Earlier this week, Microsoft held an event in New York City to announce a new version of Windows dedicated to the education market. It is called Windows S. The bottom line is that Windows S is for schools, mainly K-8, and perhaps some high schools. If you are finished with high school, you don’t need it and it is doubtful you would even want it.
It is very restricted as to what it does. Each school administrator can decide what software will work on it and how to tailor it for their school. Here are the basic restrictions on the OS:
1. It will only download and run apps from the Windows Store. If it is not available in the store, you can’t have it. For instance, the two most downloaded apps for all Windows computers are Google’s Chrome Browser and Apple’s iTunes. Neither is available in the Windows store so you cannot run them. But this restriction also means there is very little chance Windows S computers will download malware.
2. The only browser you can use with it is Microsoft’s Edge.
3. The only search engine you can use is Microsoft’s Bing.
4. Seven hardware manufacturers will be making a variety of computer devices that will run Windows S with prices starting at $189. They will be coming out this summer.
5. Microsoft has not said what the “S” stands for, so just go with it.
Microsoft also introduced a new computer of its own at this same event. It is a slim, but powerful laptop called the Microsoft Surface Laptop. It runs on Intel i5 or i7 processors, has a 13.3” retina-type screen weighs about 2.5 lbs. and claims to have 14.5 hours of battery life. Prices start at $999 and it comes standard with Windows S.
This looks to be a fabulous computer, probably aimed at high school and college students…but really it would be a cool lightweight laptop for just about anyone…except it comes with Windows S. Well good news there…For the rest of this year, you can update the OS to Windows 10 Pro for free ($49 after 2017)…thereby eliminating the Windows S restrictions. If you are looking for a new laptop, this one is worth a look.
There is much more to both Windows S and the Surface Laptop, and I devoted the entire Tech News section to in-depth articles about each of them. My early opinion of Windows S is that Microsoft has hit a home run in the education market, although we won’t know for a while if that is true. But, I think the boys and girls from Redmond have dealt a death blow to Apple’s education market products and Google should be very scared right now about their future in that same market. They pretty much own it right now, but that is going to change…I think. -JRC
Tech News and Opinions
Microsoft launches Windows 10 S, its Store-centric version of Windows 10
Microsoft is adding a new more locked-down version of Windows 10 (formerly known as Windows Cloud) to its line-up.
What is Windows 10 S?
Microsoft's May 2 event in New York City was ostensibly focused on education. But the biggest surprise was a major addition to the Windows 10 family. Here's what you'll find on a PC running Windows 10 S.
Microsoft takes aim at Chrome OS with a new, and very necessary, education push
Windows 10 S, and the range of education-oriented systems starting at $189, are a big deal.
Windows 10 S laptops will start at $189 and ship this summer
Microsoft’s answer to Chrome OS is called Windows 10 S. This new operating system is a streamlined and secured version of Windows 10. It runs sandboxed apps and doesn’t require expensive hardware.
Who exactly is Microsoft's new $999 Surface Laptop for?
Surface boss Panos Panay says it's for college students, and will last from freshman orientation through graduation.
Surface Laptop: Is Microsoft Ready to Eat Apple's School Lunch?
Microsoft has gone all in on hardware. This approach worked for Apple, but can the Surface Laptop replace the MacBook Air in people's hearts and minds?
Desktop and Laptop Tips and Tricks
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Do vs. Done Lists: Jot Down Your Small Wins to Amplify Success
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Stay connected with family and your scheduled events
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6 of the best photo collage software for Windows PC users
Photo collages that display a collection of photographs within a single image file are a good alternative to slideshows.
Use PowerPoint Photo Album to chronicle corporate or personal events
Intuitive menus and dialog screens make it easy to create a slideshow.
Mobile Computing
US border searches of phones and laptops have almost doubled
A former Homeland Security official said the spike in device searches was a "conscious strategy" to use a loophole that allows agents to search devices at the border without a warrant.
How to turn anything into a PDF on your iPhone or iPad
Once you know where this iOS PDF converter is buried, you can quickly and easily turn anything into a handy PDF on your iPhone or iPad.
5 handy things the Photos app can do with your iPhone snapshots
These tips will help you find best features Photos has to offer—draw shapes, write captions, publish a gallery online, un-delete a trashed photo, and more.
Five Things You Should Do Before Selling Your Android Phone
You may already know that you’ll need to factory reset the phone, but that’s actually the last thing you should do before selling. There are a handful of things that you’ll need to do first.
Fresh Meat: 10 new Android apps worth checking out
Every day there are thousands of additions to the Google Play store, but many go unnoticed and never receive the attention they deserve. The apps listed here are do deserve some attention.
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