There's beenn lots of buzz surrounding Microsoft's major announcement recently about a new version
of Windows 10 Called "Windows 10 S".
But what exactly is the point of it, and how is it different from all the other versions
of Windows you might be using?
What does the S even stand for?
That's obviously what I'm going to cover today.
So before we go over the features and differences with Windows 10 S, it's important to know
WHY Microsoft created this new version in the first place.
Because it's not meant to be a "regular" version of Windows that you install on your main desktop
computer.
Instead, you can think of it as a more streamlined, AKA locked down version of Windows.
They said they mainly wanted to create this for educational environments, where teachers
would need better controls over how the computers are being used by students.
However, they seem to wanting to put this on surface tablets as well, which I'll get
to later.
So with this goal in mind, the main difference with Windows 10 S that you can ONLY install
apps from the Windows app store.
The idea being that if students are restricted from installing any old programs, then they
are a lot less likely to ruin it by installing malware or something.
Now right off the bat, this should make you realize that Windows 10 S is NOT some sort
of "upgraded" edition of Windows, but rather the opposite.
By design, it's extremely limited.
There are some other differences though that are also a bit questionable.
For example, it only allows you to use the Edge web browser.
Ok...
I mean I guess if you want to lock it down you could justify wanting to control the browser
for security purposes.
Oh but I forgot, you can also only use Bing as your default search engine.
Yea that's just retarded.
Now besides that last one, I think it's fair to say we shouldn't exactly be surprised that
they have these restrictions, because that's the whole point!
You can probably imagine how long these computers would last with a bunch of students if it
wasn't heavily controlled.
At least as a regular compute user you don't have to use it, right?
RIGHT?
Oh no...
Here's the thing... it turns out Microsoft is going to be putting Windows 10 S on their
new surface laptop..
You know, because when I spend up to $2,000 on a high end laptop, I definitely only want
to be able to install stuff from the landfill known as the Windows App Store.
This... is not justifiable, and is a TERRIBLE move by Microsoft, oh my god I have no idea
what they're thinking.
Hey Joe, I just got the new Surface Laptop, it was really expensive but they say it's
the best!
-Oh sweet, what are you going to do with it first?
Probably install Google Chrome, download steam and play some games, maybe install Photoshop
and edit some photos.
Haha sorry man you can't do any of that.
Now that obviously sounds really bad, mostly because it is, but the good news is Windows
10 S IS still fully capable of running programs from outside the Windows App Store...
You just have to pay an extra $50 to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro.
Alright, now the gloves are coming off.
Because I'm just gonna say it, this is a straight up scam.
You pay $2000 for a top end Windows laptop, get home, and find out you have to still pay
$50 for the privledge of actually using the freakin computer normally.
It's like they're trying to create their own Chromebook type device, where the operating
system is super dumbed down and simplified, but they just don't tell you.
At least with Chromebooks, you should know what you're getting.
You're not going to be running any heavy hitter programs on a Chromebook.
But with something like the Surface, these are definitely high end specs.
Up to an Intel Core i7, 16 Gigabytes of RAM, an SSD, but they cripple it with a far inferior
version of Windows.
And like I said, the laptop IS fully capable of running any program, you just have to pay
$50 to flip the switch to be allowed to do it.
And you might say, OK, well it's only $50, that's not that much.
Yea, but there's still NO REASON to limit it in the first place.
It doesn't change the fact that you will pay literally thousands of dollars for a computer
where you can't even change the default web browser!
The only explanation I can think of is that they want to force people to use the Windows
App store.
On something like a smartphone it makes sense because you wouldn't expect anything more.
But that is NOT what someone is going to expect when they buy this computer.
And by the way, the name is deceptive too.
"Windows 10 S".
An average person would see that and think it's somehow better.
It might remind you of the iPhone S models which are faster, or maybe because right on
the Microsoft website it says "Streamlined for Security and Superior Performance."
That's like if an airline says they can fly you to your destination faster because of
"increased security" and "lighter weight airplanes", but they do this by handcuffing all the passengers
and removing all the seats so you have to sit on the floor.
And you gotta love the page that lists all the features.
It specifically mentions the ability to "Stream HD video" and "Switch across apps".
Wow, you mean this new version of Windows can do absolutely nothing remarkable at all.
I mean come on, there's no way around it, this is an inferior version of Windows.
So at this point you might be wondering, is there ANYTHING that is good about Windows
10 S?
Well as I touched on before, the answer may be yes, ONLY if you are not the one using
it.
By that I mean you're a teacher and your students will be using it, or you're a parent and your
kid will be using it.
Also in a school environment, it lets you create a type of USB key that can essentially
copy a system setup from one computer to many, so you can set up lots of computers the same
way very quickly.
It also makes it easier for administrators to enable and disable features across all
devices, such as blocking use of the webcam, or certain options menus.
Of course, many of these options have always been possible from the group policy settings,
it's just now easier.
In addition, some manufacturers will be releasing Education specific PCs that will all come
with Minecraft Education Edition, and Office 365.
So it's not really a bad deal for education purposes.
But as I've been saying, for basically anyone else, it's horrible.
I'll tell you what I think right now, which is you should NOT get a Windows 10 S device
if you have the choice.
Not only because you'll have to pay extra money to get basic functionality, but also
just to vote with your wallet.
You might think that an extra $50 is not much compared to the $2000 you just paid, but why
should you?
I don't even think it's necessarily a cash grab, because otherwise they could just charge
more for the laptop.
I think they specifically are hoping people will decide they're rather use the Windows
App store than pay $50.
So they way I see it, I hope people will avoid buying this thing, just to show Microsoft
that we want nothing to do with their crappy app store.
If they don't want to allow my favorite programs on there like Steam, then I don't want to
use it.
It's that simple.
So what does the future hold here?
If we're lucky, Microsoft will realize what a horrible decision this was, and just give
their products regular versions of Windows on non-education products.
If they really want to shoot themselves in the foot, they may even double down and try
putting this crippled version of Windows on all of their Surface devices.
If that happens, I can just predict how it will go.
People will see how awesome the specs are for the new surface laptops or whatever else,
and think hmm, I think I'll give these a shot.
They might even look at the marketing, and genuinely believe that "Windows 10 S" will
be faster and more secure.
But then when they get it, they're going to find out REALLY quick that their shiny new
device is not what they expected, and it won't turn out well.
I think at the end of the day, this is going to hurt the surface brand big time, I really
do.
If there's one thing I know, is that most people are not willing to change their habits
or learn anything new when it comes to computers.
They just want it to work right out of the box, and you know what, if that's how it's
marketed, that's what I'd want too.
So when these people start buying this hyped up new device and find out it does the exact
OPPOSITE of what they're told... (pff)... don't be surprised when people decide to never
buy a Microsoft device ever again.
Not to mention when everyone tells their friends about their $2000 new computer that can't
even install any of their favorite programs unless they pay MORE.
So here's what I have to say to Microsoft.
Look, you were just starting to pick up speed with your Surface line.
I was even thinking about getting one of the high end versions of the next one you make,
because they've just been getting better.
But this time you blew it, bigly.
You're not Apple, you're not Google, so why are you trying to make an iPad or Chromebook,
or whatever the heck you were thinking.
The whole appeal for the surface products was that they're highly portable computers
in a tablet formfactor, but ran the full version of Windows, and didn't have any of the limitations
of regular tablets.
So WHY would you remove the one thing that made your devices stand out from the rest?
No one wants to use the Windows App store.
And even if they did, you don't even allow competing software like Steam, Origin, Google
Chrome, and countless other amazing programs to be on it.
And don't think I don't know what you're doing, trying to force developers to start selling
their programs on the Windows store, by forcing users to use it.
It's much easier for people to just NOT buy your device at all.
And to everyone else, I guess the best way to sum up this video is, if you are a teacher,
Windows 10 S might be a good thing.
For literally everyone else, stay as far away from it as you can.
Anyway, hopefully you guys found this video helpful, if you did let me know what you think
down in the comments section.
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