Last month Microsoft announced a new version of Windows, called Windows 10 S. The Windows 10 S is basically a version of Windows 10 for low end hardware and particularly for schools and educational sector. Basically, Microsoft is looking to compete with Google Chrome OS with the Windows 10 S and this is a lighter version with more focus to performance.
So in this post we will talk about 5 important Windows 10 S features to look for.
1. Apps only from Store:
With Windows 10 S, you will not be able to install desktop apps (win32) like you did with Windows 10. With Windows 10 S, you can only install apps which are available in Windows Store. So this means you favorite desktop apps might not be available on Windows 10 S unless it is ported to the Windows store. This also means Google Chrome or Firefox will not be available.
Recently with the Creator’s update, Microsoft had rolled out the ability to block installation of apps which are not from the store. In Windows 10 S, this feature will make it to the core OS so that any non Windows store app will not make it to the OS. This does not mean that the current apps cannot be installed, but Win32 applications needs to be ported to the Store using the Desktop Bridge. The Win32 applications that use their own installers will not function in Windows 10.
2. Microsoft Security for Apps:
Since the app installation will occur only via Windows store, they are first verified for security, and then locally each run in a safe “container,” ensuring they provide you with consistent performance and security for the system. Windows 10 S customers will be protected from malware with Windows Defender pre-installed. Since apps cannot install by their own, unwanted malwares or spywares cannot be installed.
3. Office 365:
With Windows 10 S, you can get the best Office experience as Word, PowerPoint and Excel are available in the Windows Store. The full suite of Office apps in preview are currently available to download from the Windows store.
4. Cloud Support:
Windows 10 S machines will support Intune, Microsoft’s cloud-based device management system which is similar to Google’s cloud based approach on Chrome OS.
5. Performance:
Windows 10 S is designed for better performance. This means the start-ups are quick and designed to stay that way, so you get better performance all round. Also, with Windows 10 S you get all the familiar Windows 10 experiences like Cortana (digital personal assistant), Windows Hello, Windows Ink, the Xbox app, Paint 3D, and more.
Regarding upgrading to Windows 10S, Windows 10 Home users can do an upgrade to S for $100 and this in turns comes with ability to install any Win32 application, but without the support of inTune. Windows 10 S will be available this summer for $189 with most OEMs including Asus, Samsung, Dell, and HP. All the machines shipping Windows 10S will come with a free subscription to Minecraft: Education Edition.
