get repurposed for different parts of a learning environment, etc. (This seems to be a clear case where Microsoft is trying to separate itself from the iOS/Chromebook pack. For now you can't graduate and turn an iOS device into a macOS device. With a lot of work you might be able to graduate a Chromebook to Linux or Windows, but certainly not the ease of a $50 purchase from the Windows Store, or a free button click with an existing education site license for Windows 10 Pro.) (Meanwhile, some of us are still hoping for that next ARM SKU, too.)
  - my123 9y ago
    The next ARM SKU is also Windows 10 S, and yes, it can run x86 apps when updated to Pro.