Originally revealed as a standalone operating system in May 2017, Windows 10 S was the subject of controversy upon its release. Still, the lightweight operating system has evolved since its launch, allowing Windows 10 to reach 800 million devices, just in time for the end of Windows 7. Many reviews of Windows 10 in S mode boil down to the fact that it limits users. install third-party programs. However, since you can easily switch out of Windows 10 S mode, at no cost, this is a much more attractive solution today.
In fact, Windows 10 S makes a lot of sense for the right users and devices. For example, the Surface Go is an affordable alternative to the Surface Pro, which launches a Pentium Gold chip. A light version of Windows 10 is perfect. And we've seen reports of Windows 10 running on a Raspberry Pi 3, which would make an even stronger case for Windows 10 S. We've also seen reports of Microsoft working on "Windows Lite," which should work the same way as Chrome OS.
Windows 10 S mode will also take advantage of all Windows 10 updates, such as the October 2018 Update and Windows 10 April 2019 Update, although they may be delayed. .
That means you get great features like Avil Update's "Light Mode" and helpful storage tools, plus the ability to play Xbox One games natively.
Windows 10 S mode is an important component of the Windows 10 experience today. So we thought it would be wise to explore and explore everything that Light OS can do. Be sure to bookmark this page and we'll update it with any new Windows 10 S news that comes along.
Cut to the hunt
- What is it Windows 10 without x86 and x64 apps
- When did it come out? Available now
- How much will it cost? Free for all schools using Windows 10 Pro
Windows 10 S release date
Windows 10 S was originally released on May 2, 2017, with devices running the operating system in the coming months. Fast forward to 2019 and Windows 10 S is bigger than ever. These lower-spec Windows 10 devices are more versatile than ever.
Finally, there will be a UI switch that will allow Windows 10 users to turn S Mode on and off, but it will not be available at the time of writing. Fortunately, you can always switch out of S mode relatively easily: just go to your device's Windows Store and search for "Switch to S mode." As for commissioning the switch, who knows? However, Microsoft could introduce it later; we don't think it will appear in the April 2019 update.
Now, regarding the reveal of Windows 10 S, Microsoft's event invitation was titled "#MicrosoftEDU", not doubting its goals with the new system. ; operating. Although Windows 10 S is not intended for unit sale, it is aimed at education IT administrators, as well as laptops found in stores and online.
It's no coincidence that Windows 10 S is focused on the education sector, a field where Google's Chromebooks are an unlikely success.
Windows 10 S price
Windows 10 S is essentially free for users. Microsoft subsidizes the cost of the operating system for hardware manufacturers, assuming they don't get Windows 10 S for free. As a user, you don't really pay for Windows 10 S mode, you pay for the hardware that runs it.
Except for high-end devices like the original Surface Laptop, you can find devices running Windows 10 S Mode from just $189 (about $146) to around $299 (about $239). PC makers from all walks of life, including Dell, HP, Asus, Acer, and Lenovo, all have Windows 10 S-based devices in their stables.
But, now that Windows 10 S mode is a thing, it's a rocker that doesn't cost anything more. Windows 10 Home and Pro Mode S users can go to the Windows Store and disable S mode, though the conversion only works in one direction, in S mode, for now. However, there will be a change in the settings app in a future version, which will allow users to go back.
What is Windows 10 S?
Microsoft wants Windows 10 S to be a lighter and more secure version of Windows 10 for low-end devices. In "S" mode, Windows 10 only supports apps downloaded from the Windows Store.
This talk about a version of Windows that can only download Microsoft-approved apps is familiar, isn't it? Microsoft believes they have mastered this approach since the turbulence of Windows 8 RT and Windows 8 with Bing, both of which have attempted to position Microsoft as the sole provider of curation apps.
The good news is that it allows for a boot time of less than 5 seconds, instead of the 30-40 second boot time of Windows 10 Pro. Also, setting up settings (such as Wi-Fi, webcam, etc.) on a entire class of students is as simple as inserting a USB stick into each of their laptops.
In competition with Google Chrome OS, Microsoft of course also positioned Windows 10 S as a more secure PC operating system. However, its resistance to viruses is mainly a side effect of the inability to install applications that are not approved by Microsoft. Historically, Windows viruses have tended to emerge from untrustworthy Internet downloads.
If you encounter an unavoidable app that isn't available in the Microsoft Store under Windows 10 S, you can upgrade from Windows 10 S to Windows 10 Home or Pro simply by going to the Windows Store and searching for "Switch to Mode." S ". Previously, this service was paid, but it is free for everyone.
Microsoft will also allow users who upgrade to Windows 10 Pro to switch back to Windows 10 S. And now, it seems that Microsoft is working on a Windows 10 Lean mode, which will be even lighter and more secure.
Interestingly, the new Surface Laptop 2 comes with Windows 10 Home and is no longer in S mode.
That said, what can you expect to see on devices running Windows 10 S? Well, the Edge browser, OneNote and Windows Ink are given. The standard Movies and Groove Music apps, as well as Maps, Mail and Calendar are also shoo-ins.
Of course, we won't see support for x86/x64 programs in a Windows 10 cloud OS before 2019, at which point Polaris should catch up and implement a "virtualization wrapper" for each of its legacy apps. favorite. This means that, yes, if everything works perfectly, there will be a Windows 10 cloud operating system that can emulate the .exe file of the past.
Despite its limitations, Windows 10 S still has File Explorer and while many laptops bundled with the lightweight OS pre-installed come with smaller capacity SSDs, the upcoming introduction of OneDrive On-Demand by Microsoft files will more accessible. stored in the cloud, but still looks the same as locally stored content.
All things considered, questions remain about the viability of Windows 10 S. Fortunately, as new developments emerge (hopefully) to answer these criticisms, you can count on us to cover them here on this page.
Bill Thomas and Gabe Carey also contributed to this article.